Training my composition

I've found that manual focus works better for me for macro work only. Other than that I always use center-point to focus and then re-adjust my composition.

I'll admit to using autofocus alot too, but i just find it to be less accurate. There was a time i was taking photographs without glasses when i needed glasses and because they tended to be out of focus i used the autofocus feature and when i look at the older photos taken with autofocus with glasses on they just look pretty poor.

I was using a Canon EOS 350D at that time though. Now with the Canon EOS 40D i can't say i've used autofocus all that much. I'll give it a shot sometime.

Was your diopter configured correctly?
Also, maybe your camera itself has front/back focusing issues. AF has always been the high point of many dSLRs.

The 30D's autofocus is great except in bad lighting. Not even necessarily low light, just bad light. The 40D uses an almost identical focusing system, the exception being that the center point is more sensitive when using wide apertures. I have used the 40D but not enough to tell how it performs in bad light. The other thing that will help you is if you focus and recompose. That is, zoom in on your subject and focus, then recompose before taking the shot. On the 40D the AF ON button on the back next to your * button will become your best friend when employing this technique. On my 30D I set my custom functions to make the * button do the focusing so I can focus when I want and snap the picture when I want.

I manual focus all my still shots, but when it comes to live action I resort to the auto. Main reason I choose manual is because I can pick where I want my focus to be on my subject/object.

You can also set a custom function on the 30D so the joy-knob (not really a joystick) controls the active focus point.

I really should read into that. I really want to start using that but can't quite figure out how to yet. It's the same with a burst of shots, i can't seem to do that outwith one of the settings (on the nob at top of camera).

Thank you, everyone, but as I scroll down the thread, it becomes more advanced and I find it hard to follow,

The advantage of this forum is if you do have any questions regarding a part of a conversation all you really need to do is ask away. So, whatever was confusing will more than likely recieve an explanation if you ask away.