@sueze wrote:I am using the RF 100mm macro on my R5. I have struggled with finding focus with it. I sent it in a month ago for Canon to look at it and they told me it is fine. I was told when shooting AF the focus ring does not work. That I need to switch to MF, find the focus I want and then switch to AF. What a pain!! I lot of the time doing that, the lens will then lose focus. I mainly shoot flower/nature with my macro. I am lucky if the AF finds any focus! Is it true the focus ring does not work when using AF?
Hello, sueze!
I have been using this combo [R5/RF 100mm macro] for at least three years, targeting the same subjects as you, and don't remember ever needing to use MF. It just focuses wherever I put my FP almost every time. Be mindful of the focus limiter switch and make sure the SA ring is locked at zero, unless you want to use it 🙂 With that said, either Canon repair missed something or you are using the wrong focusing method(s).
This is the way I've done it for years with the R's and RF 100mm and DSLR's and the EF 100mm: I use the fine focus point, one shot, and Av mode, which is as simple as it gets, so no servo, no multiple focus points, no zones. The majority of my macros are shot hand held, which does throw a monkey in the wrench from time to time when shooting a tiny flower in a slight breeze or moving insects. Yes, everyone has their way! But this has worked for me many many years.
"Is it true the focus ring does not work when using AF? " By default, yes, but as Demetrius kindly pointed out, you can enable Manual Focus Override (MFO) by selecting "One-Shot --> Enable" from the Lens electronic MF menu. I have this enabled, but not necessarily for macro.
"...That I need to switch to MF, find the focus I want and then switch to AF." Ouch, that hurt my brain! I've never even considered doing that. I do use MFO to fine tune on small birds that are being elusive. My wife uses the 3rd option with her telephoto ""One-Shot --> Enable (magnify)", which drives me crazy whenever I snatch up her camera (R6 mark II) to take some shots, LOL!
Just an example: A "Lawn Orchid" which are matchhead sized.
Newton
I wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions. Last evening I was able to get it to work. As the instructions say, hold the shutter button halfway down, as the shutter button is being held down you can then use the focus ring to bring the subject into focus. I am so thrilled to finally get this to work. (Note: I got this lens late last October. In Nov I was diagnosed with breast cancer. So all winter I was going through breast cancer treatments. Just this past month or so I have started back into my normal shooting. So I really had not used this lens until this past month.) Again, thank you!! This was taken last evening.
