What is the meaning of having 9 focus points and how to see where they are?

Question

Canon PowerShot SX210 IS is said to have 9 focus points. I haven't seen any setting which shows all those points on the screen or anywhere.

How and what are those remaining 8 focus points used for?

EDIT 1: http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_sx210is

Answer

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.

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