topic Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

garymak1 — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 22:19:44 GMT

I am looking for advice from R8 users only.

I am considering buying an R8 as a travel backup & 2nd camera to my main R5. (For studio work I use the R5 and 5Diii.) I took the R8 out for a spin to compare image IQ and overall handling with my other cameras, including my R5. Overall, I had a good impression, and it was reasonably easy to guess most of the control function locations based on general Canon organization logic. And of course I'll figure out differences and specifics if I buy one.

However, I was confounded by the lack of joystick (such as I'm used to on the R5, 5D) to quickly change the focal points, (AF Point Selection) e.g., spot, extended, etc., as usually on the R5 & 5D, pushing the AF Point Selection button, and then turning the Main Dial allows you to quickly change modes, and then using the joystick, quickly move the AF Point position. The R8 doesn't seem to have that function with the AF Point Selection button and without a joystick, while shooting and looking through the viewfinder, I couldn't figure out how to move the focal point.

So, that's my question: on the R8, while shooting, how do you quickly change from AF Point setting to another, and then move the AF focal point from one position to another in the viewfinder screen?

Thanks!

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

justadude — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 22:58:58 GMT

You can set touch and drag on the screen, which is what a lot of people do. Personally I disable the touch feature on the screen. To change the focus point I press the AF button on the back, then use the cross keys (circle around the set button) to move it whichever direction I want (not diagonal... right - left, or up - down ... one way at a time only).

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

garymak1 — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 02:05:01 GMT

OK, so it can be done, not necessarily as elegantly as on an R5, but reasonably well with the "L<>R, U<>D" hash marks on the outer circle. That's good to learn!

RE: Touch Screen: I agree. I always disable the touch screen. When you are trying to focus, having to pull away and look at an LCD screen and move a focus point there is ridiculous as then your camera is off track from your subject, which makes the whole process pointless. (And that assumes you can even see the LCD screen well enough in bright sunlight or glare anyway!)

What about the AF Point Selection button? As I mentioned, it seemed that pushing that button and then turning the Main Dial did not work to shuttle between AF Point Selection options...

Again, I don't have one in front of me and this was my one bugaboo so to speak that I want to be sure about before buying this camera.

Thanks for your time!

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

justadude — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:23:25 GMT

I'm not 100% sure I follow exactly what you are asking. If you mean how do you change from single point to one of the zone settings (expandable focus points, whole area, etc.), I always have done that with the info screen (Info button) simply because it is a hardwired habit since my DSLR days. I haven't really looked into seeing if there are other ways of doing it simply because this is almost a non-thinking way for me to change that setting.

Is that what you are asking? Or did you mean something else?

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

garymak1 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 04:36:18 GMT

Sorry. Let me define:

1) "Change Focal Point Setting" = "change from single point to one of the zone settings (spot, expandable focus points, whole area, etc.)"

2) "Change Focus Point" = "Change AF Point position in the screen" i.e.,., move the focal point square (or rectangle, etc.) around in the screen.

So, your answer "To change the focus point I press the AF button on the back, then use the cross keys (circle around the set button) to move it whichever direction I want (not diagonal... right - left, or up - down ... one way at a time only)" would be as #2 above: to change/move around the focus point in the screen. So, asked and you answered. Much thanks!

Regarding #1 however, 1) "Change Focal Point Setting" = "change from, for instance, single point to one of the zone settings (spot, expandable focus points, whole area, etc.)"... On an R5 and 5D, you press the AF Point Selection button, and then turn the Main Dial which allows you to quickly change modes in the viewfinder. I tried this on the R8 and it was something else. So I'm asking how to quickly switch between Focal Point Settings in the viewfinder. Pulling the viewfinder away from your eye to then use the LCD screen wastes time menu-diving, and is distracting (and difficult to see in bright sun) and you lose contact with your subject. So, there's got to be a way. I just couldn't figure it out (and don't have an R8 in front of me to figure it out now.)

Hope I clarified it. Thanks!

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

SignifDigits — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:58:04 GMT

I hope I've understood your questions.

Regarding your #1, the "AF point selection/index/magnify/reduce button" comes programmed to perform that function by default.

Regarding your #2, Live View is not required to use the screen to choose the focal point focus - it is called "Touch and Drag AF" and typically you'll just use the right half of the touch screen whilst your eye is pressed to the electronic viewfinder, much like the joystick. Many people, including me, prefer it to the joystick, though one does need to train ones' thumb and cheek accordingly.

The AE lock button is easily reprogrammed to then recenter your focus area. This is how I use that button. A snip from the manual to help you visualize:

Since I do not use back-button AF I use that button to switch between servo and one-shot. I found that useful for me.

As to your #1 # setting SF Areas there are several other options for this (I apologize in advance for any misstatements someone has to correct as I no longer have my R8 to test, so this is just from memory) :

Quick Control Dial can be reprogrammed to perform this (I never did this)
Info button then Quick Control Dial (definitely used this)
And likely others

See manual at https://cam.start.canon/en/C013/manual/html/UG-00_Before_0110.html for more details

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:37:31 GMT

You can use Touch & Drag with your thumb while eye is at viewfinder.

