Recomposing while still HALF PRESSING the shutter button

I really don't know how to search this topic, so i just created a new thread...
i often find myself using center focus point only and spot metering and after i focus on my subject i recompose WHILE STILL HALF PRESSING THE SHUTTER BUTTON to either put my subject on the side of the photo or any angle i want, i also do this to spot meter and focus on my subject correctly and then recompose to include the background...

what do you think about this? i don't know what its called, and i don't if i should be doing it, but so far i found it to be quite effective for some of my shots. or if you have better ideas on how i should spot meter please enlighten me. thank you

"Focus and recompose"

Better idea on how to spot meter: Manual mode.

i am in manual mode, using spot meter and single focus point. i don't have a problem with this technique, i just don't know if its correct or do any of you guys do this..

I do it and from what I've heard a lot of other people on this forum do as well. I believe the understood definition for what this is called is "focus and recompose" (as in my post above), if you do a search you should find plenty of threads on it.

There have been plenty of threads and polls on "focus and recompose", I do it quite often myself, especially with the Rebel cause it's a pain to set focus points with that thing. The 20d/30d has that nifty multi-dial on the back which makes it a lot easier. When using fast aperture lenses like the 50 f/1.8 or 85 f/1.8 it's a bit more accurate to use a closer focus point then to move the camera.

Its a useful technique sometimes but with wide apertures it can be near impossible to obtain correct focus (ie portraits where eyes should be in focus are very difficult to achieve with focus recompose).

I prefer to choose my focus point as I find I get better results that way.

I am not sure I follow the 'manual mode, using spot meter', but focus/recompose is a common technique.

* As DStanic mentioned - beware depth of field issues.
* If your camera allows you to move focus off the shutter button, that makes focus/recompose easier.
* If your camera has an easy way to lock exposure - this would allow you to use one of the 'creative modes', spot meter on a particular part of the scene, lock focus on another part, recompose & shoot (but if you are comfortable with manual this does not help)

arkphotos wrote in post #9531239
I am not sure I follow the 'manual mode, using spot meter', but focus/recompose is a common technique.

* As DStanic mentioned - beware depth of field issues.
* If your camera allows you to move focus off the shutter button, that makes focus/recompose easier.
* If your camera has an easy way to lock exposure - this would allow you to use one of the 'creative modes', spot meter on a particular part of the scene, lock focus on another part, recompose & shoot (but if you are comfortable with manual this does not help)

agree.. if you are using spot metering and pressing the * button to lock the exposure, or using spot metering and manually setting the exposure for the same result makes no difference.

check out custom function #4 (at least on my cameras) using the * button for AF lock is in fact very useful and easier then holding down the half-press shutter. I was a non-believer (thought it was only useful for sports or something) but when I started using it for everyday stuff I found it is in fact a great tool.

I think that, if your subject doesn't move at all, & you don't move either, & you're not shooting close-ups wide open, then it would be OK.
OTOH, if you're shooting kids, dogs, or anything moving, then it's not going to work very well. Picking the focus point I need & AI Servo would be my first choice.

DStanic wrote in post #9531319
agree.. if you are using spot metering and pressing the * button to lock the exposure, or using spot metering and manually setting the exposure for the same result makes no difference.

check out custom function #4 (at least on my cameras) using the * button for AF lock is in fact very useful and easier then holding down the half-press shutter. I was a non-believer (thought it was only useful for sports or something) but when I started using it for everyday stuff I found it is in fact a great tool.

you mean after i press the shutter button and focus on my subject using the center focus, i should simultaneously press the * button to lock AE? then recompose?

DStanic wrote in post #9531180
There have been plenty of threads and polls on "focus and recompose", I do it quite often myself, especially with the Rebel cause it's a pain to set focus points with that thing. The 20d/30d has that nifty multi-dial on the back which makes it a lot easier. When using fast aperture lenses like the 50 f/1.8 or 85 f/1.8 it's a bit more accurate to use a closer focus point then to move the camera.

i don't find it difficult to change focus point in my camera,i only press 1 button and the wheel...its just that sometimes i want to take 3 to 4 different angles in one pose... so while the subject is still posing i don't want them to wait while i fiddle with the focus points, thus i use this technique

monk3y wrote in post #9530764
i am in manual mode, using spot meter and single focus point. i don't have a problem with this technique, i just don't know if its correct or do any of you guys do this..

I am going to guess that 90% of us do the same thing

monk3y wrote in post #9535198
you mean after i press the shutter button and focus on my subject using the center focus, i should simultaneously press the * button to lock AE? then recompose?

Custom function 4 has a couple options, I have it set so that the * button is exclusively for auto focus (doesn't do anything for focusing) and shutter half press is for exposure lock. I like this because once I let go of the * button, the focus has been set and I don't need to worry about it accidentally focusing on something else.

DStanic wrote in post #9536045
Custom function 4 has a couple options, I have it set so that the * button is exclusively for auto focus (doesn't do anything for focusing) and shutter half press is for exposure lock. I like this because once I let go of the * button, the focus has been set and I don't need to worry about it accidentally focusing on something else.

by this setting you mean every time you focus on something you have to press * for the camera to autofocus?

is it possible to spot meter on something else then press * to lock AE, then recompose then half press the shutter to focus on my subject without changing the exposure?

monk3y wrote in post #9536071
by this setting you mean every time you focus on something you have to press * for the camera to autofocus?

is it possible to spot meter on something else then press * to lock AE, then recompose then half press the shutter to focus on my subject without changing the exposure?

By default the * button is for AE lock, which you can then recompose and focus on whatever you want.

You will have to check your camera manual for other settings, the T1i might be different then my 20d/30d.