AF Points on Canon 500D

[chriskey]

Please help!!! I am relatively new to photography, although I did a course 12 years ago, but only recently decided to take it up as my main hobby. I started low and have purchased a Canon 500D which came with 2 lenses which are pretty basic (I know I really need the IS or USM lens but these are just II and III I think!!). My main problem is the AF points. I have read and reread the manual but it doesn't help. Is it best to leave it on automatic selection (when not many lights turn red where I want them to), have the centre one on only or what?? If I have the centre one only it does seem slghtly better but for trees in the distance for e.g. they never seem correctly focussed. I am becoming very disheartened with my purchase and would appreciate any help/advice you can give me.
Thank you in anticipation of your help .

[karen_s]

First, don't be disheartened by your purchase. It takes time and patience to learn new tools and equipment. What you have can serve you quite well.

Second, focus points are up to you and how and what you like to shoot. For me, I take photos of birds, dogs in action, sports, and storms. I much prefer the one point (on continuous) focus and it's most often on the center point, although I do find times to change it up a bit.

And Aperture and Depth of Field (DOF) play a role in what appears to be in focus in an image. GIve those terms a good Googling or search for them here on DPS to begin to learn about how to control it.

Have patience, you'll get there.

[Rentham]

You should learn how to move your AF point around quickly without taking your face away from the viewfinder. Google "Focus and recompose method" for some good info.

[chriskey]

Thanks for this, I will follow your advice. I know I need much more practice but all help and advice is very welcome and much appreciated.