7DMKII af upgrade?

[stewy14]

I shoot wildlife with my 7dmkii, the af is starting to hold me back tho, since its a point af and not a detect af(like mirrorless)

I shoot ai servo, and I was wondering if there was any way that I can make the af have tracking at all? NOT DURING LIVE VIEW, I DONT EVER SHOOT LIVE VIEW

thanks,

stewy

[stewy14]

I mean is there a firmware update? or a offbrand type update that I can use? add some code into something? anything?

[Tronhard]

Hi and welcome:
I shot with the 7D and 7DII for  years and for their age they are great cameras, but they do not have the capacity for face and eye tracking.  However, ten years on from release, there is no firmware update available.

If you want to get those features, then you need to move to the R-series of Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras (MILCs).  There is an R7 model that offers that, but has challenges with focusing at high shutter speeds.
If you have EF lenses then I would suggest going for one of the R-series full-frame models, such as the R6 series.  They have brilliant performance, low noise and better tracking than any of the crop-sensor bodies.

[stewy14]

aw dang XD, I cant buy anything new cameras, no job nothing, since I still am in school, I am trying to make this a profession, but, the af on the camera is holding me back 😞

thanks for the reply though!

[Tronhard]

With all due respect, it is not the camera that is holding you back, it's ypur skill level. I used that camera for years as a professional and got shots that sold.

A professional uses what is available and delivers the goods. If you are still at school workwith what you have, master it and save up. 

Also realize that being a professional is far,far more than having a great camera, as per the first line in my signature 

[stewy14]

alright! thanks, its just that I feel like I cant focus on the eye that well, I use a 600mm lens, which as you might know, is HEAVY!! I use handheld, cause I dont like carrying around a tripod(its on my bag), since its way too heavy for long walks, also, when I am shooting birds in flight, I cant always perfectly track them, and the af ends up focusing on trees or something thats not the bird

[Tronhard]

I will personal message you.  You should get a notification when it is done but, if not, look up at the top left of the screen for the highlighted envelope just to the left of your avatar.

[Tronhard]

I always use back button focus with single point centre focus and Servo. By default, area focus will latch onto the closest object, thus mis-focusing on your subject.  I prefer to be very precise in setting my focus and can then track it with Servo focus by holding down the AF-ON button.   See the following video from Canon:
Master Back-Button Focus | How to Back-Button Focus on your Canon Camera (youtube.com)

It is very effective, and I have shot that way for many years.
I also use single-point centre metering, so I can be very precise as to what the camera will expose on. I have exposure lock centred and assigned to the * button.

So, my procedure is:
1. place a spot with 18% reflectance (what the meter wants for correct exposure) in the centre of the viewfinder and lock metering with the * button
2. place the subject's eye in the centre of the viewfinder and HOLD the AF-ON button to track it (just TAP that button if it is stationary).
3. Recompose and shoot.
It sounds more complicated to explain than it is, and with practise you can do it extremely quickly.