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

justadude — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:08:41 GMT

"You can use Touch & Drag with your thumb while eye is at viewfinder."

I mentioned that as well, but he replied further up in the post that same as me, he disables the touch screen. With me, my big nose gets in the way - lol

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

justadude — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:24:40 GMT

"Regarding #1 however, 1) "Change Focal Point Setting" = "change from, for instance, single point to one of the zone settings (spot, expandable focus points, whole area, etc.)"..."

That's what I thought that you meant. It seems like there should be a way to do this without pulling the viewfinder away from your eye, but I honestly do not know. I don't delve into the menu like SignifDigits suggests (although I know that is the common way). When I pull my camera from my eye I simply hit the "Info" button, then the "Set" button, and I can quickly switch from Whole Area, to whatever I need. Yes, it still means taking the camera away from your eye, but it's a LOT faster than diving into the menu. Even on sunny days, the high contrast black and white screen is easy to see for these few simple visual steps. See sample images below.

If you do find another way, I'd like to know. I agree that it was simpler on many of the DSLRs I have owned.

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:32:40 GMT

I am away from my camera, but I believe you can disable touch shutter but still enable touch & drag.

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

garymak1 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:11:49 GMT

I actually cannot conceive/imagine how one would do that. Really. My face is pretty much locked into my right hand, i.e.,.blocks my right hand fingers from moving anywhere but up and down on the right side of the camera (where all the controls are, coincidentally and conveniently). The only way I could move my right hand left is to slide it under my face - quite awkwardly - which means pulling my face away from the camera viewfinder (which is the whole point not to do (and wiping my nose in the process, which you know, can add a bit of smudge the screen with stuff🤣...) My left hand is supporting the camera/lens. So, where does this third hand come from?🤔🙄😉

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

garymak1 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:31:00 GMT

Thanks for that! It wasn't the information I was hoping for, but it was the information I was asking for!😉 Thanks!

So it seems that, despite being on their cameras/software for well over a decade, and for no good technical reason, Canon simply took this functionality out of the R8! 😱

This reminds me of the famous story - and "moral lesson" - Ansel Adams told in his book, "The Camera" about mysterious white dots appearing on his negatives from a new, very expensive camera from a very famous camera maker. He told about a design flaw so basic, it literally was inconceivable to him and so he spent a tremendous amount of effort and countless hours trying to figure out why he was having the problem. Finally, he found the culprit: the engineers who designed the camera used a glossy, reflective black enamel coating inside the bellows, which of course sent bits of light bouncing all over, which then caused the random white dots on his negatives. He then took the following lesson from the experience: "Never assume the people designing a product (in this case, a camera) are the people actually using the product."

I will assume the "Adam's Principle" (as I fondly call it now) is at work here.😉

Thanks again for your time to explain!

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

justadude — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 19:00:43 GMT

I figured there HAD to be another way without using the screen, so I asked Google. Keep in mind this is an AI answer, so I can't vouch for accuracy - but it may be worth a try...

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

Waddizzle — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 19:21:02 GMT

“ I actually cannot conceive/imagine how one would do that. Really. My face is pretty much locked into my right hand, i.e.,.blocks my right hand fingers from moving anywhere but up and down on the right side of the camera (where all the controls are, coincidentally and conveniently). “

The top left corner can be used, instead of the entire screen. You would need to use the left thumb, which would also find awkward and prohibitive. I let the camera do the work. It’s a lot faster than I am.

I don’t use the joysticks, at all. I program the [AF-IN] button to AF-OFF. Releasing resets the AF to my selected AF Starting Point, Iwhich is always the center. I recompose and keep shooting.

I have shot this way for years with DSLRs. The AF tracking by Canon is exceptional.

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:04:14 GMT

I'm a right eye shooter and have no difficulty using my right thumb to move focus points, I configure the Top right area.

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

garymak1 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:19:02 GMT

Ah! That explains it! Makes sense then... But not for left eye shooters!

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

garymak1 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:27:56 GMT

Well, it's encouraging that there seems to be enough "possibilities" of a workaround!! Thanks for delving into this!!

It is a shame, though, that so many manufacturers seem to play an odd game of "take away" when introducing new features that customers may or may not like or need, at the expense of taking away (or not including) previous well-used/standard/expected old features. (Just like the lack of a "shrug" emoji on the Canon forum here...🤣)

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

SignifDigits — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:56:54 GMT

I sort of don't get your argument. Are you comparing a higher-end DSLR to low-end full frame mirrorless in that statement? I moved from an RP up to an R8 and felt that I got more features, not fewer. Sorry, I'm just not getting the 1:1 comparison where Canon is taking away features.

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

Waddizzle — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:28:16 GMT

“ I am looking for advice from R8 users only. I am considering buying an R8 as a travel backup & 2nd camera to my main R5. “

i suggest that you take a pass on the R8, and invest in a camera that has the features that you want. I suggest the R6ii. The R8 uses the same sensor. Unlike the R8, you will get better battery life, LP-E6 style batteries.

Re: R8 Changing Focus Control Settings Quickly

garymak1 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:19:37 GMT