Newbie: Tips on AF or Manual focus points.

[gokulagiridaran]

Hello Friends

Please provide some tips on using Focus points. How to use it efficiently, when we shoot portraits.

Camera : Canon D500.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Squid]

For portrait photograph taking, the intent is to get both eyes in focus. Hence, aim (or aim-and-compose) at the eyes or the nose bridge between eyes during focusing.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

If you use the "half-press to achieve focus-lock, then recompose", be careful that you don't change the distance between camera and focus point when you recompose. Otherwise your focus will be off slightly.

 

[gokulagiridaran]

Thx all.

 

[sabee]

Just curious, when people take portraits that have the subject off centre, do you use the centre AF point to focus and recompose or do you try to set it to a AF point that is closest to the subject and recompose after focusing with that AF point (instead of just using the centre AF point)

 

[Octarine]

Just curious, when people take portraits that have the subject off centre, do you use the centre AF point to focus and recompose or do you try to set it to a AF point that is closest to the subject and recompose after focusing with that AF point (instead of just using the centre AF point)

Both can work. If you have wide aperture than you better don't recompose. But: why do you think cameras have more than one AF point? Use it, you have paid for it. :bsmilie:

 

[sepia]

Just curious, when people take portraits that have the subject off centre, do you use the centre AF point to focus and recompose or do you try to set it to a AF point that is closest to the subject and recompose after focusing with that AF point (instead of just using the centre AF point)

If using small aperture, prefer to use centre AF and recompose because can shoot faster. Otherwise will set AF point that is closest to subject to reduce the risk of getting OOF picture.

Exception is when using longer focus length, I always use 2nd method regardless of aperture size.

 

[sabee]

That's the thing isn't it, most cameras have AF points that are arranged in a diamond.

For example, when photographing using the rule of thirds, no AF point will land directly on the subject and you have to recompose anyway. If you move your subject from the left of the frame to the right of the frame, you have to set the AF point all over again. Of course I understand that its better to use the point that's closest to do the AF, but I'm just curious if its actually something that's practised rather than preached.

 

[Reportage]

Hello Friends

Please provide some tips on using Focus points. How to use it efficiently, when we shoot portraits.

Camera : Canon D500.

Thanks in advance.

simplest tip,

aim dead centre at point of interest and then crop where necessary for the look you want.

reasoning is because the centre cross sensor usually is the best sensor in just about all digital cameras.