I was wondering if while shooting birds with my Canon 30d or XTi if it is better to use the 9 point AF system (all 9 points lit up in red while focusing) or use the manual AF point selection (just one point lit). I've been using the manual AF point (center) as of late, focusing on the subject and then reframing the shot from there. I didn't know if there was any good rule of thumb in using either.
From my experience, if I'm shooting in the woods or tall grasses, the selective one point AF works better. I wasn't sure if shooting in an open area or sky would open up other AF point possibilities.
If any of you use the manual AF point selection, which point (of 9) works best to use for birds?
Generally you want to use the center point when selecting one since it will be the most accurate. Even when using all nine you should try acquiring with the center point.
With clear bg I like using all of them and will go to the center with cluttered bg. One thing to note there is an exception to just about everything ..... I have used points other than the center for altering the birds location in frame away from the center.
Actually, if in AIS, with all points active you must aquire first with the center point. Not sure about AI focus as I have never had a camera with it or used it.
I tend to manually select whichever focus point is nearest to the bird's eye. 90% of the time I tend to use the upper middle point which tends to give the most pleasing composition most of the time.
For birds in flight against a busy background I'll use just the center focus point.
For birds in flight against a plain sky I'll either use all of them or just manually select the center one.
For perched birds at a feeding staition I tend to mainly use the upper middle one, as already mentioned, or if I'm shooting at f11 because I want the whole of the bird and it's perch sharp I'll sometimes use all focus points knowing they'll often be enough depth of field for everything to be in sharp focus.
9 Point AF or Manual AF Point?
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