focal points

[Flying giraffe]

Probably a silly question, at the moment I only use the centre point for focusing, but what is the point /advantage of using all 19 points over just the Central one, surely the lens can only focus at one position, I don't mean moving the single point, but having multiple ones lit as it where?

 

[modchild]

I never did use all 19 points at once with my 7D. I had it on single point most of the time so I could frame the photo and still focus where I wanted. I've just ordered a 5D MkIII with 61 points and will make a point of trying it out with all of them before making a choice.

 

[Slaphead]

Having all focus points active is really a point and shoot setting where the camera decides where to focus, normally on the nearest object under the focus points. The focus is decided by only one focus point that the camera chooses, the other focus points that light up are indicating that the objects under those points are also considered to be in focus.

You play with it once, and go wow at all the focus points that light up, then you switch to single point focus

 

[Flying giraffe]

It's what I was thinking, but wondered if I was missing a trick, Cheers for the replys