AF Points, Am I lazy, Bad Habbits Or Ok?

Howdy All,

Im not sure if i have picked up some bad habits, or im being lazy or my method is correct...

I Have only ever used Auto AF points maybe 10 times, and never got anywhere with it, why im not sure? I guess because i havent really had a *Good Go* with it...

Currently, i always use the middle AF point

For Example, if i was taking a picture of a person, or a pet, first thing is hold my shutter button half down on the eyes or focal point to lock the AF. Then move my camera to recompose the shot, and fire away...

Im Going back to college to do a part time Photography course, and im think im being overly critical with myself with the way i shoot

So far, it works for me, the way i shoot, i get about 80% keeper rate, but it feels like im missing out on something important along the way?

Am i being daft, and over thinking?

Nowt wrong with that, especially if you use it in conjunction with the AE lock button (*). Also, the 450D's best AF point is the centre one, coz it's the only one which is a cross-type sensor.

There's nothing wrong with using the middle AF point and recomposing...

Not a fan of focus-recompose...but that's just me.

If you understand the limitations of it, there's no great drama. It's just personal preference.

If you don't understand the limitations of it....have a read of this site (the page title is a little aggressive, but the content is all sound).

Cosha wrote in post #9042132
Howdy All,

Im not sure if i have picked up some bad habits, or im being lazy or my method is correct...

I Have only ever used Auto AF points maybe 10 times, and never got anywhere with it, why im not sure? I guess because i havent really had a *Good Go* with it...

Currently, i always use the middle AF point

For Example, if i was taking a picture of a person, or a pet, first thing is hold my shutter button half down on the eyes or focal point to lock the AF. Then move my camera to recompose the shot, and fire away...

Im Going back to college to do a part time Photography course, and im think im being overly critical with myself with the way i shoot

So far, it works for me, the way i shoot, i get about 80% keeper rate, but it feels like im missing out on something important along the way?

Am i being daft, and over thinking?

You are likely two run into problems with center point focus-recompose.

1. Most obviously, if you are tracking a moving subject with servo focus and you do not want the subject to be centered in the frame, you cannot use the center point.

2. In situations with very shallow DOF focus recompose will often lead to focus errrors that are noticeable.

Thank-you for the input so far everyone!

@ SOK

Thank-you for the link, it made it brought a few things to light for me

@ JEFFG

This is where i start to crumble, on a moving object like a car or a dog running, with servo FC active and auto AF points, the AF points are not where i *think* they should be. This is why i got dumb founded. If i opened up my apature all the way, my brain said to me, you should have it focused there, but my camera locked on another point

I think i will have another look later.

It felt like a was missing something, but because i have never able to repeat any shots with auto AF, i dont really know what im missing out on

With my 400d, I usually focus/recompose. It's just too much work to find where the button is, turn the wheel until it's at the point I want. With my 30D on the other hand, a quick press of the multi-dial and press it in the direction I want, much much faster- I use focus points much more often now.

Auto AF is horrible - stay away from it at all costs!

Using off centre AF points is very, very useful. Even on the 400D i ussed to have, i had changed the SET button to AF point which meant one press of set, spin the wheel to the correct point and then shoot. Easy. The XXD series and XD series make it even easier by the use of the joystick.

I dislike focus/recompose as it is very easy to shift distance between camera and subject - hence the photos wont be as sharp as they should.

Will the 450 allow you to choose 1 focus point? I think it should, so check your manual.
And the xxD series will allow putting the selection on the joystick. Look in "Custom Functions".

Yes, it does allow me to select one of 9 (I think)

It does - certainly if it follows the 400D methodology.

What I love about this forum is that browsing around you can stumble onto gems of information that answer questions you didn't even know were there. This is such an elegant solution to changing AF point that I'd possibly argue that it could change the way I shoot. Would help if the custom function was better worded so I'd have figured it out when looking through rather than putting 2 and 2 together from your post. Thank you.

SwitchBlade wrote in post #9044891
What I love about this forum is that browsing around you can stumble onto gems of information that answer questions you didn't even know were there.

Perfect, i wouldnt of even gone looking for that!

Thank-you for your help, had a good AF bash last night, makes much more sence now so thank-you all again

PhotosGuy wrote in post #9042891
And the xxD series will allow putting the selection on the joystick. Look in "Custom Functions".

What I love about this forum is that browsing around you can stumble onto gems of information that answer questions you didn't even know were there. This is such an elegant solution to changing AF point that I'd possibly argue that it could change the way I shoot. Would help if the custom function was better worded so I'd have figured it out when looking through rather than putting 2 and 2 together from your post. Thank you.

At first, I missed it too! Someone else pointed it out to me & I use it all the time now.