Micro 4/3 (OM-D/M.Zuiko), Photography Techniques

Using a Single AF Point

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Using a single AF point is something that I’ve done for many years with my photography regardless of the brand, make or model of camera I’ve owned. Of course this is just a personal preference. Other photographers may use various configurations or clusters of AF points with very good results.

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OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS Macro with M.Zuiko MC-14 Teleconverter @ 126 mm, efov 252 mm, f/8, 1/30, ISO-400, handheld in-camera focus stacking, subject distance 360 mm

It also should be noted that my E-M1X camera has a 121 point all cross-type phase detection AF system. This is also the case with my wife’s E-M1 Mark III.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 358 mm, efov 716 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-500, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, Pro Capture L, cropped to 3878 pixels on the width, subject distance 24.5 metres

If I was using a newer generation body like an OM-1 or OM-1 Mark II I have no way of knowing what I would choose to do with a camera that has 1,053 cross-type AF points. I suspect it might be a very small cluster of AF points.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 150 mm, efov 300 mm, f/5, 1/320, ISO-10000, cropped to 4621 pixels on the width, subject distance 4.7 metres

I like the precision of using a single AF point…. just like I prefer to always shoot in Manual mode. When it comes to my photography… I guess I’m just a control freak.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 IS PRO with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/16, 1/250, ISO-2500, cropped to 3560 pixels on the width, handheld in-camera focus stacking, subject distance 330 mm

Using a single AF point, whether in single auto-focus or continuous auto-focus, makes me think more about what I’m doing with my camera.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 600 mm, efov 1200 mm, f/6.3, -0.3 EV, 1/2500, ISO-5000, Pro Capture H, full frame capture, subject distance 16.1 metres

It also makes me concentrate more on my subject, trying to anticipate what it is going to do. This is especially true when photographing birds taking flight using Pro Capture H. This function locks exposure and focus on the first frame of an image run. Anticipating a bird’s likely flight path is critical.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 449 mm, efov 898 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-1600, Pro Capture H, cropped to 2788 pixels on the width, subject distance 11.4 metres

I like having as many frames-per-second as I can when photographing birds taking flight. Or, in the case of the image above, birds coming in to land. Anticipating an approaching bird’s flight path is obviously a critical consideration when using Pro Capture H.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 358 mm, efov 716 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-2500, Pro Capture H, cropped to 2993 pixels on the width, subject distance 9.4 metres

I suppose if I owned a newer generation camera like an OM-1 Mark II, I’d be capturing a lot of my images using 120 frames-per-second, with the first frame locking exposure and focus.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 358 mm, efov 716 mm, f/6, 1/2000, ISO-400, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 3654 pixels on the width, subject distance 21.4 metres

When Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking was first introduced on my E-M1X I spent a huge amount of time experimenting in the field with my AF settings.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 342 mm, efov 684 mm, f/6.3, -0.3 EV, 1/2000, ISO-800, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 4028 pixels on the width, subject distance 34.5 metres

My first month in the field was challenging. Engaging all AF points was somewhat erratic and unpredictable. This was especially true when multiple birds were in the vicinity. I tried various groupings of AF points. At the end of the day, using a single AF point with a combination of Bird Recognition AI Subject Tracking and Pro Capture L worked like a charm.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 600mm, efov 1200mm, f/6.3, -0.3 EV, 1/2500, ISO-1000, cropped to 3084 pixels on the width, Pro Capture L, Bird Recognition AI Subject Tracking, subject distance 60.6 metres

It didn’t take long before all of my photographs of birds in free flight were captured using a single AF point with a combination of Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking and Pro Capture L at 18 frames-per-second. At first it was counter intuitive to fully depress my shutter release after the desired behaviour had occurred… but this soon became second nature.

OM-D E-M1 Mark III + M.Zuiko 14-150 mm f/4-5.6 II @ 25 mm, efov 50 mm, f/8, 1/1600, ISO-500, Pro Capture L, cropped to 3693 pixels on the width

Pro Capture L at 18 frames-per-second with a single AF point became my ‘go to’ approach when photographing other subjects in motion. I loved the reliable control and results this combination delivered.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 373 mm,. efov 746 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500, ISO-5000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 2151 pixels on the width, subject distance 2.1 metres

I use Pro Capture H at 60 frames-per-second with a single AF point so often now, that I don’t even think about using any other settings. If a subject is perched and going to launch into flight that’s simply what I always use.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro and M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/13, -0.3 EV, 1/2500, ISO-1600, cropped to 2569 pixels on the width, Pro Capture H, subject distance 745 mm

Capturing some very challenging images… like a fly launching into flight are made possible with Pro Capture H using a single AF point.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 600 mm, efov 1200 mm, 1/2500, f/6.3, -0.3 EV, ISO-1600, cropped to 2844 pixels on the width, Pro Capture H, subject distance 28 metres

My standard approach with Pro Capture H is to set my Pre-Shutter Frames and my Frame Limiter both to 15. That means I’m continually spooling 15 images into temporary memory until I fully depress my shutter release.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 Teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/3200, ISO-2000, cropped to 3247 pixels on the width, Pro Capture H, subject distance 17.4 metres

