What do the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS "9 focus points" mean, and where can I see them?
Asked 6/23/2011
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My Canon PowerShot SX210 IS is listed as having 9 focus points, but I don’t see 9 AF points displayed on the screen like on a DSLR. Where are those points, and how are they used?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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Matt Grum is correct, your camera uses contrast detect and can focus anywhere in frame.
According to user manual (page 82), your camera has two auto-focus modes - Face Detect and Center. So you can choose only one point, but in Face Detect mode, your camera will detect and show a selection of up to 9 faces, which is probably what the number refers to.
Those up to 9 points will appear when shutter is pressed halfway as green boxes drawn around faces.
Originally by user4390. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4390
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On the SX210 IS, this does not work like a DSLR’s 9 fixed AF points.
The PowerShot uses contrast-detect autofocus from the imaging sensor, so it can focus across the image rather than through a separate phase-detect AF module with visible fixed points in the viewfinder.
According to the camera’s AF modes, you mainly have:
- center AF: focus using the center area
- face detect: the camera detects faces and can show multiple green boxes
On this model, the “9 focus points” specification most likely refers to face detection of up to 9 faces, not 9 manually selectable AF points. In Face Detect mode, those boxes appear on screen when you half-press the shutter, outlining the faces the camera has found.
So if you’re expecting 9 always-visible focus squares like on a Canon DSLR, that’s not how this compact camera works.
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