Using the autofocus points effectively and AI-servo mode

[timarmes]

Hi,

 

I've recently upgraded my EOS 300N to the 300D. I'm facing a few

focusing issues and was wondering if any of you could shed some light

for me.

 

Firstly, does anyone here effectively use the automatic choice of

focus point? My experience so far leads me to believe that:

 

1) It hardly ever chooses the right point

2) The focus point chosen is rarely the nearest point, as described in

the manual

 

It seems more useful to me to just select the center focus point, then

focus, recompose and shoot.

 

Are the other points of any real use? I envisage that setting up a

composition on a tripod and selecting the appropriate focus point such

that the camera need no longer be moved is the only time I would ever

find this useful. Am I missing something?

 

On a side note, I find that the camera jumps into AI-servo mode

incredibly easily. How can this be avoided?

 

Tim

[staticlag]

I like to use the off-center focus points when I am trying to frame action sequences selectively. Shooting Bball players 3/4 body shots at 2.8 with a 200mm lens is a recipe for disaster with the center point. So when I am vertically framing I just shift the point up a bit, and no problem.

[david_eppstein]

I always keep my D60 on center point only. Also, focus-recompose (and manual refocus)

is made much easier, especially for sports, by putting the autofocus function on the AF/

AE-lock button so that half-pressing the shutter only sets the exposure but not the focus.

I'm not sure the 300D allows that, though...

[bobatkins]

It doesn't.