@JFG wrote:
Hello RFAdapter,
This is classic R5 Mark II behavior when one or two key settings are off. Your not crazy, and the camera isn’t broken. The R5 II is brutally unforgiving if certain AF or shutter‑related settings drift out of alignment.
Here’s the clean, field‑proven way to diagnose this. If you follow these steps, you’ll know exactly where the failure is coming from.
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🔍The 6 Most Common Causes of “Randomly In‑Focus” Shots on the R5 Mark II
Below is the exact order you need to check — because one of these is almost always the culprit.
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1️⃣Shutter Mode: Full Electronic = Soft / Missed Focus
This is the #1 cause of “inconsistent focus” on the R5 II.
If you're using:
- Electronic shutter (silent)
- High-speed bursts
- Telephoto lenses
…you will absolutely see random softness.
Fix:
Set Shutter Mode → Electronic 1st Curtain (EFCS)
This instantly stabilizes focus consistency.
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2️⃣AF Method Accidentally Changed
The R5 II is notorious for switching AF methods if a button is bumped.
If you're is shooting:
- 1‑point AF when you think you're in tracking
or
- Whole-area tracking when you think you're in spot AF
…you'll get random hits.
Fix:
Set AF Method → Whole Area Tracking (for anything moving)
Set Subject Detection → Auto or Animals
Set Eye Detection → On
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3️⃣AF Operation Not on Servo
If you’re in One‑Shot AF, the camera locks focus once and never updates — so anything moving will be soft.
Fix:
Set AF Operation → Servo
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4️⃣Subject Detection Off or Wrong Subject Type
If subject detection is off, the R5 II behaves like an old DSLR — and misses a ton.
Fix:
AF → Subject Detection → Auto
or
Animals if you’re shooting wildlife.
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5️⃣Lens IS + IBIS Conflict (rare but real)
Some RF lenses (especially older ones) can cause micro‑jitter when:
- IBIS = On
- Lens IS = On
- Shutter = Electronic
This creates “random soft frames.”
Fix:
Try turning Lens IS Off temporarily to test.
If the problem disappears, that’s the cause.
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6️⃣Minimum Shutter Speed Too Low (Auto ISO users)
If you’re using Auto ISO with a low minimum shutter, the camera will happily drop to 1/250 or 1/320 — which is too slow for anything moving.
Fix:
Set Min Shutter Speed → 1/1000 or 1/2000 for action.
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🧪 The 30‑Second Diagnostic Test
Do the following:
1. Set Mode → Av
2. Set Shutter Mode → EFCS
3. Set AF Operation → Servo
4. Set AF Method → Whole Area Tracking
5. Set Subject Detect → Auto
6. Set Eye Detect → On
7. Set Min Shutter → 1/2000
8. Shoot a walking person or a bird on a branch
If the camera suddenly nails focus consistently, the issue is 100% settings‑related. Let me know if the aforementioned helps. Good Luck 👍
