Auto Focusing: Center point or all points?

[ElCapitan]

Just wanted to see how people use their autofocus. Do you only use the center point? All of the points? Or a mixture of the two? Do you switch it up depending on the situation or stick with one and only one? Why do you use the method you do and what kind of shots are you taking?

I tend to shoot only using the center point. In fact, I never use any of the other points. I do various types of photography from landscape and nature to sports and concerts, as well as some photojournalistic events. I shoot with the Canon 5D MkII and switch between the 24-70 f/2.8L, 100mm f/2.8, and the 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 IS. I personally like to have absolute control of my focus point. So when I can, I focus and then recompose the image. At shows, if I can, I focus and recompose, but if there is a lot of movement, I shoot dead center, but compose for the crop. Same with sports.

I have been very happy with my results, and while using all the points can work in certain situations. I'd rather not trust the camera to find the exact focus that I want. So what works for you?

[mcanseco]

I use multiple points, wherever my main subject is in my viewfinder, thats where I put the focus point.

[RecurrentNerve]

When you say multiple points, do you essentially mean full autofocus, or spot focusing? I use the latter exclusively.

[OsmosisStudios]

Depends entirely on the situation

[ElCapitan]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Depends entirely on the situation

Care to expand a little further on that? What are some situations that you use the different points or just center?

[OsmosisStudios]

90% of the time I use the centre point only, but thats mainly because I do mostly portrait work. WHen I do landscape, it's manual focus (hyperfocal distance, mainly).

On the very rare occasion that Im shooting anything more mobile, it goes into the centre-group on my D300s or 3D tracking.

[dcclark]

With my D40 (only 3 focus points), I almost always use the center one and recompose. Only if I'm in a situation where I have a very narrow depth of field, might I change over to another focal point. It's just simpler for myself that way.

[Michael_2010]

I use manual focus more and more. In many situations the autofocus will go crazy trying to decide on what to focus on when I'm trying to capture a landscape. Easier to turn AF off and then select the primary subject.

[NgaiHill]

I use autofocus a lot and usually use the centre spot, focus and recompose as necessary.

[navcom]

Manual focus here. Auto focus is a great tool but it's not perfect. I like perfect.