Do you use Auto Select AF points?

[Arjay12345]

Morning
Just been reading the latest DPS newsletter which has a piece on focussing considerations and the use of the different AF areas available in DSLRs.

My question is does anyone really use the auto select AF point mode? I've tried using a few times and I always find that my camera (EOS 50D) picks the nearest object but more often than not this isn't my main topic/subject, so instead I almost always use a manual select on my centre focus point, and half-click to lock focus before recomposing.

Have I missed the point of autoselct AF? Admitedly, I haven't done much fast moving photography.

Thanks
Arjay

[Bluenoser]

Funny you should mention this. I read the article you refer to and it opened my eyes somewhat. I had never tinkered with that function previously so it was defaulted to "auto". I did some more digging around the net to find out what I could after reading the article and now have switched to manual. I went through some old photos that I had with bad focus, and think that using auto may have been one of my problems.

Anyway, from now on I'm going to use manual, especially when shooting Macro.

[BCampbell]

I almost always use the center focus point only, but this is mainly because my camera (300D) has pretty bad autofocus and that's the only one that's a cross-type. If I'm shooting with fast glass, I have to use the center point, really.

You have nine cross-type points, so you have more leeway. I wouldn't be afraid to use any individual point if I were you. But manually selecting a point is a good idea.

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by Arjay12345

Morning
Just been reading the latest DPS newsletter which has a piece on focussing considerations and the use of the different AF areas available in DSLRs.

My question is does anyone really use the auto select AF point mode? I've tried using a few times and I always find that my camera (EOS 50D) picks the nearest object but more often than not this isn't my main topic/subject, so instead I almost always use a manual select on my centre focus point, and half-click to lock focus before recomposing.

Anyone who has been shooting with a DSLR for awhile will be manually selecting the focus point instead of letting the camera decide what should be in focus. As the photographer you are the one making all the creative choices when you're out shooting, not your camera...so you should be the one who decides what to focus on, not your camera.

Originally Posted by Arjay12345

Have I missed the point of autoselct AF?

No. You should be manually selecting the focus point since you're the one deciding what your main subject is...the camera doesn't know and doesn't care.

If you haven't already tried it, you might want to give Back Button Auto Focus a try. I don't know anyone who uses the shutter button to lock focus anymore. It feels weird at first, but once you get used to it you'll never want to use the shutter button to lock focus.

[sk66]

It depends....

I use auto select predictive focus and continuous when photographing fast moving subjects. Sometimes I use "trap focus" (a Nikon feature) or zone focus for this.

For slower/stationary subjects I will use spot focus and select which spot.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by Samanax

If you haven't already tried it, you might want to give Back Button Auto Focus a try. I don't know anyone who uses the shutter button to lock focus anymore. It feels weird at first, but once you get used to it you'll never want to use the shutter button to lock focus.

Except I have to move focus back to the shutter release for use with remote unless I'm also manually focusing.

[inkista]

sk66--this is why I love having C1 and C2 on my 50D's mode dial. I set up C1 for birding with back-button autofocus. I should probably set up C2 to do MLU ...I hate digging down into the custom functions.

I'm still experimenting with not using a single AF point for birding, since I now have the 50D's AF array. But I haven't quite sussed it, and often find myself going back to ol' reliable center-point. Bad habits my XT taught me.

[Athas_orm]

I nearly always use the center focus point. I just find it easier to focus then compose.

Although I think I may give that rear button thing a go.

[Garlic City Grandpa]

Originally Posted by Samanax

Anyone who has been shooting with a DSLR for awhile will be manually selecting the focus point instead of letting the camera decide what should be in focus. As the photographer you are the one making all the creative choices when you're out shooting, not your camera...so you should be the one who decides what to focus on, not your camera.No. You should be manually selecting the focus point since you're the one deciding what your main subject is...the camera doesn't know and doesn't care.

If you haven't already tried it, you might want to give Back Button Auto Focus a try. I don't know anyone who uses the shutter button to lock focus anymore. It feels weird at first, but once you get used to it you'll never want to use the shutter button to lock focus.

I don't know why I haven't weaned myself off the shutter button to lock focus. I've lost more than a few good shots because of futzing around with the shutter button. Thanks for reminding this newby there are reasons why the Back Button AF exists.

[Naois]

Originally Posted by Samanax

If you haven't already tried it, you might want to give Back Button Auto Focus a try. I don't know anyone who uses the shutter button to lock focus anymore. It feels weird at first, but once you get used to it you'll never want to use the shutter button to lock focus.

I read that link but I can't find any benifit in that compared to just using a manually selected focus point in AF-S (Single Focus) and holding the shutter half way.

I don't have a Canon so I can't really play with it to feel the difference and I don't seem to have a feature like that on my Nikon (D40x).