What value is there in being able to move the focus point?
Aug 1, 2019 07:50:24 #
hobbit123 wrote:
Read the article but still remain unconvinced. Viz:
"With my AF point solidly on the eye, I focus and I keep pressing the AF-On button as I fire away in short bursts"
Yes that's exactly what I do. I don't move the AF point.
Ironically it was your article on BBAF that convinced me to adopt it :-)
"With my AF point solidly on the eye, I focus and I keep pressing the AF-On button as I fire away in short bursts"
Yes that's exactly what I do. I don't move the AF point.
Ironically it was your article on BBAF that convinced me to adopt it :-)
You quoted a piece of text and it's out of context. The second sentence is the most critical. Here's the complete quote:
"With my AF point solidly on the eye, I focus and I keep pressing the AF-On button as I fire away in short bursts. Since the camera is in AF-C, this effectively compensates for any minor changes in subject distance and keeps critical focus consistently on the eye."
This was the section of the article that talked about using the technique to compensate for minor subject movement. If there is minor movement between yourself and the subject, when you attempt to focus and recompose, you often find that the eye falls slightly out of focus - my way keeps it consistently sharp. :)
However, it also depends on how picky you are too. I run workshops all the time and have discovered that what most people consider "sharp" I would consider a throwaway. So YMMV :)
Aug 1, 2019 07:51:38 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Yeah, unless the camera is on a tripod, I can't imagine using the joystick of LCD to change the focus point. BBF does it for me.
Aug 1, 2019 08:01:28 #
hobbit123
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
Steve Perry wrote:
You quoted a piece of text and it's out of context... (show quote)
Still not sure what that has to do with changing the focus point using either the joystick or touch screen?
Aug 1, 2019 08:15:12 #
juan_uy
Loc: Uruguay
hobbit123 wrote:
Still not sure what that has to do with changing the focus point using either the joystick or touch screen?
How would you use AF-C focusing on an eye that is not in the center of the frame without moving the focus point?
You can't, that's why the technique that Steve explains is only possible moving the focus point.
Also, another reason to move the focus point is that, in some shots, if your focus point is too near to the border and the subject is close, recomposing will end up with your subject out of focus
Aug 1, 2019 08:15:29 #
hobbit123 wrote:
Still not sure what that has to do with changing the focus point using either the joystick or touch screen?
Not sure I follow - you mean why I do it?
I think the part that may be missing from our conversation is that, when I'm concerned about minor subject movement, I keep AF engaged with the AF point on on the eye the entire time. With the AF-On button pressed, if the subject moves or sways a little (or if I do LOL), the camera adjusts and keeps critical focus on the eye.
Aug 1, 2019 08:38:57 #
Steve Perry wrote:
I actually did an article on this exact topic - I think you'll want to move your AF points after you read it :)
https://backcountrygallery.com/the-secret-to-sharp-eyes-better-compositions/
https://backcountrygallery.com/the-secret-to-sharp-eyes-better-compositions/
Thank you for posting your articles. I used your links and read three that I had not previously read. Yesterday I shot about 200 photos of a Bald Eagle as I moved closer to the subject but I turned millions of disappointing pixels into crop dust during PP. I chuckled as I read your article about cropping because I thought you had written my biography.
Aug 1, 2019 08:57:40 #
Steve Perry wrote:
I actually did an article on this exact topic - I think you'll want to move your AF points after you read it :)
https://backcountrygallery.com/the-secret-to-sharp-eyes-better-compositions/
https://backcountrygallery.com/the-secret-to-sharp-eyes-better-compositions/
Aug 1, 2019 09:00:25 #
gtilford
Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Here is my simplest example, I have a Great Blue Heron who has stretched himself right out standing tall and if I do not shoot in portrait then I cut his feet off. I want to lock my focus point on his eye but again using the center point I would cut his feet off so I move the focus point to the top in portrait mode, compose my shot and fire away.
Aug 1, 2019 09:06:48 #
gtilford
Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Steve Perry wrote:
I actually did an article on this exact topic - I think you'll want to move your AF points after you read it :)
https://backcountrygallery.com/the-secret-to-sharp-eyes-better-compositions/
https://backcountrygallery.com/the-secret-to-sharp-eyes-better-compositions/
I just went and read your article Steve and it was a bit comical....I had just explained when I would move my focus point using the Great Blue Heron as and example and your article showed that exact scenario. Great article btw and I have signed up to receive future updates.
Aug 1, 2019 09:49:58 #
hobbit123 wrote:
Many cameras now come with the ability to change the focus point to anywhere in the frame, often by using a joystick or by touch. I have always used back button autofocus where I focus on the subject then just recompose. The other way seems much slower to me... or am I missing something (wouldn't be the first time :-)
It is very useful when using a tripod - especially for focus stacking.
Aug 1, 2019 09:50:42 #
There are so many ways to accomplish things. In most situations I follow Steve's lead. My focus point is seldom centered when things are moving. A press of a button bring it to center when needed.
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Aug 1, 2019 10:07:10 #
hobbit123 wrote:
Not sure I understand why using a tripod makes it any more difficult to recompose. I have a Manfrotto with a ball head and recomposing is simply a matter of releasing the clamp and moving the camera. It's not exactly rocket science...
By the time you have locked focus and then unclamp, rotate, level, re-clamp, check, re-adjust, re-clamp and check the frame again your subject may have moved. I find it much easier to set up the shot and move the focus point to where I want it when I am ready to shoot. If your way works best for you stick with it, but give the other way a try. It really depends on how easy it is to control the focus point on your camera. I find a joy stick is much easier to use than a multi-function wheel.
Aug 1, 2019 10:17:32 #
hobbit123 wrote:
Many cameras now come with the ability to change the focus point to anywhere in the frame, often by using a joystick or by touch. I have always used back button autofocus where I focus on the subject then just recompose. The other way seems much slower to me... or am I missing something (wouldn't be the first time :-)
Being able to move the focus point when taking multiple shots for focus stacking is a huge help
Aug 1, 2019 10:20:06 #
I went to a Pow Wow a couple weeks ago to photograph Native Americans in their traditional regalia (go to my UHH posts to see them). The participants were dancing and moving. I wanted the focus point to be on each persons face but keeping the focus point it in the middle of the frame instead of moving it towards the top would have caused me to miss out on a substantial amount of each dancers colorful regalia.
Aug 1, 2019 10:30:08 #
Steve Perry wrote:
Thank you for posting this article! And despite your indirectly promoting your own website, thank you for introducing me to it as well. I bet most of your articles are useful to those who are not Nikon users. I actually did an article on this exact topic - I think you'll want to move your AF points after you read it :) https://backcountrygallery.com/the-secret-to-sharp-eyes-better-compositions/
Sincerely,
lev29
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