How about a free-moving focus point controlled by the shutterbutton?

On 22/08/2016 18:54, RichA wrote:
The shutter button could have a joystick function that would allow a precise focus point to be moved at will. When not in use, the shutter button would lock in place for normal use. If it was sensitive enough, it could move the frame width with little side to side movement of the button, thereby not compromising shutter button push ergonomics. It would help preserve composition because you wouldn't have to accommodate movement of the frame to secure a desired focus point.

What's wrong with the idea of using a 4-way selector button with your thumb?
I guess to answer that question myself, it's possible that your thumb
might be occupied using another button like AF-ON for continuous focus,
but OTOH unless you'd disabled focus on half press of the shutter
button, you could use your shutter finger to focus instead.

I think you've come up with a solution to a problem which doesn't really
exist.

On 2016-08-22 11:41:00 +0000, Me said:

On 22/08/2016 18:54, RichA wrote:
The shutter button could have a joystick function that would allow a
precise focus point to be moved at will. When not in use, the shutter
button would lock in place for normal use. If it was sensitive enough,
it could move the frame width with little side to side movement of the
button, thereby not compromising shutter button push ergonomics. It
would help preserve composition because you wouldn't have to
accommodate movement of the frame to secure a desired focus point.

What's wrong with the idea of using a 4-way selector button with your thumb?
I guess to answer that question myself, it's possible that your thumb
might be occupied using another button like AF-ON for continuous focus,
but OTOH unless you'd disabled focus on half press of the shutter
button, you could use your shutter finger to focus instead.

I think you've come up with a solution to a problem which doesn't really exist.

The Fujifilm focus point joy stick on the X-Pro2 and the X-T2 have been
well received.
http://bestmirrorlessblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/fujifilm-x-t2-07-720x488.jpg
http://cameras.reviewed.com/content/fujifilm-x-t2-first-impressions-review
--


Regards,

Savageduck

On Mon, 22 Aug 2016 05:21:37 -0700, Savageduck
wrote in
2016082205213753057-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom:

On 2016-08-22 11:41:00 +0000, Me said:

On 22/08/2016 18:54, RichA wrote:
The shutter button could have a joystick function that would allow a
precise focus point to be moved at will. When not in use, the shutter
button would lock in place for normal use. If it was sensitive
enough,
it could move the frame width with little side to side movement of the
button, thereby not compromising shutter button push ergonomics. It
would help preserve composition because you wouldn't have to
accommodate movement of the frame to secure a desired focus point.

What's wrong with the idea of using a 4-way selector button with your
thumb?
I guess to answer that question myself, it's possible that your thumb
might be occupied using another button like AF-ON for continuous focus,
but OTOH unless you'd disabled focus on half press of the shutter
button, you could use your shutter finger to focus instead.

I think you've come up with a solution to a problem which doesn't
really exist.

The Fujifilm focus point joy stick on the X-Pro2 and the X-T2 have been
well received.
http://bestmirrorlessblogs.com/wp-co...07/fujifilm-x-
t2-07-720x488.jpg
http://cameras.reviewed.com/content/...t-impressions-
review

The EOS-M has a touch screen trigger that focus and shoots at a tap a tad
slowly, if you ask me... "One tap shooting"(r)! I've only used that
"feature" accidentally...

--
teleportation kills

On Mon, 22 Aug 2016 23:41:00 +1200, Me wrote:

On 22/08/2016 18:54, RichA wrote:
The shutter button could have a joystick function that would allow a precise focus point to be moved at will. When not in use, the shutter button would lock in place for normal use. If it was sensitive enough, it could move the frame width with little side to side movement of the button, thereby not compromising shutter button push ergonomics. It would help preserve composition because you wouldn't have to accommodate movement of the frame to secure a desired focus point.

What's wrong with the idea of using a 4-way selector button with your thumb?
I guess to answer that question myself, it's possible that your thumb
might be occupied using another button like AF-ON for continuous focus,
but OTOH unless you'd disabled focus on half press of the shutter
button, you could use your shutter finger to focus instead.

My Nikon D300 and now the D750 have that exact ability.
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/basics/16/02.htm shows how using
a camera with a limited number of focus points.
http://nikonrumors.com/wp-content/up...-AF-screen.jpg
shows the number of focus points available to a D750.

I think you've come up with a solution to a problem which doesn't really
exist.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

On 23/08/2016 10:00, Whisky-dave wrote:
[]
What's the advantage to having lots of focusing points ?

I was going to say: "Well, /one/ of them must be right!".

Seriously, though, it means that focus can be tracked as the subject
moves across the frame etc. etc.

If you have a single focus point you can move that's an alternative
approach to selecting the focal point, but in a DSLR/phase-detect you
can't simply indicate the area on which to focus (like you can with
contrast detect focus and a touch-screen or selector) unless there are
actually focus sensors at the point where you want to measure.

In the old days, you simply moved the camera to focus, and then
re-composed to take.

--
Cheers,
David
Web: http://www.satsignal.eu

On 2016-08-23 09:00:31 +0000, Whisky-dave said:


What's the advantage to having lots of focusing points ?

Flexibility when it comes to composition. It can make for a better
composition to simply move the focus point in the frame rather than the
old AF lock and reframe method.

Then with moving targets, when using AF-C and tracking the camera can
manage that tracking much better.
https://db.tt/PK0v5cGj
https://db.tt/K0Y4hzUw
--
Regards,

Savageduck

On 08/23/2016 07:09 AM, David Taylor wrote:
On 23/08/2016 10:00, Whisky-dave wrote:
[]
What's the advantage to having lots of focusing points ?

I was going to say: "Well, /one/ of them must be right!".

Seriously, though, it means that focus can be tracked as the subject
moves across the frame etc. etc.

If you have a single focus point you can move that's an alternative
approach to selecting the focal point, but in a DSLR/phase-detect you
can't simply indicate the area on which to focus (like you can with
contrast detect focus and a touch-screen or selector) unless there are
actually focus sensors at the point where you want to measure.

In the old days, you simply moved the camera to focus, and then
re-composed to take.

In the old days, you turned a ring on the lens until the image looked in
focus.

--
Ken Hart

On 23/08/2016 14:35, Ken Hart wrote:
[]
In the old days, you turned a ring on the lens until the image looked in
focus.

... and perhaps got out the magnifier, just like my current camera has!

--
Cheers,
David
Web: http://www.satsignal.eu

In article , Ken Hart
wrote:

What's the advantage to having lots of focusing points ?

I was going to say: "Well, /one/ of them must be right!".

Seriously, though, it means that focus can be tracked as the subject
moves across the frame etc. etc.

If you have a single focus point you can move that's an alternative
approach to selecting the focal point, but in a DSLR/phase-detect you
can't simply indicate the area on which to focus (like you can with
contrast detect focus and a touch-screen or selector) unless there are
actually focus sensors at the point where you want to measure.

In the old days, you simply moved the camera to focus, and then
re-composed to take.

In the old days, you turned a ring on the lens until the image looked in
focus.

fortunately, those days are *long* gone.

In article ,
Whisky-dave wrote:

What's the advantage to having lots of focusing points ?

Flexibility when it comes to composition. It can make for a better
composition to simply move the focus point in the frame rather than the
old AF lock and reframe method.

Then with moving targets, when using AF-C and tracking the camera can
manage that tracking much better.
https://db.tt/PK0v5cGj
https://db.tt/K0Y4hzUw

Almost makes sense but there still only one point it actually focuses on.

all points can be used, and in some cases, the camera can compute the
optimal focus distance and f/stop so that multiple focus points are
within the depth of field.