EOS R5 AF won't detect eyes, faces come out soft

[R1985]

I bought the R5 in January and always felt the focus hasn't been right.  I have been going back to using my 5D Mkiii instead but recently have been trying to get to the bottom of the issue.  I am using it with an adapter and (mainly) a 35mm Sigma Art lens, but I have tried with a Canon EF lens too.  

When I use servo, the focus isn't on the eyes, despite using people tracking and eye detection.  When I use One Shot (with 1 AF point in the middle of the frame, no tracking or eye detect), I have been trying to use it in the same way as I used my DSLR.  I would use the middle focus point, lock the focus on the face by half pressing the shutter button and then reframe so the face is no longer in the middle of the frame, before fully pressing the shutter button.  I have never had issue with this on my DSLR - the place where I locked the focus (the face), is always in focus.  This isn't working on the R5 though, and the face always ends up soft.  I feel like the focus isn't locking and so it focuses on the middle of the frame instead, but the face is no longer there so this is no good.  The manual says that I should be able to do this - it says "When you press the shutter button halfway, the camera will focus only once.  When focus is achieved, the AF point will turn green and the beeper will sound.  The focus remains locked while you hold down the shutter button halfway, allowing you to recompose the image before taking the picture" - this reads to me like I should be able to use the same technique I have done for years.  I have sent my camera to Canon who found no fault, however the man who tested it told me he wasn't a specialist and that I should phone the helpdesk instead - he said he thinks maybe my shutter speed was too slow (it was 1/500).  So I called the helpdesk but I have just been repeatedly asked why I would want to do that when I could just use a different focus point, which doesn't really help me answer my concern.   He is also suggesting that its not a thing that mirrorless cameras can do because of chips etc, but I feel the manual says otherwise?  My question is, should I not be able to do this?  Am I missing something?  I am in the UK, for context. 

[p4pictures]

The original EOS R5 can only track faces when the AF method is; Face + Tracking, Zone AF, Large Zone AF: Vertical or Large Zone AF: Horizontal. It can only track eyes when the AF method is face + tracking.

If you choose Spot AF, 1-point AF, Expand AF area "cross" or Expand AF area: Around then you effectively switch off the subject detection and eye tracking so these work in the same way as the similar AF methods on the DSLRs.

One of the changes I made when moving to mirrorless from DSLRs is to switch over to using servo AF for almost all subjects where there is a chance of movement, this includes portraits. I also selected Face + Tracking AF method. With the subject to detect set to People and Eye detection enabled I can simply compose the frame I want and the camera will find a face, and the eye and focus on them with incredible reliability and accuracy. This is using both EF lenses on Canon mount adapter and RF lenses. This setup works well where there is only a single face in the frame and it is rather obvious. When you have more than one face in the frame you may want guide the camera to a specific face. For this you need to have a manually selected Initial Servo AF point for Face + Tracking. You will find this on the AF5 menu. Normally when set to AUTO there is no AF frame in the EVF or on the LCD. But when set to either of the other two options you will see an AF frame about the size of the 1-point AF frame, and also you will notice that there are white corners towards the edge of the viewfinder / LCD to indicate the limits of where you can positing the AF frame if you need. Aim this frame at the face you want the camera to focus on, and it will then track that face, keep your finger on the shutter button - or AF-ON button if using back button AF - and recompose, the AF will stay on the subject's face. 

For pictures of people this way of working with servo AF has replaced the old focus, lock, recompose technique of the DSLR for me, and I have significantly more sharply focussed shots as a result.  

In general for portraits I aim to have the shutter speed at 1/125th or faster, less than this there is an increased chance that even a static subject will move / breathe and be slightly out of focus. 

[FloridaDrafter]

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@R1985 wrote:
I don't know that the R5 (original) has the whole area tracking option .. do you know if there is an alternative?  

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In our R5 classic, it's in a couple of places and is denoted by the "smiley face+tracking" selection and included in the "AF method" options.

This is what you will see by pressing the "Q" button, then tapping the AF method (AF point/area selection). This is from an old screen shot so that row of AF points/areas is along the top now, f/w ver. 2.2.0, but it may be a configuration thing 🙂

The other way to get there is in the AF 1 menu.

I use this, along with some servo changes, subject detection, and eye detection, to shoot BIF and flying insects. I store it in C1.

Newton

 

[FloridaDrafter]

LOL, Brian! I was typing and dropping screenies at the same time you were posting.

Thanx for the in-depth post 🙂

Newton

[shadowsports]

Excellent thread and information guys 👍