The problem with focus-recompose
A common technique in digital photography is focus-and-recompose: You center the subject in the frame, half-press the shutter to focus, then move the camera to create a better composition with an off-center subject. I use this technique with almost every photo I take. Here’s an article on why this technique can sometimes create out-of-focus pictures:
If you’ve had problems with poor focus or are just curious about how focus systems work, this is a good read.
Keep in mind that you may never run into this issue—with most digital cameras, especially consumer and prosumer models, the large depth of field compensates for the error most of the time. Watch out in these situations, though:
- When taking close-up portraits, especially with digital SLR cameras
- Macro photography with any camera
- When deliberately narrowing the depth of field by using a wide aperture
The solution? Most prosumer and SLR digicams let you choose a non-centered focus point. Use this rather than focus-and-recompose for the best shot.
[via Mezzoblue]