Which is better - autofocus and recompose vs. manual focus?

Question

In some occasions autofocus doesn't focus what I intend it to. What is the better option - to use autofocus, focus what I want and recompose, or use manual focus in that situation?

Answer

In general, modern AF cameras have focusing screens optimized for bright viewing rather than accurate focusing. This means that the AF system is potentially more accurate than your eyes using the focusing screen, if the AF system is calibrated correctly.

I've found that the wider the lens is, the harder it is to achieve critical focus while focusing manually.

For critical manual focusing, either use Live view, if you have it, or install a custom focusing screen for your camera.

If you are using AF and recompose, I've found it useful to decouple the focusing action from the shutter release. Most cameras will let you assign focusing to a separate button, instead of having to maintain a half-press of the shutter while recomposing-

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