davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Are you talking "focus" or exposure? Not one of my three Canons has this feature. Not even you eye can multi-focus.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

David,

Respectfully, I suggest you open your user manual and study both focus and exposure metering.

Are you using a later model Canon EOS digital SLR camera?

My EOS 1000D has at least 7 points.

Canon Focus Points

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Tracy, DoF was difficult for me to digest so I made a study of it until I could grasp most of the requirements. A DoF calculator is an absolute must, imo. One other thing, I had each of my lenses calibrated to my camera by a professional camera shop. The cost was $28.50 per lens, which is about average, and it was well worth the expense. Good luck.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Thanks Dave.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

:thumbup:

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Please post some of your multi-focused photographs of your own choice.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

I do not use multi-point focusing points because I take control away from the camera. If you want to control how your camera performs auto focus you use center spot focus, lock the focus and compose the best picture.

If you want the camera to dictate what and how you capture an image then use multi-point auto focus. Take whatever the camera thinks is best for you.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I'm glad a started this post. Thanks for the advice. If i wouldn't have asked, I would have use multi-point auto focustomers points.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

There appears to be nothing in that page to suggest that the camera will simultaneously focus on more than one point, only that it will select one point out of many.

Perhaps you could elaborate?

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I just read that having all focus points on will only let the camera pick which point the camera is closest too, to focus on. But, only one is doing the focusing. I was totally confused on this. I thought all points were focusing. Wow, that's like a light coming on. Now, I see why a single auto focus point would be the better choice. It let's you take control.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

There is a type of camera that does do that. It is called a light field or plenoptic camera. The Lytro is the commercially availble product. it is an interesting technology. You can change focus points on the computer. Here is Lytro's web site if you are interested.

http://www.lytro.com/

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Interesting.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

It seems you do not understand the difference between focus and exposure. You claim you can use multiple pointS of focus, just how do you do that? A photograph can only have one focus point. That is a limiting factor in photography, one focus point per image.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

That is where the manufacturers printed material falls short in providing detailed information. The manual is full of missing details that would make it more useful to newcomers to digital photography. The camera is basically a handheld computing device that can capture light impressions and record them. With that in mind we need to remember the authors of the manufactures products are engineers and write like everybody already knows all about the industry and it's workings.

In the practical art of using a computing device, you notice some odd behavior of the device during operation, you can observe, record the events, analyze the behavior, and come to some conclusions with the end product (poor focus, wrong focus on subjects, etc).

When observing the auto focus activity (in multi-focus points), you notice more than one focus point turning red, you know the camera cannot decide which point you want and will average between the lighted points. OTOH, if one of the focus points turns red and it is not your principle subject, you should know to select another focus point.

All of this is just a small part of controlling the capture of your image, and allowing you to take control over your camera and the image it captures for you. It is also called Artistic Control, and in some Canon models is used in the Creative Mode to assist the photographer. But, you need to experiment with the focus mode selections, and the creative modes to get the best out of your camera.

One of the more popular methods of artistic control is to set the camera for Av (Aperture Value), Focus Mode = center spot, and ISO=200. The camera will meter the exposure and set exposure with shutter speed, when you lock focus on your principle subject (depressing the shutter button half way), you can compose your image in the viewfinder, and full depredd the shutter to capture the image.

Michael G

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

But, when the shutter opens, there is only ONE focus point. This is not a light field camera.