"whisky-dave" wrote:
"Savageduck" wrote in message

As far as the D300 and some other Nikon DSLRs go, up to 51 focus points
including 51 point 3D tracking, manually selectable using the multi
selector, single point AF, dynamic area AF, predictive focus tracking (51
pnt 3D tracking), Auto-area AF.

So you have to decide what you want in focus before taking the shot.

Well, yeah, usually it is a good thing to decide what you want in focus
before taking the shot. For me that's standard practice, don't know
about others, thou.

For me that's another thing to add to shutter delay.

If you're taking a shot and you have a cobweb in the corner of the shot
a potrait of a person wearign a hat in the centre and a UFO flying above
thier head
how would the camra know where to focus.

At least my camera will cycle through different likely objects if you
release the half-pressed shutter and and then half-press it again.

Easy if you have spot AF, but that makes framing difficult.

Why? That's the other standard way I am using: if the camera doesn't get
the focus object right by the let's say the third try then move the
center to the desired object, half-press the shutter, re-frame, and
click.

...and then there is manual focus as a final option.
Although I don't do it that much, it is/would be still my preferred method

If all else fails, yes, as a last resort. Certainly not always but most
of the time automatic focus is more accurate, faster, and also quicker
to use.

jue