Recomposing while still HALF PRESSING the shutter button

DStanic wrote in post #9536133
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.

actually i saw this setting already, im just not sure how it works thanks a lot.

i will just have to try and change AE/AF lock buttons

When using the custom focus lock function...

after I focus on my subject and recompose so that the subject is to one side of the frame, I review my shot and see that my red focus point isn't on the subject anymore but in the middle of nowhere, in the center.

Is this normal. Do I believe the red focus point?

BLUEONION wrote in post #9537459
When using the custom focus lock function...

after I focus on my subject and recompose so that the subject is to one side of the frame, I review my shot and see that my red focus point isn't on the subject anymore but in the middle of nowhere, in the center.

Is this normal. Do I believe the red focus point?

The camera doesn't know that you recomposed; it is showing you the point that was used to achieve focus at the time you did so.

BLUEONION wrote in post #9537459
When using the custom focus lock function...

after I focus on my subject and recompose so that the subject is to one side of the frame, I review my shot and see that my red focus point isn't on the subject anymore but in the middle of nowhere, in the center.

Is this normal. Do I believe the red focus point?

Entirely normal - it will always show the focus point you used. So if you recompose this might well be in the middle of nowhere!

I dislike focus/recompose as you have to be very careful to ensure that the subject is still in the focal plane ie the distance from the subject has not changed and the angle to the subject is the same ( the focal plane is at a set distance so a change of angle can alter the distance and knock the subject out of focus). This is especially true with wide apertures (f1.4-2.8) as the depth of field can be razor thin.

I totally agree, which is why I qualified what I said with, "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."
AI Servo is my choice every time when something can move.