19 Point AF on 7D

canon400d

Having read the manual on my 7D regarding the 19 point AF I must admit I am still somewhat confused. In the past I used the central point on my 40D 99% of the time and I was quite happy with this.
I have set the central point on my 7D. Am I missing out on something regarding all these other points. In simple terms when should I consider using these other AF points? Your views and advice would be well appreciated.
I have spent the last two days reading the manual and making myself familiar with the 7D and I am sure I am going to enjoy using this camera. I have retained the 40D as a back up.
Kind regards
Bob

Ric Grupe

For birds...flying=center...perched=center spot.

Works for me anyway.:D For wildlife I have found no use for zone af. One thing that is handy though is the ability to have a different af point in portrait (verticle). So I can focus on a herons head and still get the rest of his body in the frame. Center is still the most reliable.

gecko0

I typically use the other focus points when I want to compose my shots with the subject off-center. It's more accurate to do this vs. focusing and recomposing off of the center point.

Dan7312

The center point is the most sensitive. If you are using a single point to focus sometimes moving it lets focus on something that is off center and and up with a better composition. There is a custom setting (that I can't remember at the moment) that let's you move the focus point around while you are looking through the viewfinder, with the joystick on the back.

canon400d wrote: »

Having read the manual on my 7D regarding the 19 point AF I must admit I am still somewhat confused. In the past I used the central point on my 40D 99% of the time and I was quite happy with this.
I have set the central point on my 7D. Am I missing out on something regarding all these other points. In simple terms when should I consider using these other AF points? Your views and advice would be well appreciated.
I have spent the last two days reading the manual and making myself familiar with the 7D and I am sure I am going to enjoy using this camera. I have retained the 40D as a back up.
Kind regards
Bob

Ric Grupe

Dan7312 wrote: »

There is a custom setting that let's you move the focus point around while you are looking through the viewfinder, with the joystick on the back.

I did not know that! Thanks...now I gotta look it up.

Dan7312

Menu, 10th from the left, Cn Fn IV, Custom controls, AF Direct Point Selection.

Not from memory, I grabby my camera...:D

Ric Grupe wrote: »

I did not know that! Thanks...now I gotta look it up.

Ric Grupe

Dan7312 wrote: »

Menu, 10th from the left, Cn Fn IV, Custom controls, AF Direct Point Selection.

Not from memory, I grabby my camera...:D

SET! Thanks...this should be a big help in the field. Can't wait to try it...but the weather here says I'll have to.

BTW...this is the last available setting (as you indicated) and mine was labled "not set" and changes to "af direct point selection" after you change the setting...in case others are having a hard time finding it.

Dan7312

Oh, there's another custom setting you can use to change the weather. As soon as I get a chance I'll look for it:D:D:D

Ric Grupe wrote: »

SET! Thanks...this should be a big help in the field. Can't wait to try it...but the weather here says I'll have to.

BTW...this is the last available setting (as you indicated) and mine was labled "not set" and changes to "af direct point selection" after you change the setting...in case others are having a hard time finding it.

Ric Grupe

Dan7312 wrote: »

Oh, there's another custom setting you can use to change the weather. As soon as I get a chance I'll look for it:D:D:D

Hey...let's get on that asap!!!

divamum

gecko0 wrote: »

I typically use the other focus points when I want to compose my shots with the subject off-center. It's more accurate to do this vs. focusing and recomposing off of the center point.

canon400d

divamum wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your views and advice that really has put my mind at ease.
Cheers
Bob

colourbox

gecko0 wrote: »

I typically use the other focus points when I want to compose my shots with the subject off-center. It's more accurate to do this vs. focusing and recomposing off of the center point.

Specifically, if you use narrow depth of field, your rotation of the lens during using the center point and recomposing can actually angle your subject out of the in-focus zone. In these cases, composing first and using the closest non-center point can improve accuracy. Linked explanation:
http://visual-vacations.com/Photography/focus-recompose_sucks.htm

If you usually shoot with deep depth-of-field, I wouldn't worry about it so much, keep using that center point.

Matthew Saville

colourbox wrote: »

Specifically, if you use narrow depth of field, your rotation of the lens during using the center point and recomposing can actually angle your subject out of the in-focus zone. In these cases, composing first and using the closest non-center point can improve accuracy. Linked explanation:
http://visual-vacations.com/Photography/focus-recompose_sucks.htm

If you usually shoot with deep depth-of-field, I wouldn't worry about it so much, keep using that center point.

Yep, "focus+recompose" is the devil, and I never do it if I can avoid it. I'd rather use manual focus than focus+recompose, depending on the situation...

=Matt=

canon400d

Matthew Saville wrote: »

Yep, "focus+recompose" is the devil, and I never do it if I can avoid it. I'd rather use manual focus than focus+recompose, depending on the situation...

=Matt=

Thanks ColourBox and you too Matthew a very sound piece of advice which I will certainly keep in mind.
Cheers
Bob