Tom Kelley Loc: Roanoke, Virginia

Is there any way to set a 'single' focus point while shooting in TV, AV or P mode. I use mostly Tv mode when shooting Birds and would like to not have to 'chase' a focal point. I know this seems like a silly question for someone who's been shooting a long time, but I'm just curious. I've been away from Photography awhile and just getting back into it. I just got my 6D and using my T3i for longer shots. I tell you, when you're away from it for awhile, it sometimes takes some getting used to it. Thanks for any help.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

You can set a T3i to use the center AF point. This may help: http://www.dummies.com/photography/cameras/canon-camera/set-an-autofocus-point-on-a-canon-rebel-t3-series-camera/

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

1.Set the Mode dial to P, Tv, Av, or M.
2.Press and release the AF Point Selection button. ...
3.To choose a single autofocus point, set the camera to Manual AF Point Selection mode. ...
4.Specify which AF Point you want to use.

--Bob

Tom Kelley Loc: Roanoke, Virginia

Thanks, i appreciate that info.

Tom Kelley Loc: Roanoke, Virginia

Thanks Bob, but how do i set the camera to Manual AF Selection Mode?

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Turn on the camera, press and hold the top/right most button on the back of the camera, and spin the control wheel. You should see the red lights flash when looking through the viewfinder. Stop when you have the focus point(s) you want....

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Tom, unfortunately, I'm not a Canon user. I can use Google pretty well, which is the way I found the steps I posted. I'd suggest looking in the index of the manual for the camera. Or perhaps Peter's suggestion will get the setting you want. Sorry.
--Bob

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

No worries, Bob. You were close, and I do have a T3i to test with....

Tom, if you need more help feel free to PM me...

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

Sandroots Loc: Glen Allen, VA

Bob,

On my Rebel SL1 the AF point selection button is on top right corner. Press it and Manual or Automatic Selection will appear. Hit the Set button to toggle between and then use then Cross Points to select the AF point you want. Hit Set again and you're done. Sandroots.

ggab Loc: ?

Don't know if you got the info yet, however:
1-Press "Q" button upper left of the WB selector
2-You Will see "MF" in the display. Press "Set" button.
3-Choose "AI Servo" for action Shots, ie tracking birds.
Hope this helps

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Are you sure about that? It will set the autofocus to different modes between single focus or continuous focus, but doesn't affect which focus points are used as far as I can tell.

To change the selected focus points requires holding down the top right button on the back of the camera and selecting the focus points using the main control wheel.

This may vary on different Canon models, but this is the method for the T3i.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Page 85 of the user manual for the T3i shows how (if you don't have the manual, it's free to download as a PDF from the Canon websites)...

First, the camera must be in P, Tv, Av or M exposure mode. (A+ and more fully automated scene modes like "Sports" or "Landscape" or "Portraits" override many settings, including AF setup.)

Next, press the AF point selection button, which is located at the very right hand, upper corner of the back of the camera. It's marked with a series of dots, that sort of look like a miniature of the AF point array.

Next, press the multi-directional button and/or the top dial to select the AF point you wish to use. The selected point will glow red. If you are in All Points/Auto mode, all nine points will glow red.

I think pressing "Set" right after pressing the AF Point selection button will toggle back and forth between All Points/Auto and Single Point/Manual AF point selection.

On your T3i (and your 6D, for that matter, though it has two more AF points for a total of eleven), most of the time you will probably want to use the center AF point only. That's a higher performance "dual axis/cross type" point. All the rest are lower performance single axis (some are vertical, some are horizontal). Later (T4i, etc.) and higher (70D, 80D, 7D, 5D-series, etc.) models have more dual axis points.

AF controls are actually pretty much the same on all Canon DSLRs... though the locations and which buttons or dials are used might vary a little bit. Some of the more advanced models have a "joystick" for more direct AF point selection. The latest models have a lot more focus "patterns", too. For example, 7D Mark II with 65 AF points (all cross type) has the same All Points/Auto and Single Point/Manual selection modes as your camera.... plus it has Zone, Large Zone, 4-Point Expansion, 8-Point Expansion and a special "Spot Focus" that uses a smaller, single AF point for greater precision.

Not to confuse the issue, but you also might want to explore using "Back Button Focusing". This is a popular setup for sports/wildlife because it allows you to use AI Servo focus as your default mode. That's for moving subjects, but without BBF it can be problematic at times when using other techniques, such as "focus and recompose".

One Shot is the other focus mode, intended for stationary subjects and not usable with moving subjects.

Your cameras also have "AI Focus" mode... but it's not a true focusing mode. That's just more automation... where the camera is supposed to detect whether or not the subject is moving, then switch to the use the correct AF mode: AI Servo or One Shot. In my experience, this sometimes works fine... but seems to make for a slight delay and sometimes chooses wrong or doesn't switch mode if a subject starts or stops moving. I don't recommend using AI Focus at all.

It's much faster and better to use AI Servo, which can be used with both moving and stationary subjects particularly when combined with BBF.

The only minor downside to AI Servo is that there's no Focus Confirmation. That only works in One Shot mode. It's simply not possible in AI Servo, which is "continuous focus" that's ideal whenever subjects (or you... or both) are moving. To work without Focus Confirmation, you just have to learn to trust yourself and the camera's AF system.

Hope this helps!

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

As usual, a very comprehensive response. One point of dissension is about how AI servo works. On the T3i AI servo gives a focus lock light on the first occasion, but not for subsequent continuous focus. On the T3i, with back button focus it is easy to use AI servo, but if something changes just releasing the button and starting over gives another focus confirmation.

Is this consistent with your understanding Alan?

Tom Kelley Loc: Roanoke, Virginia

Thanks everyone for your help,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i finally got it!