topic Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 02:45:15 GMT

While in servo mode, under what setting can I use a single focus point to track a subject?

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

TTMartin — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 11:43:28 GMT

@Stillh2o wrote:
While in servo mode, under what setting can I use a single focus point to track a subject?

You would choose a single AF point with the AF Area Selection Lever (the little switch around the joystick).

If you don't have it you should download the EOS 7D Mark II AF-Setting Guidebook which contains a detailed explanations of how to master the 65-point cross-type AF.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:28:06 GMT

Well, I have chosen the single point and it remains stationary. I had purchased a 7D2 a few weeks ago and just had to return it due to malfunctions. I got a new one and if I remember correctly, you have to do something to be able to track a subject using single point AF besides changing the AF to a single point.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:31:45 GMT

Please disregard, I was finally able to figure it out I think.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

TTMartin — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:36:31 GMT

@Stillh2o wrote:
Well, I have chosen the single point and it remains stationary. I had purchased a 7D2 a few weeks ago and just had to return it due to malfunctions. I got a new one and if I remember correctly, you have to do something to be able to track a subject using single point AF besides changing the AF to a single point.

If you want the AF point to move around in the viewfinder with the subject, you need to use one of the Auto AF point selection modes. If you want to just track with a single AF point like the center one, all you need is to select single point AF and be in AIServo.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:39:10 GMT

I had the single point AF selected, however you have to go into the settings to enable it.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

diverhank — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 14:39:22 GMT

You had bought the 7D2 which is known for its AF capability and you use a single point focus? This means you are not using any of its AF ability at all. You might as well as the 7D1 or some other camera with 9 point focus to save money.

I shoot a lot of Birds In Flight (BIF) so my camera lives mostly on AI Servo and I can tell you tracking a moving bird with a single center point is nearly impossible...(some guys will always claim they can routinely do it at this point). As you know, with AI Servo, you aim at the object, acquire initial focus then keep the focus point on it as the object moves away. If you can't, you lose focus. With one point you have to keep that on the object all the time. With multiple focus points, the camera AI will track the focused target with other points so focus is maintained even if you failed to put the center point on the object. I use a number of focus points but always ended up choosing either 15 focus points (all auto) when I'm lazy in tracking or center point with 8 assist. If you use more than 15 points, the camera locks focus on the wrong part of the bird which is annoying. 15 points and less work very well.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 14:52:38 GMT

I appreciate your advise, however when using the single point in Servo, the points will expand and continue to track the subject. I do use single point to aquire focus on a running back, quarterback and let the points expand using single point AF.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

TCampbell — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 14:54:45 GMT

Make sure you download and read the guide that TTMartin linked above.

The 7D2 is what I refer to as a "technical" camera. It's capabilities are more advanced than a typical DSLR, but it does require taking some time to read through it's capabilities and how to use them.

There are a number of configurable options that control how the camera can "follow" a moving subject as it moves through the frame.

Normally you do that by allowing it to use all the AF points (set it to use the full AF area... not a single point), BUT... you set the initial point and the focus system will attempt to "track" your moving subject. In other words it doesn't really use all the points at the same time... you give it permission to switch to adjacent points as needed to follow your subject movement. It really just focuses to the one point -- but using the full AF area gives the camera permission to switch points as your subject moves. If you pick a "single" AF point then you've locked it only that point and it is not allow to transition to adjacent points as your subject moves.

Also... how it tracks subject movement is configurable. If something should momentarily block the view of your original focus target do you want the camera to ignore it and keep the focus distance maintained (hoping the object blocking your view will soon be out of the way) or do you want it to switch focus to the new subject? There's no "right" answer for every situation, so Canon set up the focus system so that you can configure it's behavior. That way you can configure the behavior that works best for your current situation.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus question

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 14:58:31 GMT

My question was where to go to activate what I wanted it too do, not how to use the AF. I found where I needed to go in the settings to accomplish that.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

diverhank — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 15:40:05 GMT

@Stillh2o wrote:
I appreciate your advise, however when using the single point in Servo, the points will expand and continue to track the subject. I do use single point to aquire focus on a running back, quarterback and let the points expand using single point AF.

No it does not expand with a single point. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Since there is only one point to track with, you have to have that one point on the object as it moves if you want focus to maintain. You need to choose one of the multiple point focusing scheme before it will expand to track for you - the real advantage of AI Servo.