Then those images in temporary memory are written to my memory card. I purposely do not want any images after I fully depress my shutter release. This helps reduce my work in post sorting through a myriad of photographs.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 2540 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.1 metres

I use the same Pro Capture H approach with butterflies, bees and wasps taking flight.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/11, -0.3 EV, 1/2500, ISO-3200, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3212 pixels on the width, subject distance 2.9 metres

Using a single AF point with Pro Capture H makes capturing images of dragonflies coming in to land almost foolproof… as long as my shutter release timing is accurate.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 800 mm, efov 1600 mm, f/13, 1/4000, ISO-3200, Pro Capture H, full frame capture, subject distance 3.7 metres

Dragonflies are very much creatures of habit. They will perch… launch into flight… then return to that same perch numerous times before they move on. They will use the same flight path time after time.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, 1/5000, f/11, -0.3 EV, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3264 pixels on the width, subject distance 3.9 metres

Capturing a dragonfly landing is a simple proposition. We begin by placing our single AF point on the perched dragonfly and begin spooling images into temporary memory using Pro Capture H. This locks exposure and focus with the first frame.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, 1/5000, f/11, -0.3 EV, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3268 pixels on the width, subject distance 3.9 metres

When the dragonfly takes flight we keep on spooling images into temporary memory even though the dragonfly is gone. Then, when the dragonfly returns and is just about lands back on its perch… we fully depress our shutter release and write those images in temporary memory to our card.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 314 mm, efov 628 mm, 1/5000, f/11, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3018 pixels on the width, subject distance 3.8 metres

This works so well that I routinely capture hundreds of images of dragonflies in flight within a hour or two in the field. Most of them get deleted as I have far more keepers than I need for the purpose at hand.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000, ISO-2500, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3122 pixels on the width, subject distance 16.9 metres

I regularly use a single AF point with Pro Capture H at 60 frames-per-second to photograph small birds taking flight when they are in amongst branches. I never have to worry about my continuous auto-focus re-acquiring focus on a branch or leaf.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/2500, ISO-3200, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3522 pixels on the width, subject distance 2 metres

Shooting at 60 frames-per-second with my Pre-Shutter Frames and Frame Limiter both set to 15 gives me 1/4 second of shutter response time. I’ve found this suits my current physical reaction time capability very well.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/8, 1/4000, ISO-1250, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 1999 pixels on the width, subject distance 25.8 metres

Using a single AF point with Bird Detection AI and Pro Capture L can work well when trying to track small birds flying in restricted areas.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/8, 1/4000, ISO-1250, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 1999 pixels on the width, subject distance 25.8 metres

Good eye/hand coordination, and a lot of practice is required. The resulting images can make the effort and time commitment worthwhile.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 600 mm, efov 1200 mm, f/7.1, 1/800, ISO-2500, cropped to 4848 pixels on the width, subject distance 35.1 metres

At the end of the day how each of us choses to use our camera gear is a personal decision. My approach may not be suitable for other folks.

OM-D E-M1x with M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS and M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/16, 1/80, ISO-560, full frame capture, in-camera handheld focus stacking, subject distance 920 mm

From my perspective I love the accuracy of using a single AF point, regardless of the subject matter and technology that I may be using.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/60, ISO-400, handheld in-camera focus stacking, subject distance 1.3 metres

Regardless of the camera gear that we may own, the key point is to take the time to experiment with it so we can learn how to best use it out in the field. Developing our own style and approach is far more powerful than simply slavishly following what someone else does.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from out-of-camera jpegs or RAW files using my standard process in post. This is the 1,512 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

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6 thoughts on “Using a Single AF Point”

  1. I am an old nut that refuses to change and swear by using one single auto focus point. This has worked for me ever since my first autofocus slr Minolta. I honestly believe that many people are missing out on how easy it is to get the shot and assure that your main subject is in focus using one focus point and 1/2 press focus lock. They are letting their camera chase all over the frame and constantly refocusing in an attempt to do what it thinks is needed to keep you happy.

    Reply

  2. Hi Thomas,
    Excellent work as usual…
    Have you tried the in-built teleconverter in place of either the 1.4 or the 2x physical units?
    I would not have considered an in-built teleconverter in the past, but I’ve found (at least in the OM-1 mk1) it to be superb.
    Perhaps my copy is not perfect, but I continue to find softness when using the physical teleconverters, whereas that is never the case with the in-built option.

    Regards from Australia,
    Bill Chambers

    Reply

    1. Hi Bill,

      Yes, I have used the digital teleconverter in my E-M1X. I find that it works best when I fill the frame with my subject. The subject details seem to hold up quite well. I’ve also used the digital teleconverter with some of my macro work with some success. I’ve even used the digital teleconverter in combination with the MC-14 and MC-20 and have gotten useable results.

      Tom

      Reply

  3. Another great piece Tom.
    The single point is my preferred method of focus too, this comes as a hangover from my Canon 5D days at weddings.
    With my Em1-x I do sometimes use a very small cluster too on birds perched.
    My macro work is always single points
    Wishing you all the best Mark

    Reply

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