How many focus points do you use?

For most of the time I've had my 30d (12 months now), I've only used the centre focus point (when using AF). I thought that if I used any more, AF might not focus on what I want to be in focus (especially when using shallow DOF).

How many points do you use and why?

I use them all.

I found that when I shoot primes wide open, focus/recompose caused me to have all manner of OOF shots because I can't keep the camera to subject distance constant when I recompose....or the subject moves a little...I dunno.

So I used the C.fn on my 30D to reset the main wheel to change focus points (unless I'm shooting M mode which is usually with flash....then I like the focus points on the joystick). In any case, I'm very quick at spinning the dial and putting the active point on the subject.

With this method I nail the focus pretty much every time. All in all I'd rather have a non-center AF point on the subject then get a really accurate focus from the center point and then blow that focus recomposing.

I use them all. The only exception is when I am low light and the camera is having difficulty focusing, then I'll switch to the one I am looking to have in sharp focus.

One at a time. I change focus points based on the composition of the image.

Center. Let me get that one down every time, then I'll work on the others.

One

With the focus control moved to the " *" button on the back of the camera. That way I can decide where the focal point should be without needing to change it in the camera and recompose for the next image.

Most of my shots are taken @ 2.8 or larger with a very shallow DOF.

liza wrote in post #4130504
One at a time. I change focus points based on the composition of the image.

Ditto

I still shoot with the original Digital Rebel and I use the "center point, hold, recompose" method... it seems that on the 30D and 5D that I have gotten to mess around with, the 9 focus points look/feel like they might actually get what you want in focus most of the time... but with the Digital Rebel line, with only 7 focus points it dosn't seem as precise as the "center point & recompose." But maybe someone with more experience in the higher end cameras can give us some insight into the legitimacy of my theory?

One in sports.

All for a bird in flight

Only one, not center, when controlling DOF (or go manual).

I've gotten to the point where I know what my XT will do.

I just let it do its own thing when it comes to AF.

I manually control shutter speed though.

I only use the center focus point. I find if I let my camera select the focus points, it's wrong about 15% of the time and I can't afford that.

i use the center focus point, lock the focus with using * w/ c.fn IV set to 1:AE lock/AF and then recompose for expose and then capture.

ring of fire... that means 19 or 45 points for me to use... of course, the center point is the one i use to select the subject...

for oneshot mode, either all points or manually select one of the 19 points

I had always used center AF point. A couple of weekends ago, I shot an offroad race. I tried using all AF points with AI servo. The initial AF is done with the center point but it can then pass AF to another point if the subject moves. I had really good success. I don't remember any OOFs except for my missed pans.

Generally I have one point selected at a time. I select it based on the composition.