In Sports mode, the Rebel t5i bases focus on the center focus point. In the other fully automatic exposure modes (Scene Intelligent Auto, Portrait, Landscape, and so on) as well as in Creative Auto mode, the autofocusing system looks at all nine autofocus points when trying to establish focus. Typically the camera sets focus on the point that falls over the object closest to the lens.
In the P, Tv, Av, and M exposure modes, however, you can tell the camera to base focus on a specific autofocus point. Here's how to switch from automatic point selection (the default setting) to single-point selection:
Set the Mode dial to P, Tv, Av, or M.
Press and release the AF Point Selection button.
When you do, you see the AF Point Selection screen on the monitor. From this screen, you can choose one of two modes: Automatic AF Point Selection, in which all focus points are considered, or Manual AF Point Selection, in which you choose a single focus point.
In Automatic AF Point Selection mode, all autofocus points appear in color.
In Manual AF Point Selection mode, only one point is selected and appears in color.
You can check the current mode by looking through the viewfinder, too. When you press and release the AF Point Selection button, all nine autofocus points turn red in the viewfinder if you’re in Automatic AF Point Selection mode. A single point turns red if you’re in Manual AF Point Selection mode.
Use one of these techniques to switch to Manual AF Point Selection and select your focus point.
Touchscreen: Tap the point you want to use.
Main dial: Rotate the dial to shift from Automatic AF Point Selection mode to Manual mode; keep rotating the dial to cycle through all the points until the one you want is highlighted. After you cycle through all the points, you return to auto-point mode; just rotate the dial again to switch back to single-point selection.
Set button: Press the Set button to immediately select the center focus point. Then rotate the Main dial to select a focus point.
After you switch to manual point selection, you also can use the cross keys to select a point. However, if you're looking through the viewfinder, that method's kind of cumbersome; using the Main dial is easier.
That’s all there is to it. After you select the autofocus point, just frame your shot so that your subject falls under that point, and then press the shutter button halfway to focus.
To return to automatic point selection, tap the Return to Auto Point Selection arrow, or rotate the Main dial until all nine points light up. Or, if the center point is selected, press the Set button.
