Well you didn't want it any other way: here's an analysis of all RAW files I shot the last 1.7 years that still exist on my hard drive. ![]()
It's based on about 15k files. A few 100s to 1000s have been deleted esp. when I took smoke pictures (the 1000s missing smoke pictures will add to the Center AF Point ;). Additionally not included are the pictures from the beginning of my experience with the 20D when I still shot JPEG only (not too long).
I didn't analyse the data for automatic or manual AF Point selection, but most of those are multiple AF Points and included in "Others". "Others" is the sum of all single AF Points and multiple ones with a count below 1% of all the points available. Considering the very low numbers of multiple active AF Points I assume that most of the time I did choose the active AF Point manually (which I do now all the time).
The "Manual" AF is from smoke shots and panoramas I suppose.
So what's the conclusion for me? Only the center AF Point (it's type and sensitivity) is important for me and I do not need to care about other AF Points my next camera might offer...
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moritz™ says:
That's what I've thought, too. But it is wrong. Sure, the statistics will be more or less the same, regardless how many focus points the camera offers. But for composing shots, the more focus points the better: you can focus *after* composing the picture. Even a slight move might change the distance to the subject. However, using many focus points takes some time and to take some quick snaps, it is often better to use the center point and to recompose after focusing. On a tripod, many focus points are very useful.
Nils Pickertpro replies:
On my EOS50e I used also the two focus points which were not in the center, but this just because it had eye control. I find it much faster and easier to focus in the center and move the camera than to select the focus point with these tiny knobs. Eye control is perfect, but AFAIK no camera has it anymore, at least no camera I can afford. And as the focus point is mostly also the point you use for exposure measurement, this does not have any weird effects...
Carstenpro replies:
Carstenpro replies:
Well and for my usual style of taking photos I have the time to compose the image... ;)
eckes replies:
Doomshammer says:
But I think if I would do such an analysis, the result would be similar, as I usually only use center AF point too.
Carstenpro replies:
Roberto Ballerini - travelingpro says:
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Seen in a user home page (?)
Ulrich says:
Bigoode [Degel] says:
bauvana says:
Felix / baex says:
Sebastian Yepes says:
www.ipernity.com/blog/20030/29210
Thanks for the inspiration ;-)