topic Re: Focus Point Issues with R3 in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R3 AF point won't stay in the center

HorseSports — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:35:03 GMT

Regardless of One Shot or Ai Servo, regardless of lenses, center focus will not hold. The LCD screen is closed. I do not use Eye Tracking. I need to use one single center focus point for my work, which is how the camera is set. Regardless of the subject be it a moving horse or a rose bud in a vase, the focal point jumps around and I miss critical shots. I am constantly using the center Set button to bring the focal point back to center. Is there anyway to keep the focal point centered? I am coming from using the 1D 2 through IDX III and never had this issues.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 17:24:18 GMT

Do you have Subject Tracking or Subject selection switched on?

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

Waddizzle — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:04:29 GMT

Do you have Eye Control enabled?

What do your AF point (s) look like? Do you see a single small square? Does it move around or change size? If so, that means tracking is enabled.

The.AF system / display can look and behave like a DSLR when disable Subject Tracking. And, disable the twi detection settings, Subject and Eye Detection.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

HorseSports — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:28:22 GMT

When I work horse events, I have animal tracking on. Otherwise, subject tracking if off.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

HorseSports — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:30:26 GMT

Eye tracking is set to off. I can be tracking a moving horse using the shutter and the focal point jumps to one of the corners. Often I am so busy, I fail to notice and get out of focus shots. I'm getting better at resetting the single focal point to center with the Set button, but it is a pain.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:57:03 GMT

You might try resetting camera. There are so many nested windows it is possible to have something inadvertently turned on and not realize it.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

Waddizzle — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:01:57 GMT

“ Eye tracking is set to off. “

What about Eye Control? Not the same as Eye Tracking. If yiu have Subject Tracking disabled, then so both subject detection and eye detection.

I recommend that you watch this long and exhaustive explanation of the AF system. YouTube video.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

HorseSports — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:32:03 GMT

I apologize for being unclear. Both eye tracking and eye control are set to "off."

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

Waddizzle — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:37:21 GMT

“ Regardless of the subject be it a moving horse or a rose bud in a vase, the focal point jumps around and I miss critical shots. “

The only reason for the AF point to move off of a subject on its own is if the AF system has one or more automatic detection and tracking settings enabled.

Another scenario where it may seem like the AF is not locking where you want us when use an older EF mount lens in electronic shutter mode with the high speed drive modes. The AF in the older lenses can’t keep up.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

Waddizzle — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:00:49 GMT

“

You might try resetting camera. There are so many nested windows it is possible to have something inadvertently turned on and not realize it. “

John is correct. He makes a good point. Fully reset the camera, including the custom controls. I believe you can save your current settings to a memory card.

Once the camera has been reset, don’t begin re-entering your custom settings. That would defeat the purpose of resetting the camera. We want to test the camera with settings in a known state.

However, I recommend disabling all the automatic AF settings on the menu screens I posted above. Also, double check that Eye Control is disabled.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

HorseSports — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:37:04 GMT

Thanks, but it is happening with RF lenses. I just checked all my settings, went outside with RF 24-70L and the focal point would not stay in 1 Point or center AF. The focal point kept bouncing to the corners.

Re: Focus Point Issues with R3

HorseSports — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:38:30 GMT

Thank you. I will reset.