topic Re: R6 MkII Focus Settings in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R6 Mark II won't let me select specific focus spot

KSC_Photo — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:36:48 GMT

I shoot with an R5 and an R6 MkII and am having a particular issue with the R6. Unlike the R5, the R6 will not let me select a specific spot to focus on even though I am in One Shot mode, eye detection is turned off, and I am in Spot or I-Point AF. I can put the AF point on a specific spot, say a certain pedal of a flower, but when I focus (I use the * back focus button) the camera focuses on another pedal that is closer. It did this even when I set the focus to the shutter button. I am updatged on Firmware to 1.5 Does anyone else have this issue?

Re: R6 MkII Focus Settings

Tronhard — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 21:35:16 GMT

Hi and welcome:

I have been shooting in single point focus for a long time, using BBF. First let me say that to make this work, the single point is best locked at the centre of the field of view, and focus is set to Servo mode, as per the linked video from Canon Oz:

By limiting the focus to only the centre it stops the camera's focusing system from moving that single point to the nearest other object, which seems to be your issue.

BTW, I also have the exposure locked to single point centre and assigned to the * button.

So, here is the procedure in order:

Point at a place that has the required 18% reflectance level that the sensor required for correct exposure. This might well not be the subject, so it's not locked to the point of focus. TAP the * button to lock the exposure
Now, point the centre at the eye (or other desired point of focus) and TAP the AF-ON button. If the subject is moving, HOLD the AF-ON button to track with it.
Recompose and shoot.

Now, this take a lot more effort to explain than to do, as once one gets enough practice then it becomes very rapid. I use this in conjunction with Face/eye tracking as sometimes the focusing system will fixate on the wrong spot - e.g. the wrong person, wrong eye, horn or a twig or other obstacle in the way. Usually, once I have told the face/eye tracking where to look it will follow from there, so I don't have to hold the AF-ON button.

If the focus point should stray from the centre as a result of a previous shot, I have the joystick button or the SET button assigned to centre the focus point with a tap.

There are times when this can be absolutely critical. I shoot wildlife in NZ bush, which is essentially like a jungle, so a bird (our dominant native fauna) could easily be in dappled light, and obscured behind foliage. For occasions such as that this it is almost the only way of getting the precision for both exposure and focus required.

In this example, the Kea is behind some flax which is causing the out of focus stripe, and it shows one can get past obstructions precisely.

Kea: R6, RF 200-800@742mm, f/9, 1/100sec, ISO-1600
These two demonstrate the precision one can get in focusing around foliage with the single point BBF method. In both cases the point of focus is the eye.
R6II, RF100-500@500mm, f/8, 1/160sec, ISO-6400 R6II, RF100-500@500mm, f/8, 1/160sec, ISO-6400
Or, selecting either of two birds in close proximity:
R6, RF 100-500@500mm, f/7.1, 1/160sec, ISO-3200 R6, RF 100-500@500mm, f/7.1, 1/200sec, ISO-3200

Or in this example of a Red Panda sitting deep with a tree's foliage:
Canon EOS R5, RF 100-500@500, f/8, 1/800sec, ISO-6400

Or when one is photographing a very tiny subject where exact precision is critical - in this case the tiny cricket is barely 10mm in length <1". The first image is as shot (through glass in dim light), the second is cropped heavily and shows the point of focus where the depth of field is razor thin.
R6II, RF 24-240@240mm, f/8, 1/250sec, ISO-1000 R6II, RF 24-240@240mm, f/8, 1/250sec, ISO-1000

Re: R6 MkII Focus Settings

FloridaDrafter — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 21:09:56 GMT

@KSC_Photo wrote:

I shoot with an R5 and an R6 MkII and am having a particular issue with the R6. Unlike the R5, the R6 will not let me select a specific spot to focus on even though I am in One Shot mode, eye detection is turned off, and I am in Spot or I-Point AF. I can put the AF point on a specific spot, say a certain pedal of a flower, but when I focus (I use the * back focus button) the camera focuses on another pedal that is closer. It did this even when I set the focus to the shutter button. I am updatged on Firmware to 1.5 Does anyone else have this issue?

A lot of great info from my esteemed colleague, Trevor!

I will add that one thing that is easy to overlook, especially when using both the R5 and R6 II (which I do), and now the R5 II, which is similar to the R6 II. Make sure "Whole area tracking" is disabled as it can be enabled when using ANY of the focus point arrays, even single fine. You can toggle it in the AF menu structure or by using the Quick control (Q) button when selecting an AF point method by toggling the "INFO" icon above the AF point method panel.

So, just make sure it is disabled.

Newton

Re: R6 MkII Focus Settings

KSC_Photo — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 23:46:40 GMT

Thank you and Trevor for your informative answers. I am mainly a corporate and event photographer, and I have my R6 MkII set up for AF the way both of you suggest. Where my issues lies is when I want to move the single point AF point to one particular person or thing, and in all cases the focus jumps to what the camera seems to think is the best subject to focus on. No matter how I configure the AF it always does this. I think at this point I will take it in to my local service center and make sure there are no issues and go from there. Thanks for the help!

Re: R6 MkII Focus Settings

p4pictures — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:22:00 GMT

For the EOS R6 Mark II, you need to do two things to make the AF point stay exactly where you put it.

Switch off Whole Area Tracking - as mentioned above
Set the subject to detect to None

If you do both of these then the AF point will stay exactly where you want it on both Servo and one shot. The key is that with subject detection set to none, the camera stops trying to find a subject near to the selected AF point.

Re: R6 MkII Focus Settings

KSC_Photo — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:45:42 GMT

Thanks for the reply Brian. I have done all that, and after speaking with both the Canon Hotline and my local service center rep, it seems as though I have an internal issue with the camera and it needs to be serviced. Canon says it may need a new motherboard, so we'll see.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II won't let me select specific focus spot

AlanC123 — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 22:21:42 GMT

I am having this same issue. Did you find a solution?

Re: EOS R6 Mark II won't let me select specific focus spot

AlanC123 — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 22:46:16 GMT

I did some more playing with the camera. This issue seems to be only with BBF. I switched back to shutter focus and was able to focus in the correct spot. Otherwise, with BBF, the camera picks a different spot to focus on instead of the center point.