Question about the rebel (AF)

This may be a stupid question and related to the fact that this is my first SLR so I'm learning abotu how and why thinks work they are.

Generally I use a mixture of AF and MF for differen't situations. I tried to use more MF but in action situations it just seems like aF can do it so much better than I can.

The issue is and I'm guessing it's supposed to work this way, is whan Itake a shot in AF and preview the shot in the canon utility and check the "show ato focus points" I notice it only focuses one spot out of the seven for almost every shot?

Is this normal? Or could something be wrong with the camera?

Is there a common practice to help you get better use out of AF...like in my older P/S I was able to hit the button half way and get more AF out of the picture before taking the shot.

Thanks

Better use of AF is achieved by selecting AF points.

In Basic Zone modes (and A-DEP) camera selects AF points automatically.
In Creative Zone (P, Tv, Av, and M) you can do it yourself: select ALL focusing points or just the particular one, closest to the desired point of focus.

Check out pages 73, 74 in your Instruction Manual for details.

But you can't select more than one point...unless your selecting all points. I did look at the manual, although at the time it may have been more greek

ok I think I'm getting it, since I'm doign my macro and have been using MF.

In certain subjects it's best to focus center and some other if I'm doing certain scenary I may want to focus more to the right...

It's starting to make sense.

A lens can only optimally focus one distance at a time. If there are multiple locations in a scene which are at the same distance, mutiple points will light up...unless you have manually forced the camera to use particular AF point to focus on.

BTW, the focus point display shows only which AF zone in the camera was in focus, it does NOT indicate which object in the scene is the point of focus! For example, if you use center AF point all the time to focus, but then reframe the shot, the center AF zone lights, even if your wife (who you focused on) is elsewhere in the scene after reframing the shot before snapping the photo.

(blush).....uhm...I'd like to say I knew that.

Thanks Wilt. for allowing me to save face for any future conversation I may partake in lol

Now I can honestly say I get it

Wouldn't setting the aperture to a smaller size increase the focal point of the photo? As far as i've been told, anyways; the higher the number, the more focused the photo would be at the focal point, and the surrounding area.
This is what a Pro had told me; at least as I had understood it. I could be wrong, though - any confirmation on this would be greatly appreciated.

Huh, not quite so!
ed82264 you may take a look at this two pages:

http://www.canon.co.jp​/Imaging/enjoydslr/p_2​_006.html
http://www.canon.co.jp​/Imaging/enjoydslr/p_2​_007.html

Or go through the whole site:

http://www.canon.co.jp​/Imaging/enjoydslr/


Welcome to POTN!

Ok I'm proud to say that this aspect I knew LOL

whew....makes me feel much better about myself now

Well, Canucks are known to be a bit slow to learn, but when we finally get a grip on something we are just as bad as anyone else, eh!

Hermeto wrote in post #2375956
Huh, not quite so!
ed82264 you may take a look at this two pages:

http://www.canon.co.jp​/Imaging/enjoydslr/p_2​_006.html
http://www.canon.co.jp​/Imaging/enjoydslr/p_2​_007.html

Or go through the whole site:

http://www.canon.co.jp​/Imaging/enjoydslr/


Welcome to POTN!

Ok - so i meant the f-number. Aperture - F-Stop (confusing stuff)
This stuff is still all new to me. I've had my camera for a year now (i'm used to the point-and-shoot things), and i'm still figuring things out.
I even took a class, learned nothing from it, and learned more from forums and photographers that i talk to through them.
Thanks for the site, though; i'll definitely browse through this site for more information - it looks very informative

p.s. the photography class i enrolled in, i received an "A" for the class. I can take a picture, but i have no clue how a camera works and operates.

In that case, you are on the right spot!

You’ll find tons of information here, just make sure to read all of the FAQs and Stickies first..

Do not worry too much if you don’t understand something at first reading.
Eventually it will all fall in place as you progress..

Hermeto wrote in post #2376037
Eventually it will all fall in place as you progress..

At my rate, it should all fall in place in about 10 years, then.

One college class did nothing but confuse me, and talking with a few Pro photographers has been a little less confusing. Hopefully this site will give me a better insight on some of the concepts that i've been trying to learn.

I've had a couple of point and shoot Canons' before I purchased the XT; one major step, and have been lost since. But there's some amazing shots to be taken with this camera, in all given situations.
Now i just have to figure out someone that can clean the sensor correctly; it's been sent to two seperate places, and only to come back the same, or worse (with the last place).

Welcome aboard ed, this is a great place to learn.

Wilt wrote in post #2375664
A lens can only optimally focus one distance at a time. If there are multiple locations in a scene which are at the same distance, mutiple points will light up...unless you have manually forced the camera to use particular AF point to focus on.

BTW, the focus point display shows only which AF zone in the camera was in focus, it does NOT indicate which object in the scene is the point of focus! For example, if you use center AF point all the time to focus, but then reframe the shot, the center AF zone lights, even if your wife (who you focused on) is elsewhere in the scene after reframing the shot before snapping the photo.

You'd have to be careful and ensure the lighting has not changed when you recompose the shot.

ed82264 wrote in post #2376009
Ok - so i meant the f-number. Aperture - F-Stop (confusing stuff)
This stuff is still all new to me. I've had my camera for a year now (i'm used to the point-and-shoot things), and i'm still figuring things out.
I even took a class, learned nothing from it, and learned more from forums and photographers that i talk to through them.
Thanks for the site, though; i'll definitely browse through this site for more information - it looks very informative

p.s. the photography class i enrolled in, i received an "A" for the class. I can take a picture, but i have no clue how a camera works and operates.

Hi Ed

Welcome to the forum.

You should pick up a good book called, Understanding Exposures by Bryan Peterson. Lot of good information to help you better understand your camera.