I. CAMERA FEATURESAND OPERATION 18
Background
Traditionallyphotographers have used the FLR (focus, lock, recompose) method when
interfacing with their camera and their subject. Thisis how it had to be done with
manualfocus cameras and the early auto-focus models with a single focusing point.
Almosteveryone knows how to use FLR, but it can cause problems. First, it’s not nearly
asfast as some of the methods we’ll discuss here. Metering is less precise, particularly
flash metering. Additionally, itcan lead to backfocusing problems when shooting at
wider apertureswithin 15 feet of the subject.
The fastestand most accurate way to work is to compose first and then use the benefits
ofthe 45-point Area AF sensor to get your focusing and metering settings.
Byusing this Event combination, the photographer obtains many focusing options, all
withouthaving to take attention away from the subject. It also allows the scene to be
composed in the viewfinder prior to choosing a focusing point. Thisis helpful because
in shooting these typesof events, people are unpredictable in their movements and
with a quickflick of the thumb the photographer can be ready for any rapidly changing
shotwithout having to lock focus and recompose. Compose the shot, and then just pick
the pointthat works best.
Another advantage isthat when using this combination of settings with Evaluative
Metering, the camera willgive more precise metering for your intended subject and do a
better job ofautomatically compensating for backlighting and unevenly lit scenes.
For EOS-1D and EOS-1Dscameras that use E-TTL (notthe newer E-TTL II), this
combination willalso give you much more reliable flash exposures when you’ve chosen
a focusing pointthat lands on your subject, rather than using FLR.
Itwill take some practice to break the habit of FLR, but once you learn how to use the
45-pointAF system effectively, it can really improve your performance as a
photographer.
Operation
Turn the QCD on the backof the camera to “roll” from AF point to AF point along the
outer periphery ofthe AF Area ellipse. Tap the Assist Button to immediately go to the
center AFpoint (this combination has automatically assigned the center point asthe
HP). To getoff the center point and back to an outer AF point, simply use the QCD again.
Thiscombination affects the focus point selection method only, not the focus activation.
Actualfocusing is done by pressing the shutter release halfway.
Hidden Feature: To getback to AFPS immediately… while holding the shutter release in
the halfwayposition (SW-1), tap the AF Point Selection Button and release. The camera
willstay on AFPS until you either use the QCD or tap the Assist Button. This isuseful
because generally, in wellover 50% of shots in a wedding or event type environment,