D7000 Autofocus Settings - Too Many Focal Points?

[collk22]

I think I ruined most of my vacation photographs by using the wrong setting and I'm looking for some validation on my theory. I kept my D7000 autofocus set to AF-A with all 39 points active. As I reviewed my pictures last night, many were very soft with the focal point of the image all over the place. In many cases exposure was good and I was shooting with a fast enough shutter speed that camera shake shouldn't be at factor.

I've come to the conclusion that using all 39 focal points/sensors was a mistake because in many images the focal point was anything but what I wanted. Is it possible, that using so many points, would cause this to happen?

 

[SCraig]

Quite possible, and it's why I keep that 3D tracking autofocus (or whatever it's called) turned off. I want my cameras to focus where *I* tell them to focus, and not where the camera decides I should want it to focus. I use one focus point, and 90% of the time it is locked in the center. If it moves it's because I moved it.

 

[Derrel]

I think you need to get a tattered old London Fog raincoat, 'cause you're a regular Columbo!!!!

Yeah...too many AF points can at times lead to the camera picking a somewhat dubious focus point...I usually select my (different Nikon) camera's 9 AF point option...

 

[12sndsgood]

Yeah, I'm like Scraig, I choose my focus point.

 

[collk22]

Quite possible, and it's why I keep that 3D tracking autofocus (or whatever it's called) turned off. I want my cameras to focus where *I* tell them to focus, and not where the camera decides I should want it to focus. I use one focus point, and 90% of the time it is locked in the center. If it moves it's because I moved it.

Makes sense. I probably should have known better.

I think you need to get a tattered old London Fog raincoat, 'cause you're a regular Columbo!!!!

Yeah...too many AF points can at times lead to the camera picking a somewhat dubious focus point...I usually select my (different Nikon) camera's 9 AF point option...

Well played, Sir. Made me smile in light of the fact that most of the ~400 pictures will be throw aways.

Yeah, I'm like Scraig, I choose my focus point.

Thanks.


I guess I'll be digging into the manual tonight to brush up on the different modes to figure out which one to use.

 

[SCraig]

I guess I'll be digging into the manual tonight to brush up on the different modes to figure out which one to use.

It's the autofocus AREA mode and not the autofocus mode (terminology close to being the same but significantly different). Using AF-A mode is fine, it's the autofocus area mode that causes the focus point to bounce around all over the place. Look at page 94 of your owner's manual. The very first option, Single-Point AF is how mine is set up.

 

[collk22]

I guess I'll be digging into the manual tonight to brush up on the different modes to figure out which one to use.

It's theautofocus AREA mode and not the autofocus mode (terminology close to being the same but significantly different). Using AF-A mode is fine, it's the autofocus area mode that causes the focus point to bounce around all over the place. Look at page 94 of your owner's manual. The very first option, Single-Point AF is how mine is set up.

Thank you!