A Theoretical Question - How Many Focal Points are TOO Many? 19 … 45 … 79 … 633? … More? … Has Digital Camera Evolution advanced so far, now - it's gummed up the works? … If a sensor...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

19 … 45 … 79 … 633? … More? … Has Digital Camera Evolution advanced so far, now - it's gummed up the works? … If a sensor has to deal with TOO MANY Focal Points, can it result in disaster, and make accurate exposure, difficult to maintain? … Please, consider it, and share your views. Would like to hear them …

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

I only use one focal point. That has always worked me. when I 1st started using SLRs, it was a Pentax K1000. It only had one focal point. That's what I am used to using. Don't need 999 focal points!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Soul Dr. wrote:

I only use one focal point. That has always worked me. when I 1st started using SLRs, it was a Pentax K1000. It only had one focal point. That's what I am used to using. Don't need 999 focal points!

Well, that's ONE WAY to look at it, huh? … But, the point I was making was this - in our rapid advances in AF Technology … we've been given more and more Focal Points, with every single iteration. I was simply wondering how far this has gone in messing up the camera's ability to give consistent AE results. That's all!

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Chris T wrote:

19 … 45 … 79 … 633? … More? … Has Digital Camera Evolution advanced so far, now - it's gummed up the works? … If a sensor has to deal with TOO MANY Focal Points, can it result in disaster, and make accurate exposure, difficult to maintain? … Please, consider it, and share your views. Would like to hear them …

I may be an outcast here but I usually use center point and back button focus, focus and recompose.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

My Olympus OM-D E-M5 II has 81 focus points and getting accurate exposure, only, has never been easier (mainly because of the live histogram in the EVF).
I normally use only one focus point only and having so many makes it easier to place the focus point over the subject.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Blurryeyed wrote:

I may be an outcast here but I usually use center point and back button focus, focus and recompose.

Blurry … first off - nobody here at the Hog is an outcast … secondly - not sure I understand how your stated technique can reign in AE because of complications derived from too many Focal Points ….

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

RichardTaylor wrote:

My Olympus OM-D E-M5 II has 81 focus points and getting accurate exposure, only, has never been easier (mainly because of the live histogram in the EVF).
I normally use only one focus point only and having so many makes it easier to place the focus point over the subject.

Richard - if you set it to use just ONE, then, the algorithms which go into effect when you use Multi-Focus of all 81 points - go to Hell in a hand-basket … secondly … how do you adjust position of just one, at the VF?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Chris T wrote:

Richard - if you set it to use just ONE, then, the algorithms which go into effect when you use Multi-Focus of all 81 points - go to Hell in a hand-basket … secondly … how do you adjust position of just one, at the VF?

I don't like to use all 81 focus points - 9 at the most (which you can move arond in a block if need be) - as I like to control where the camera focuses.
By using the "Super control panel" it is very easy. Just two button button presses and then move it around using the pad - takes about 2 seconds to place over the subjects eye. You do not have to move the camera away from your eye.
Better than focussing and recomposing.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

RichardTaylor wrote:

I don't like to use all 81 focus points (unless all the subject was on the same plane) - 9 at the most (which you can move arond in a block if need be) - as I like to control where the camera focuses.
By using the "Super control panel" it is very easy. Just two button button presses and then move it around using the pad - takes about 2 seconds to place over the subjects eye. You do not have to move the camera away from your eye.
Better than focussing and recomposing.

Ah, I see … so - you're NOT using just ONE, then - are you, Richard? … You're using NINE, in effect …

When you do those first TWO button presses, though - they can't be done with the eye at the EVF, can they?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Chris T wrote:

Ah, I see … so - your NOT using just ONE, then - are you? … You're using NINE, in effect …

When you do those first TWO button presses, though - they can't be done with the eye at the EVF, can they?

Incorrect - most ot the time just one focus point.
The selection can be done without removing your eye from the EVF.
Here is an example where I have moved the focus point to focus on the subjects eye.
.

f2.8 and F=150mm (Crop factor 2)

(Download)

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Just like to make a point, here. What I'm trying to find out is - whether you think there's any connection between missed AE with too many Focus Points, in play, at any given time. That's the point of all this ….

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Chris T wrote:

Just like to make a point, here. What I'm trying to find out is - whether you think there's any connection between missed AE with too many Focus Points, in play, at any given time. That's the point of all this ….

No - if you take control of the number of focus points used and the focussing method you select.
In other words take control over your camera.
There are other factors external to the camera body that will affect accurate auto focus.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

RichardTaylor wrote:

Incorrect - most ot the time just one focus point.
The selection can be done without removing your eye from the EVF.
Here is an example where I have moved the focus point to focus on the subjects eye.
.

Ah, there she is, again … neat, Richard ….

Well, my friend - whenever my one focus point on my Nikons - has moved (which seems to happen, now, at a much more alarming rate, than it ever did, before) I have to go thru all KINDS of machinations, it seems - before I can get it to come back to the center … and it CANNOT be done with my eye still glued to the VF!!!

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Chris T wrote:

whenever my one focus point on my Nikons - has moved (which seems to happen, now, at a much more alarming rate, than it ever did, before) I have to go thru all KINDS of machinations, it seems - before I can get it to come back to the center … and it CANNOT be done with my eye still glued to the VF!!!

I seem to recall reading somewhere that I can programme one button on my D800 to return the focus point to the centre position. But have never bothered looking into that.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The EOS R has up to 5655 selectable focus points and can focus in 0.05 of a second. From what I've read it works quite well so, 5655 obviously isn't too many.