I use quite specific settings that you may, at some time consider:
I use a thing called Back Button Focus, which separates the focus from the shutter button. This allows me to react very quickly to focusing situations and not re-focus as I am taking a photo. For a reference video on this see this one from Canon Australia: note that this includes a feature called Servo Autofocus.
As well as that, I use single-point focus, set to be in the centre of the image area.
Then I use single point metering. Evaluative metering, the default option, tries to average out the exposure for the whole image area, but that might not work in the event of a lot of contrast, or a very bright subject (like a polar bear) or a very dark subject (like a black bear). In the former situation the image would tend to be under exposed, while the latter it would be over exposed.
By using single point exposure, I can select a point that is a mid-grey, which is what a sensor looks to emulate and lock that in. I can assign this to the * button on the back of the camera - see custom controls in your manual.
So, when I take a photo, I do the following:
Point at a mid-grey point and tap the * button to lock the exposure.
Point at my subject (an eye for example) and tap to lock focus for a still object, but hold for a moving one.
Recompose and press the shutter button to shoot.
With practice this is a very fast method of shooting.
cheers, TREVOR
The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris
