topic Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

fingham — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 21:13:48 GMT

Hi,

I have used the Canon R1 and R5 Mark II for several weeks to photograph sports. Both cameras seem to have the same problem for me, and I am looking to see if others have had issues as well.

When using the R1 or R5II with the 100-300 f2.8 or 24-105 f2.8, after some time, I am unable to focus and must turn the camera off, remove/insert the battery, and turn it back on for it to function correctly. I am using the following Camera and AF settings (the ones that I think might be relevant to this issue):

Camera:

Pre-Cont Shooting - Enable; Blackout-Free Display - On

AF:

AF Operation - SERVO; Whole Area Tracking SERVO - On; Subject to Detect - People; Eye Detection - Auto; Action Priority - Enable; Sports Event - Basketball; (AF) Case - Auto

The focusing issue seems to happen once I have been using the cameras for some time (perhaps 1-2 hours) and after I have taken 1000+ photos. Specifically, as I use my back-button focusing button and zoom the lens in/out to frame the action, I am suddenly not able to focus at all. I then have to shut down the cameras and hope focusing returns.

All of my cameras and lenses have the latest firmware.

This originally happened with my R5II but not with my R1. However, since I updated the R1 to firmware 1.0.1, it has also happened with the R1.

It appears to be a software issue akin to a memory leak or resource exhaustion of some other type. These cameras are very expensive, and we rely on them to function correctly, especially during sports/news action. At this point, I cannot trust them to function correctly when I most need them to.

Has anyone else seen this? Is there a proven solution? We are dealing with new technology, but I thought they were stress-tested during the Olympics and other such events. Did this not happen there as well?

Thanks

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

Hazel_T — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 22:06:17 GMT

Hi fingham,

I'm sorry to hear the auto focus stops working after awhile on both your EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II. When the auto focus stops working is that the only function that isn't working, or is the entire camera freezing? Are you seeing any error messages when this happens, and if you are seeing an error message what does it say word for word?

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

fingham — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 02:02:16 GMT

Hi,

When the autofocus stops working, the rest of the camera still functions (it does not freeze), and no error code is displayed.

Today, I switched up my settings and disabled Action Priority, and disabled the timeout for both the viewfinder and auto power off. I was using people and eye detect AF and did not have any issues today with either camera. I am not yet ready to say that Action Priority is my issue as I believe this has happened to me as well with these settings (I was photographing a cheer competition so Action Priority was not applicable).

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

fingham — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 01:58:56 GMT

I photographed another 6+ basketball games, this time without utilizing Action Priority/Basketball, and I did not encounter the focusing issues I had previously. At this point, I prepared to say that Action Priority did cause my focusing issues on both cameras—it does not appear to work for extended periods of time.

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

Lexi — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:05:04 GMT

This happened to me today after shooting with the R1 for about an hour. I missed the single most important shot of the day because of it. Hopefully canon can figure this out

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

rayvaldezphoto — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:54:57 GMT

It happens tome a lot. I am an event photographer. I found this post on google. It happened a ton of times during one party. I didnt know if my lens was broke or it was the camera. I took the lens off a bunch of times to fix it and I turned it on and off a lot. It is annoying and worrying. I missed all the entrance shots. It has to be a major glitch in the camera. I might return it.

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

rayvaldezphoto — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:57:27 GMT

I have the same problem. Its only the autofocus. It seems to deactiviate autofocus as if it is in manual mode but you still have the AF frame and cant take a photo. Sometimes it will take a photo just out of focus but is very hard to even do that.

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

iceskatingphoto — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 07:18:43 GMT

It happens to me too shooting for hours in iceskating competitions. R1 (also with prior firmware) with RF 100-300 or RF 70-200. Never happens before with R3.

Now when I shoot for hours I have got into the habit of switching off and taking out the battery from time to time!

Waiting for a firmware update

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

fingham — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:30:41 GMT

Hi, Is this happening to you without using 'Action Priority'? I know there is no option for ice skating, but since I stopped using 'Action Priority, ' the focus issue has not happened to me again (fingers crossed). I am using subject: people, eye focus only and all has been well. It's not your lenses! I was afraid of that, but it appears only that the R1/R5II firmware is faulty in this area. I believe Action Priority is a marketing gimmick or an early attempt at incorporating more predictive AF into the camera. Still, it is unnecessary for most individuals who use these cameras and know how to focus and follow the action. In some cases, it is a hindrance - consider focusing on a defensive player in basketball guarding someone with the ball. Action Priority has, in my experience, switched focus instead on the offensive player (as it was designed to).

In any case, I hope that Canon fixes this issue, as I am sure there are many other issues in the firmware. Best of luck with your ice skating photos!

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

iceskatingphoto — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:13:36 GMT

Thanks for reply. This were my settings:

Servo AF

Flexible zone AF/1 Whole Area

Orientation-linked Af point separated

Subject People

Eye detection auto

Servo Af auto

as described in this document

https://cam.start.canon/it/C018/guide/html/AF-06_Subject_0200.html

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

fingham — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:31:03 GMT

First, thank you for the link to the document; I had not seen it for the R1 before, and it is interesting to read. I have never had the focusing issue when I was NOT using Action Priority. My setup has two differences from your settings; I am using 'Expand AF area: Around', and I use 'Case Manual'/Tracking sensitivity -1/Accel./devel. tracking +1. I would not think those would help your issue, but I am using it without fail to date.

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

Disappointed9 — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 22:48:41 GMT

I have the same problem with R1 and 100-300mm. Sometimes after 45 minutes, once after 10', once emmediately. 😞

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

Disappointed9 — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 22:55:35 GMT

My problems R1+100-300: I had not installed Action Priority...at once or after 10' or after approximately 45' focusing not possible.

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

iceskatingphoto — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 22:53:10 GMT

Update to my previous message and some clarifications. My wife and I only take pictures of ice skating. Equipment: 1DX Mark III (now replaced by R1) and R3, lenses EF300mm f/2.8L IS II USM, RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, RF 100-300 f/2.8 L IS USM.
In competition we often shoot 6-7 hours a day and consequently a few thousand shots. For 1.5 years my wife has been using R3 and RF 100-300: never had a problem.
In November we bought the R1 and started shooting with the RF 100-300; unfortunately, already at the second competition the focusing problems with both the 100-300 mm and the 70-200 (less frequent, however) began. I shoot with R3 and EF300 with adapter, no focusing problems.
The R1 in some competitions has manifested another issue: the temperature indicator comes on, up to first level (in an ice rink!).
I have also tried using the RF 100-300 with the R3 and again focus errors occur (albeit less frequently). Usually the focusing error with this lens occurs when zooming in or out. During a competition, away from the ice, I always shot at 300 mm, no problem. I suspect that the lens also has a malfunction.
Now, with the season over, I have sent the R1, R3 and RF 100-300 to service for a thorough check.
PS
Translated with Gogle, English is not my language, hope I was understandable.

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

iceskatingphoto — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:58:41 GMT

Today new firmware for R1. Fixing focus and temperature problems

https://www.canonrumors.com/canon-eos-r1-firmware-v1-0-2-released/

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

kvbarkley — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:54:14 GMT

It is also in the announcement area of this site. No need to go to Canon Rumors...

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

fingham — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:08:35 GMT

Have you upgraded and did it fix your issues?

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

fingham — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:12:15 GMT

As I previous indicated, the issue for me happened when I was using Action Priority and zooming in/out. I have used the R1 and R5 for many months now and have not experienced the issue while not using Action Priority. It is interesting that the new firmware talks about fixing an issue when focusing at specific focal ranges but does not mention Action Priority. I will update my firmware soon and see how it goes. Would be interested in the experiences of anyone else that had this issue and have upgraded their firmware to this most recent version - did it take care of the issue?

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

fingham — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:15:51 GMT

I am sorry to hear that. The combination of the R1 and the 100-300 is fantastic! I have not had any more issues since I stopped using Action Priority. I have not upgraded the firmware yet and tried AP again - when I do, I will report the results. That said, as others have pointed out, proper use of the focusing capabilities built into the camera without Action Priority are far superior to Action Priority anyway. It was something new, I tried it, it did not work well... oh well...

Re: Focusing issues with Canon R1 and R5 Mark II

iceskatingphoto — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:24:41 GMT

As said in my previous message I have sent the R1, R3 and RF 100-300 to Canon camera service (for Switzerland, where I live is in Germany) but I am still waiting for them to come back.

The new firmware should correct exactly the 2 problems I had. With the 100-300 the focus often got stuck between 240 and 300 mm. For the temperature problem I am doubtful because I have photographed several times side by side with colleagues with identical equipment and none of them had any signs of overheating. In any case, I will post the results when I receive the equipment back.