jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

In using the SX50 and checking the exif data on my RAW image it says "Number of AF points 9" and above it says "AF Point Selected - Single Point AF". I know you can move the AF point/frame around, but does the SX50 pave the ability to select Multiple AF points to be active instead of just one? I have read through the manual several times in learning to use the features of the camera, but I don't ever recall it mentioning being able to have more than one AF point active at a time.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Multiple AF are not possible simply because you can focus only onto one plane, not many.

When you see many 'hit' on a multiple AF auto mode it simply indicates that all these points are on the same plane.

tinplater Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

I seem to recall one focus system that would choose the point where your eye was looking! Cameras of the future will probably just read our minds.....

oldgeezer3 Loc: SoCal

What I remember about AF is that you can choose all or any one of the points in the viewfinder.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Read the manual. I'm sure there's a section all about the focus points in your camera. If you have it set to 9 focus points, all that is telling you is that when you have it set to use only one, you can move it to any one of 9 positions in the frame. If you had it set to 19 focus points, then you'd have the ability to move that one focus point to any of the 19 in the frame before you shoot. For instance - you are framing your shot but the object you want to be in focus is on the left side of the frame. Simply move the focus point to the left side of the frame by choosing any one of the 9 or 19 focus points, give your shutter a half press and shoot. That part will be tack sharp but you'll still be able to capture everything else in the frame which may or may not be on the same plane (or the same distance) from your sensor.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

If I remember correctly it was a Canon camera back in the 70s or 80s. "Of the future".., mine already reads my mind and usually says that's not right stupid and just does its thing. Can't argue with progress.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

Thanks for explaining that to me, I didn't know that. I am used to being able to select between 1, 9, 21, 51 AF points on my D7100 depending what I am shooting at the time. When I say that it said there were 9 points in the SX50 and, a single point was selected, so it made we wonder if having more than one active at once was an option. Thanks again.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

I understand about them being on one plane. I may have worded it badly. What I was talking about is for example on my D7100 I can set say 9 AF points active. When I take a shot if the subject moves some, say side to side, as long as any of the 9 AF points are on the subject it can catch the focus. On the Canon SX50 it is saying that there is 9 AF points and that I have a single point selected. I know that I can select a different point but what I wondered is whether or not on an SX50you have the option of choosing a cluster of AF points to be active rather than just one single point.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Re-reading the initial question...

You are looking at a capture*.

That means one of two possible things (guessing)
- The auto-focus worked successfully at selecting the point of focus - Using the matrix -. (Remember only one point is really active - the selected focus point - even in large cluster) This being the most logical. (I had nine to chose from I was able to select one ~ success ~)
- The EXIF tells you that while you had the the cluster selected you moved the camera selected focusing point/plane to fine tune and doing so used a single point of focus. This is likely wrong as I am being influenced by or maybe not come to think of it...

I have been reading several pages on this and they confirm my opinion that:
1) Matrix accelerate the focusing speed (but not on super zoom that are digital - single point of focus is needed here)
2) Out of the matrix only one point is selected and that point can be modified (place an emphasis on a single one)
3) Other points of the matrix can be highlighted because they are within the focus plane

As to the exact EXIF information meaning I have not found any definite clue.

-----
* Sorry I did not pay attention to that.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I just downloaded your manual and checked. No, your camera doesn't have this ability. I'm sorry that I thought the bridge cameras did the same thing the DSLR's do. The SX50 is a higher end point and shoot so the functions are more like a point and shoot than a DSLR. Your camera doesn't have a group or cluster of focus points.

fantom Loc: Colorado

i had a Canon film SLR that did that and it was great.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

I think I understand now. Thank you again for your help.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

Thanks. I knew I read through it and didn't recall finding anything on selecting a cluster of AF points. I suspected it may not be an option, I just wanted to see if maybe I was wrong. Thanks again.