How to change focus points
Techniques
22 October 2007 14:26
Most cameras are designed with a default focus point right in the middle of the viewfinder. This is fine if you always want the subject in the centre of every image, but it's rarely the most creative option.
To prepare the camera for off-centre subjects you can either focus manually or use the focus-lock facility (available on most cameras) then re-frame your shot.
However, when it comes to shooting sports or other moving subjects it often pays to change the position of the camera's focus point. Most DSLRs offer the option of choosing from at least three different focus points: the more points there are, the more likely one will be positioned where you want the subject; the trick is to choose the one nearest to this point.
Changing the focus point is different on each camera, and your instruction manual will explain how to do it. On the Canon EOS 400D for example, manual AF point selection is only available in aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual and program modes, not the fully automatic (green) or subject modes. Make sure you select one of these exposure modes before you press the button on the far right of the back of the main handgrip to activate the focus point selection.
Once manual focus point selection is activated you can change the active focus point by using the four direction buttons on the rear of the camera. The active point is shown in yellow on the rear LCD screen, and also indicated in the viewfinder. To quickly reset the focus points, press the SET button in the middle of the four. This restores the camera to use the central focus point.