Focus Points
Apr 10, 2018 11:39:16 #
If you plan on doing focus stacking the additional points make selective focusing easier...
Apr 10, 2018 11:49:15 #
Love Wildlife wrote:
Hi I am new. I have a D3400 and it has 11 focus points. Do all those focus points in more expensive cameras really make a difference. And if so what did photographers do before all those focus points? I watched a video by a fairly famous photographer for National Geographic and he says it is all about the glass and the senser. Just curious I'm sure I will learn and create my own way as I go. Thanks UHHs.
Having a lot of focus points is all hype. 99% of the time you only use 1 so that you can choose which part of the composition is the most in focus. You can always lock focus and recompose. Or you can move that one focus point most anywhere in the viewfinder and shoot. Rarely do I use more than 1
Apr 10, 2018 11:51:26 #
As Rodpark2 has demonstrated, using focus lock gives you unlimited focus spot ability, by locking focus and recomposing. Nice pictures Rodpark2.
Another function of focus points:
Nikon has a 3D tracking mode that hands off focus to an adjacent focus point as the subject moves, as long as you keep the subject within the frame, the camera will auto focus on the subject. In this mode more focus points offer a more precise focus.
Another function of focus points:
Nikon has a 3D tracking mode that hands off focus to an adjacent focus point as the subject moves, as long as you keep the subject within the frame, the camera will auto focus on the subject. In this mode more focus points offer a more precise focus.
Apr 10, 2018 12:00:27 #
Love Wildlife wrote:
Hi I am new. I have a D3400 and it has 11 focus points. Do all those focus points in more expensive cameras really make a difference. And if so what did photographers do before all those focus points? I watched a video by a fairly famous photographer for National Geographic and he says it is all about the glass and the senser. Just curious I'm sure I will learn and create my own way as I go. Thanks UHHs.
Try a few tests on your own. Set your camera for one point and take a few shots. Then set it for all the points it has and shoot the same scene exactly. Put the images in your computer and check em out. I personally have found that a single point works best most of the time. Common sense tells me that it is impossible to put everything in an image in focus at the same time (on one image without any computer software tricks and without diminishing the quality of the focus in total) no matter how many points you have. How does a camera decide which one is in focus when there are 400+ to choose from? The number of focus points is simply not a determining factor to me when seeking to buy a camera.
Apr 10, 2018 12:16:05 #
Love Wildlife wrote:
Hi I am new. I have a D3400 and it has 11 focus points. Do all those focus points in more expensive cameras really make a difference. And if so what did photographers do before all those focus points? I watched a video by a fairly famous photographer for National Geographic and he says it is all about the glass and the senser. Just curious I'm sure I will learn and create my own way as I go. Thanks UHHs.
New, welcome to the Hog, I’m SS.
As some have said, they only use one point, that’s all their type of photography demands.
Yes, the more points you have the more versatile the cameras focus system is.
the faster your subject moves the more likely you are to need more points.
BUT, focus points aren’t all created equally. Pro cameras have better focus points with cross-points and multi-cross points to lock focus quicker and hopefully exactly where the focus is needed. Pro cameras also have more of the processor dedicated to the focus points and the action cameras have an extra processor JUST to run the focus system to make it more accurate still.
It just comes down to the kinds of photography you do.
I shoot lots of sports and wish I had more focus system on my Canon 1Dx. But when I shoot portraits I also wish I had a bigger focus point array as I use all my points for that too.
It’s the old horses for courses thing!!!
Again, welcome!!!
SS
Apr 10, 2018 12:29:17 #
therwol
Loc: USA
rodpark2 wrote:
In 95% of my shooting needs the center spot only i... (show quote)
Lock and recompose is how we did it with manual focus cameras when the focusing aid was in the center of the viewfinder. I would say that this works the vast majority of the time. Recomposing does change the plane of focus, so in theory, at a close distance with a wide aperture, it might cause your subject to be thrown out of focus a bit. I don't see that in your pictures, but it has occasionally happened to me. I tend to use 3D tracking on my Nikon D810, even with stationary subjects. The camera will follow the focal point as you move the camera around to recompose.
Apr 10, 2018 13:08:02 #
ToBoldlyGo
Loc: London U.K.
Those who say more than one focus point is hype, or just not needed, please read the other responses in this thread. I have explained why more can be important. Don't mean this to sound rude.
Apr 10, 2018 13:30:16 #
On a tripod I prefere to compose the background then move the active focus point to the eye of the subject, instead of focusing and recomposing each shot. More focus points allows for more precise placement of the active focus point.
Apr 10, 2018 13:38:26 #
I also use just center point focus, set to as small an area as possible.
Apr 10, 2018 14:06:55 #
I use one focus point and AFS (on the closest eye) when doing portraits, 11 points and AFC when shooting birds. Experiment and have fun!
Apr 10, 2018 14:38:24 #
I, too, use just one. That makes it easier for ME to TELL THE CAMERA what I want to be in focus. I lock it in place, then recompose.
Apr 10, 2018 14:40:30 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
tradio wrote:
My camera has 155 focus points, I use one, You have the ability to move them around if you don't need it to be right in the center.
I don't know how many focus points any of my cameras have because I only use the one in the center. Others turned off.
Apr 10, 2018 14:43:57 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
pappleg wrote:
Those of us who grew up with a single focus point ... (show quote)
Agree. Have continued the habit with switch to back button focusing.
Apr 10, 2018 15:06:46 #
Simple answer - not really...unless you want the camera to track moving subjects as they move across your focal plane witch is very common with sports photography. I mostly use a single focal point and then if I want to keep the frame/composition the same but focus on a different element I will often toggle the focal point over to that area of the frame. That can also be achieved by simply quickly moving your center focal point over to the area of interest, focusing, then moving back over to shoot the picture. Welcome to UHH.
Love Wildlife wrote:
Hi I am new. I have a D3400 and it has 11 focus points. Do all those focus points in more expensive cameras really make a difference. And if so what did photographers do before all those focus points? I watched a video by a fairly famous photographer for National Geographic and he says it is all about the glass and the senser. Just curious I'm sure I will learn and create my own way as I go. Thanks UHHs.
Apr 10, 2018 15:10:21 #
I agree - and that is a perfect example of how to use your additional focal points.
tayho wrote:
On a tripod I prefere to compose the background then move the active focus point to the eye of the subject, instead of focusing and recomposing each shot. More focus points allows for more precise placement of the active focus point.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.