 Gord MacEachern |
picking the proper AF point Hi Everyone. I shoot a little bit of everything ie,macro,stills.landscape,and bit of portraiture.I use a canon rebel and always use manual mode. My question is should I be using the 7 point AF or should I ever be using the centre AF point? I have used the selector to select one focus point for the odd picture, but mostly I have been toggling back and forth from 1 to 7 just to find the best setting . Thanks Gord
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Bobby R. Strange |
I am a center focus guy myself. Most of the time I like knowing precisely where my focus is going to be. I rarely use more than just the center point focus.
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Gord MacEachern |
Thanks, I too seem to use the centre point more and more, Gord
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Amanda M. Freese |
This is a helpful question Gord :) My question is , if you're capturing an image that has your subject in the far right and environment in the remaining wouldn't you want to change the AF point to the right point to get the subject in focus? How do you get subject's faces in focus if you always or generally use the center AF point? I have a Canon Rebel XTI. (incase those settings are different)
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Gord MacEachern |
Hi Amanda I also shoot the XTI and a lot of times I do use the 7point AF but sometimes I have found that with that system you might still have a portion of the image out of focus,if it was a face then it would be a poor image. Most of the time I find it easier just to focus on the most important subject in the image with center focus then move the camera a little to get the best composition. That being said I also sometimes select the focus point by toggling the 7 points till I get one that covers the subject and take the photo. At one time I seemed to have the odd image that was out of focus on what I thought was the main subject, so I became more aware of my focus points. Maybe there is no "rightway" but just being more aware at the time of composing image that whatever focus selection is used that the suject is covered and in sharp focus. Hope I havn't sounded to confusing. Gord
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Amanda M. Freese |
ah yes, I see. nope not confusing :) that's the same method I use as well. . . thanks so much. .
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Pete H |
Some of the confusion arises from what the various camera makers call "AF Mode." There are three, (Single, dynamic and manual) Single point with up to 51 AF points with Nikon's newer D series are pressed into action for different reasons. Weather it's Canon or Nikon, focus is focus. How and when we use it is dictated by the situation at hand. The easiest for many is center point focus. We simply center focus on the subject. If the subject is off to the side; then we depress our shutter release part way while focusing on the subject, hold; and recompose the picture. Even this seemingly simple technique presents us with more options with today's DSLR's. We now have AE/AF where we can (lock) focus only, exposure only, or both. The usual way is to lock exposure only; makes sense if you think about it. Multi Points: Several focus points are VERY useful in many situations. One such situation I like is when the camera is tripod mounted and I don't want to change my composition at all. (i.e) photographing flowers. Next reason for multi points is tied to what many call "predictive" or "dynamic" focusing. This is when you focus on a object that might move (OFF) the center point focus, (i.e. a bird) the camera attempts to regain focus from the "other" focus points as the bird flies into them. This is also a great mode when shooting fast action sports. The latest generation of DSLR's have taken all of this a step further. Focus points can now be tied into the camera's metering system and over ride Matrix, Center and Spot metering! Truly amazing. The integration of focus points AND metering can easily become confusing, so reading the manual is more important now than ever.
Pete
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Your eyes.
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Gord MacEachern |
Thanks All
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