Multi Point AF Selection vs. Single Point AF Selection

I am just curious to know if there is any reason why one would choose to use Multi Point AF selection rather than a single point AF when photographing subjects. Does using multi point have any advantage over how well the resulting photograph is focus-wise.

I use single point AF most of the time and can't understand why people are so excited about how many AF points a particular camera has. Am I missing something?

Do you use the same AF point all the time ?

The one occasion when Mult-point might be better is when using AI-Servo and tracking a target that might move off the point. In this scenario the camera starts with the center point and then hands off focus to another point as needed.

StephenJames wrote in post #8610436
I use single point AF most of the time and can't understand why people are so excited about how many AF points a particular camera has. Am I missing something?

Multiple AF points spread across the view finder allow you to frame your composition at the point of taking the shot without the need to focus - recompose or to crop after the event.

I also tend to use just one focus point in my mk II, but have been known to select two adjacent focus points depending on what I am trying to track, how eratic its movement is and how big (or small) the point of high contrast I have my AF point is.

Bottom line - the more usable AF points you have the more options you have in terms of composition and focus accuracy.

Simon.

Centre point is the easiest to use. However, not everyone wants their subject to be dead centre in the frame, so use the other AF points to get focus on what's important.

Back in ancient times--before 1993--cameras had only one focus point, dead center. Nearly everyone focused with the center point and then recomposed the frame to put the subject in the desired position.

That still works 95% of the time.

RDKirk wrote in post #8610569
Back in ancient times--before 1993--cameras had only one focus point, dead center. Nearly everyone focused with the center point and then recomposed the frame to put the subject in the desired position.

That still works 95% of the time.

Unless of course you 're in servo mode...
In a wedding group shot I may be tempted to let the camera use more focus points and a narrower aperture to make sure everything is sharp

Hey, I use all focus points with servo focusing, when trying to shoot birds in flight and the lens is aimed upwards. Sometimes I also use this method when shooting landscapes, every other time I use the middle or top one.

RDKirk wrote in post #8610569
Back in ancient times--before 1993--cameras had only one focus point, dead center. Nearly everyone focused with the center point and then recomposed the frame to put the subject in the desired position.

I bought my first autofocus camera in 1991. It was called the EOS 10 and had three AF-points.

Things I use "All AF points" for:
Birds in flight
Airplanes in flight
Dancing couples or dancing groups
Certain sports where the action, movement and composition are impossible to predict

Things I use a single, manually selected AF point for:
Almost everything else

Janika wrote in post #8611963
Hey, I use all focus points with servo focusing, when trying to shoot birds in flight and the lens is aimed upwards. Sometimes I also use this method when shooting landscapes, every other time I use the middle or top one.

In case this was in answer to my post, I was referring to trying to focus then recompose, which in servo mode, becomes rather difficult...

Actually, considering how AI Servo works... it first acquires using the center point, then hands off to another point, if the center drifts off target.... focus and recompose might actually work..... never tried it.

Hedley wrote in post #8613843
I was referring to trying to focus then recompose, which in servo mode, becomes rather difficult...

Actually it's a piece of cake if you enable the custom function to use the * button for AF activation (or use the AF-ON button on a 1D).

AF point on target
Press button, allow focus, release button
Recompose & shoot.

Curtis N wrote in post #8613993
Actually it's a piece of cake if you enable the custom function to use the * button for AF activation (or use the AF-ON button on a 1D).

AF point on target
Press button, allow focus, release button
Recompose & shoot.

Not so easy if your subject is moving, which it probably is if you're in servo mode.

Curtis N wrote in post #8613993
Actually it's a piece of cake if you enable the custom function to use the * button for AF activation (or use the AF-ON button on a 1D).

AF point on target
Press button, allow focus, release button
Recompose & shoot.

this is incorrect way to shoot if shooting wide open/shallow DoF

you do not want to recompose after AF

i thought this had been discussed to point of excess?