5D and AF?

[George_Lund]

Hey, do you guys use the center af point more often than not? My 5D sure seems to want to focus on the closest point no matter how little it sticks out from the rest of the pic when I leave it on auto af ( leave all 9 points active ) It seems that I am using the zoom or recomposing alot more than when I used my 20D.
I have not used the center point only that much with my 10D or 20D, is that a good option when doing weddings and receptions when I and the ppl are on the move most of the time?
Thanks, George

[Eric_Chan]

George, I do not recommend focus/recompose with the center point because you will likely backfocus the subject, especially if you are shooting at close distances with large apertures. See

http://visual-vacations.com/Photogra...pose_sucks.htm

for an explanation of why.

I also do not recommend using all 9-pt auto-selection of AF points, because then you are letting the camera decide what to focus on, instead of letting the photographer (you!) decide.

I recommend using manual AF point selection with the joystick. You can use the custom functions to make this particularly fast to access, i.e. just press one button with your thumb to set the AF point.

Eric

[Ben_Rubinstein]

The AF points of the 5D are so closely grouped together that it is next to impossible not to have to focus recompose to some degree. The outer focus points are not fast to lock on with my 24-105L even with the flash assist light to the point where in low light they are unuseable. Use the center focus points if you are shooting at f2.8+, likely hood is that unless shooting very close portraiture the advantages far outway any disadvantages when shooting in the real world.

[NickSpurrier]

George, I would recommend that you go to the Fred Miranda site and check out the auto-focus sticky thread in the Canon gear forum. Personally, though I love the Canon DSLRs I think the autofocus is suspect and nearly always focus manually if there's time to do it. If not, I'll use the centre focus point with a f2.8 or wider lens and an aperture to give good DOF if I have to focus and recompose.