Back to your original question. Here is how you activate and change focus point:

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 16:30:35 GMT

Just to make sure I am understanding what you are saying, if I am in single point AF in Servo, the single point will not expand to 3 or 4 points together and track the subject I am foucused on?

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

diverhank — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 16:48:52 GMT

@Stillh2o wrote:
Just to make sure I am understanding what you are saying, if I am in single point AF in Servo, the single point will not expand to 3 or 4 points together and track the subject I am foucused on?

Correct. It will longitudinally (moving away or towards you) but if it moves laterally it won't with a single AF point. You need to choose a mode that has multiple points and it will auto select the point for you as the object moves laterally. Usually the most effective is the center point with 8 assists. I use it 95% of the time for BIF.

Here is a really good Canon guide for the 7DII...you should read it.

http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2014/eos7dmk2_afGuidebook.shtml

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 17:14:38 GMT

Okay, it is one of 2 things. 1. I did/am not using the corrects terminology, words or not explaining what I mean well enough or 2. you are incorrect. I can use the single AF point and it will expand but you have to go into the menu and change a setting.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

TTMartin — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 17:23:29 GMT

@Stillh2o wrote:
Just to make sure I am understanding what you are saying, if I am in single point AF in Servo, the single point will not expand to 3 or 4 points together and track the subject I am foucused on?

What you want is to be in an auto AF point selection mode.

All Canon dSLRs behave differently when it comes to auto AF point selection mode and AIServo compared to One Shot focus mode.

When in an auto AF point selection mode and One Shot the camera will choose from all available AF points and choose the closest active AF point that has adequate contrast to achieve focus.

When in an auto AF point selection mode and AIServo, the camera starts with a single AF point and uses the other active AF points to continue to track the subject if they move away from the starting AF point.

For most Canon dSLR the starting point for tracking when in auto AF point selection mode and AIServo is the center AF point. Starting with the classic 7D more advanced cameras allow you to choose a different starting point for focus tracking when in auto AF point selection mode and AIServo. Just to confuse things the 7D Mk II also allows you to set it up, so it will automatically choose the starting AF point, much like other cameras do in auto AF point selection mode and One Shot. This however is not the default way the camera is set up, and you would need to reconfigure it to do that.

So what you actually want to use is either the 65 point auto AF point selection and AIServo, or one of the Zone auto AF point selection modes and AIServo. This will start with a single AF point, and if your subject moves off that AF point laterally the camera will hand off focus to one of the adjacent active AF points and continue tracking your subject.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 17:27:26 GMT

Okay. I appreciate everyone's input. Like I stated earlier, I found where I needed to go to in the menu to accomplish what I was needing.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

TTMartin — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 17:31:36 GMT

@Stillh2o wrote:
Okay, it is one of 2 things. 1. I did/am not using the corrects terminology, words or not explaining what I mean well enough or 2. you are incorrect. I can use the single AF point and it will expand but you have to go into the menu and change a setting.

You are referring to AF point expansion mode, which doesn't behave like you think it does. With AF point expansion mode (4 or 8 point) the center AF point will attempt to focus on the subject, if it fails to detect a subject only then will it use one of the surrounding AF points. It does not track and hand off to the adjacent AF points like when using auto AF point selection and AIServo.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 17:34:42 GMT

Okay, like I have said before I have a single AF square. When it locks in on a subject, other focus points surrounding it will come up. It is a single point, not expanded.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

diverhank — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 17:58:39 GMT

@Stillh2o wrote:
Okay, it is one of 2 things. 1. I did/am not using the corrects terminology, words or not explaining what I mean well enough or 2. you are incorrect. I can use the single AF point and it will expand but you have to go into the menu and change a setting.

Most likely you are using the wrong terminology. No matter, you figured out what you need. Most likely you are looking at the square that is the initial AF point in one of the expanded focus group. When you say "a single AF point", it's just one single point. You use this mostly when you want precise focus on the eye.

The link I provided will help you with the correct terminology. It's possible that I'm wrong but I don't think so. I'm done with this topic. I'd like to help those who want help. I don't think you're interested in it.

Re: Canon 7D2 auto focus quesrion

Stillh2o — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 18:07:22 GMT

Okay, thanks.