Focus (AF) help req.

[maliburose]

Am hoping someone can give me some advice. I have had a DSLR for just over 6 months and slowly learning how to use it etc but coming unstuck with a few points.

On of the general composition rules is about the rule of thirds, completely get it and cn see how it works etc. However here is where I come unstuck. I tend to use my camera with the AF set to auto, even if am shooting in different modes (Aperture mode etc), I havent mastered completely putting it on manual yet. So this is mu question, I want to focus on something say in the bottom quarter of the image but the camera only lets me set it to focus around the centre three points (in the little centre circle).

How do I do this? Is there something blindingly obvious I am missing here?

I am using an Olympus E420.

Please help?

[HillHavenStudio]

Try centering the thing you want to focus on and pressing the shutter button down half way to let the camera focus on it, then with the shutter button still halfway depressed re-compose the image in your viewfinder so that the object is where you want it. When you have the composition the way you want press the shutter the rest of the way down. Hope this helps!

[maliburose]

Originally Posted by HillHavenStudio

Try centering the thing you want to focus on and pressing the shutter button down half way to let the camera focus on it, then with the shutter button still halfway depressed re-compose the image in your viewfinder so that the object is where you want it. When you have the composition the way you want press the shutter the rest of the way down. Hope this helps!

What if the object is much closer when repositioned than the centre where the camera is actually focusing on... or is that a silly question!!?

[JAD40]

Originally Posted by maliburose

What if the object is much closer when repositioned than the centre where the camera is actually focusing on... or is that a silly question!!?

You should be able to just focus on your object by pressing the shutter halfway, and then move the camera so you get it framed the way you want.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by maliburose

What if the object is much closer when repositioned than the centre where the camera is actually focusing on... or is that a silly question!!?

No it's not a silly question. Once you focus on an object, and hold the shutter button half way down, it will lock the focus on the distance of that object, providing either you or the object isn't moving. If you move closer or farther away, you will have to refocus.

[navcom]

If your subject is not moving real fast (i.e. you are not doing something like sports photography), might I suggest going ahead and shutting of the AF and practicing your manual focus techniques? It will serve you very well in your photography and will ultimately yield great results.

While AF is a wonderful tool, it's not really something that can be reliably used all the time. There are many times it is much easier and more advantageous to focus manually. This is especially true with offset focusing like you are describing or when you are trying to isolate something that doesn't appear to the camera to be your subject. It's easy to get complacent and think the AF system has "found" your subject only to discover in post processing that it really focused about 1-2 meters behind your subject and your center of interest is slightly out of focus. It can be much easier to just focus manually where you have complete control.

I do mostly landscape photography. I rarely use the AF system for this type of shot. Manual is just easier and more reliable. In my opinion, learning manual focus skills is second only to learning proper exposure skills.

Hope that helps!