Single Point Autofocus

Single Point Autofocus (Focus and Recompose Technique.)

For those photographers who have trouble focusing manually or who would prefer to utilize autofocus, using what is called the single point or center point autofocus method will allow better focus control. To use the single point autofocus method you will first need to locate the autofocus area selections on your camera.  If you are not sure where to find the focus area selections consult your camera manual. Once you have set your camera in the single point autofocus area mode* you will then need to locate the focus modes and select the AFS or One Shot mode.  In this mode the camera locks the focus on the selected point when you depress the shutter release halfway. Once you have acquired focus and it is locked keep the shutter release depressed halfway and recompose the image. Press the shutter release all the way to capture the image once you have the composition or action you want. The trick here is not to take your finger off the shutter button or the camera will refocus on another part of the image when you push the shutter release halfway.

Practice placing the selected autofocus point on the part of the subject you want to be in focus and recomposing the image. You may have discovered at this point that the focus point can be moved. It does not always have to be in the center. There are advantages and disadvantages to moving the focus point. The main disadvantage is that by the time you fumble around and move the focus point you may have missed the photograph. By focusing and recomposing you are keeping your attention on the subject and less likely to miss an opportunity. So if you need to work quickly and want the ability to modify the composition keep the focus point in the center. One exception might be for cameras that allow you to use the touch screen in live view to select a focus point. In this case it might work better for you to take advantage of this technology. There is no right or wrong way. Whatever fits your shooting style is the correct choice for you.

Note: For more advanced shooters and portrait photographers using lenses with extremely small depth of field it may be necessary to align the focus  point with the part of the subject that you want to be sharpest. For a portrait photographer this would be the eye. If the subject is placed such that the eye is not in the center of the image and you use the center focus and recompose technique you may lose the focus on the eye when the sensor plane is tilted to another angle when recomposing.  In this case use the focus point that aligns with the eye in the final composition.