topic Re: AF area in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R8 Can't access AF area: Around

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 13:39:02 GMT

I can't get to Expand AF area: Around.

The cursor jumps from Expand AF area to Flexible Zone AF 1

What's the solution?

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 02:41:36 GMT

What subjects are you trying to photograph and what precisely are your focus settings, please.

Re: AF area

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 02:55:59 GMT

I don't have the option to choose Expand AF area : Around.

I think I had that before.

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 02:58:00 GMT

I understand you are trying to give context but this is not overly helpful. We need to know what your settings for focus are and what you are trying to focus on, please.

Re: AF area

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:05:54 GMT

Trevor, I just want to know why the cursor jumps from Expand AF area to Flexible zone 1.

What I am trying to photograph is irrelevant. The focus setting that I want to try is AF area: Around

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:08:52 GMT

Actually, it IS relevant. If you have eye or face tracking set and some other setting in combination it could well impact the results. If what you are focusing on is a face OR LOOKS LIKE A FACE OR EYE then that could trigger other implications

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:11:16 GMT

Also, what do you mean by "around"
I am not familiar with that mode and I can't find it in any Canon documentation. Also WHAT CAMERA are you using?

Re: AF area

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:17:19 GMT

R8,

AF 1. , AF area. There you can find all option of focusing. Mine doesn't allow me to choose the 4th from left which is AF area: around.

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:20:07 GMT

WHAT CAMERA ARE YOU USING???????????????????????????????????????????????
You are not giving the information to help you. Yes, I see you are using one of the focus custom modes, but I still don't know what other settings are applied: What tracking, if any are you using?
Are you shooting moving objects or static ones.
And what do you mean by Around?

Re: AF area

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:21:27 GMT

My camera is R8

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:23:04 GMT

I really, really want to help you, but this is like getting blood out of a stone. What about all the other focus settings?

Re: AF area

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:25:17 GMT

The other focus settings are good.

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:25:43 GMT

OK, knowing that you have the R8 helps a lot. This is the first camera that I have seen the term Around as a description for a focus area. So, we can now proceed further. Let me read the relevant material from the guide and get back to you. In the meantime, it would be really helpful to have an idea of the objects you are shooting. Static, moving, eye tracking on or off.

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:28:33 GMT

Have you checked the User Guide in the AF Range section?

I note that if you have Servo focus turned on, first it will use a Point AF... Is that the experience to which you are referring?

Re: AF area

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:28:37 GMT

Subject: Static

The term Around is where it says in the manual.

Re: AF area

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:37:37 GMT

I use "One Shot" mode.

The cursor jumps from Expand AF area (3rd from the left) to Flexible Zone AF1 (%th from the left)

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:38:22 GMT

I found another reference to this autofocus method with a more detailed explanation of how it works:

This was why I was asking what other autofocus features were set.

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:56:15 GMT

I think I understand what your are trying to ask...
Are you saying that when you go to select Expand AF Area, within that menu, it goes to Flexible Zone AF1. That is not so much that it does it when you are shooting, as when you are trying to set up the focus options in the menu?

Re: AF area

Eaglesnest — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 04:01:26 GMT

My question is: why it by passed the Around option? and how can I get it back?

Re: AF area

Tronhard — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 04:10:02 GMT

OK, I think I now understand your issue. If it's simply that the option for Around is not available then I suggest going to the Purple Focus menu, Tab 4, 2nd from the top is Limit AF Areas. Check to see if the Around option and any other options are not ticked. If it is not, then that is your issue. If you want to remove options that you are sure you will not use, then this is the place to do it.
When you first posed the question, I understood it as switching from Around to the other Area buttons when you were actually trying to actively focus on a subject.
Does this seem to be the issue for you?