EOS R3 - Focus issue

[Red5TX]

Hey Canon Forums!  Looking for some help with a situation I am having.  I have been shooting high school softball for a number of years.  About 18 months ago I upgraded from my R6 to a R3 (which is on firmware 1.8).  I have the Canon EF-RF Converter as well as a Canon EF 70-200 III and a Canon EF 300 2.8 II.  The challenge I am having is that regardless of the lens I am using, when I lock on to a fielder or a batter/runner with subject recognition and someone else comes in front of them, the R3 loses the lock on my subject every single time. I have used DPP to confirm that I have either facial or eye lock on my subject before a new person walks in front of them, and the focus is tack sharp.  But when someone cuts in front of them and my initial subject reemerges on the other side, the focus lock is lost and the camera does not re-find the focus lock.  I have tried a number of AF settings hoping that one of them will provide a better lock that another.  The one that I have found that works best (which still is not working) is Case 2.  I have adjusted the sliders for Tracking sensitivity to try different settings, even using the -2 locked on setting and the 0 setting for Accel/decel tracking (I have also experimented with other settings to no avail).  I have Subject tracking set to on, subject to detect set to people, and eye detection set to Enable.  Switching tracked subjects is set to 0, Initial Priority.  I am using back button focus and SERVO AF mode.  I am also shooting RAW.  This issue happens day or night (in lower light, higher ISO settings).

Thoughts? What else can I tell you? I can post some photos if it would be helpful (either RAW or JPG).

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Matt

[Waddizzle]

I am going to recommend fully resetting the camera’s AF system.  /the issue that you are referring to is often described as “stickiness.” You seem to be adjusting the right settings, but not meeting with success.  This is a long video, about 3 hours.  But, it is a thorough breakdown of how the AF system in Canon high end cameras works.

[Red5TX]

I'll try it.  Is there a quick explanation as to how to reset the AF system without going through all 3 hours of the video?  🙂

[Waddizzle]

Try Wrench Menu 5.  

If you have not already downloaded a copy of the R3 User Guide, then I strongly suggest that you do.  The R3 is a complex piece of gear.  I recommend watching the video, too.  

[Red5TX]

Oh, you mean a full camera reset.  I get it.  Thanks.  I will try this and report back the results.