Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II - Nifty Fifty

londonandlawson wrote in post #7556831
Maybe this is common on this lens, or user error, but it seems like my copy once to focus on one small spot, is this normal?

depending on your settings, sometimes the DOF can be tiny

http://www.dofmaster.c​om/dofjs.html

londonandlawson wrote in post #7556831
Maybe this is common on this lens, or user error, but it seems like my copy once to focus on one small spot, is this normal?

Can you post an example with the settings used? I struggled to start with when I got the lens, but now I seem to be getting good results.

I will in a bit, and I meant wants, can't believe I type once instead of wants

londonandlawson wrote in post #7556831
Maybe this is common on this lens, or user error, but it seems like my copy once to focus on one small spot, is this normal?

If that spot happens to present an area of high contrast within the camera's AF sensor then it will focus on the small spot.
In the case of the cat picture, it would have been easy for the camera to decide on the cage as it is a very good contrast to the background, which is the cat in this case.

Noob question, what setting should I have the AF option set to for general shooting? It has One Shot, AI Forcus and AI Servo

londonandlawson wrote in post #7557356
Noob question, what setting should I have the AF option set to for general shooting? It has One Shot, AI Forcus and AI Servo

Depends on what you are shooting specifically.

I almost always shoot AI Servo but when I'm using my flash I use One Shot so I can use the focus assist on my 580EXii.

Why do you almost always use AI Servo?

londonandlawson wrote in post #7557743
Why do you almost always use AI Servo?

My subjects are almost always moving. My kids and 800 horsepower race trucks.

Also if you can't hold really still, AI Servo will help to adjust any movements you make. IMO

londonandlawson wrote in post #7557356
Noob question, what setting should I have the AF option set to for general shooting? It has One Shot, AI Forcus and AI Servo

i use one shot, unless its moving then Servo...i never use AI focus...are you just using one focus point, or do you have all selected?...i never let the camera choose what i'm focusing on

That may be why it seems like some pics seem only focused in one small spot then huh?

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Two from the nifty...

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DreDaze wrote in post #7557929
i use one shot, unless its moving then Servo...i never use AI focus...are you just using one focus point, or do you have all selected?...i never let the camera choose what i'm focusing on

So then you rotate through the focus points as opposed to allowing the camera choose where the "red" square falls on? is that what you mean?

rgomes wrote in post #7558706
So then you rotate through the focus points as opposed to allowing the camera choose where the "red" square falls on? is that what you mean?

yeah i try and do that...sometimes i'm lazy, and just use center and recompose...but not with this lens, as i feel like it may cause for missed focus due to the small DOF...the only time i use all focus points is when i'm shooting a bird in the sky...and even then i still use center only 75% of the time

using all focus points allows the camera to choose what to focus on, and i'd say it's not always going to focus on what you want...so choosing the focus point is a better way to make sure you get what you want in focus

^ That would be a major pain to constantly have to change.

I usually select the single, middle point for AF focusing - And if I want to compose something to either side of the photo, I just half-press the shutter, wait for AF, then recompose the shot, and shoot.

A couple with the fifty! Just got it...still learning! One of the hardest lessons to learn is to keep from automatically shooting at the largest aperture 1.8 in Av mode because you tend to overexpose your photos! Makes sense now...

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