How do you focus?

[JamieP]

I also started this one about a week ago:

Focusing technique

Contains links to other related threads that describe the errors that can occur when recomposing.

[NickC]

Centre and recompose, using AF button for focussing. Often use quick shift for subtle adjustments.

[kerrowdown]

Only got manual lenses.

Bit of clue wich one I voted for.

[junyo]

I leave the camera on focus select, there's no point not to. If you want the center point it takes two seconds to select it, and the auto point selection is kinda useless (on a K10).

[T_MB]

Center point/recompose 90% of the time. I will use select focus point when taking night shots with a tripod--easier than having to re-level the camera

[Marc Sabatella]

I'm actually split about 50/50 between center/recompose and manual, but the former seemed a more appropriate answer in this context.

[smc]

I usually use older glass so it's almost always manual ...which I still center point + recompose.....

[heliphoto]

I use all of those techniques when appropriate (or when it strikes me to do so, whether appropriate or not ), but I voted center point and recompose since that's how I focus probably 60% of the time.

[khardur]

I've been doing something new (for me).
Shooting my son's soccer games, I find a lot of times kids will run in front of the frame and throw off the autofocus. Even if I have a point picked, the action happens so fast I have to go manual to keep the focus from going in and out.

So I've been using my K200D with "Auto" selected for the focus points but the switch set to MF - then whenever any of the points come into focus they light up. It seems to be working pretty well so far. (of course that doesn't work for A or prior lenses, only autofocus lenses can use all the focus points)

[ludenticus]

When AF, I focus center and recompose. Otherwise, manually.

[monochrome]

When using autofocus, Center Point autofocus and recompose, but I disabled shutter half-press for focus and use the Autoficus button on the back of the camera. Thus the focus behaves as a film camera would.

For Lacrosse I use AF.c and a selected autoficus point (bottom center) to focus on the thighs for a full-body shot. Watching the belt line through the lens allows me to anticipate where the player is going to move and using enough DoF the face and stick head should be in focus..

Most of my lenses are MF and most of my shots are MF, so I set up the camera to favor MF and change as necessary.

[forensicscientist]

By examining some of my shots..."not very well"

but since that is not a choice, I voted for center and recompose. Although I do some manual focus too...

mark

[raymeedc]

As I shoot almost exclusively with manual lenses, my answer is obvious.

[Dom]

How about, all of the above.

[Fritz]

With my AF lenses I almost always set the focus point. But all the listed methods are used depending on the situation.