EOS R6 Mark II requires multiple shutter presses to focus in low light

[LifelessLewis]

Hey, I have a Canon R6 Mark ii with an RF 24-105 L f/4. I am using spot autofocus with no tracking in one shot mode. Sometimes in low lighting it will fail focus on something with slightly low contrast. However, if I half press the shutter a few more times it will eventually focus, showing that it can manage it at the point I'm trying to focus on.

I have ensured that the Lens drive when AF impossible is set to continue focus search. However it's like it doesn't actually search the full focus range to even try, just decides that it can't focus without actually trying. Is there a way to force it to search the full focus range before deciding that it's out of focus?

Thanks.

[Waddizzle]

“ I have ensured that the Lens drive when AF impossible is set to continue focus search. However it's like it doesn't actually search the full focus range to even try, just decides that it can't focus without actually trying. Is there a way to force it to search the full focus range before deciding that it's out of focus? “

You’re using One Shot AF.  That’s how it works. 

[LifelessLewis]

I think you're misunderstanding. It doesn't find focus before I take any pictures. I'm not talking about continuous focus in between pictures.

[Waddizzle]

I’m not, either.

[LifelessLewis]

Can you elaborate a bit more please? You're saying that I turn on the camera in one shot at mode, point and something, half press the shutter and it won't focus. And that it's supposed to do that?

[Waddizzle]

Yup!

What shooting mode are you using?  Try this test.  The next time that happens, try taking the photo again using Intelligent Auto mode, the Green [A+] mode.  

[jrhoffman75]

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@LifelessLewis wrote:

Can you elaborate a bit more please? You're saying that I turn on the camera in one shot at mode, point and something, half press the shutter and it won't focus. And that it's supposed to do that?

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It won't focus if the subject doesn’t have enough contrast. 

[Waddizzle]

“ I am using spot autofocus with no tracking in one shot mode. Sometimes in low lighting it will fail focus on something with slightly low contrast. However, if I half press the shutter a few more times it will eventually focus, showing that it can manage it at the point I'm trying to focus on. “

Low light is a problem. Why are you using Spot AF?  That’s a problem, too.  

[LifelessLewis]

I understand low light is the main cause, however if I try to achieve focus a few times on the same subject with no movement or change in lighting then it will work. Like I say, the main issue seems to be that the lens doesn't try the full focus range to try and find the focus. I can't say I ever had this problem with a DSLR.

And spot af is generally the best for me because the larger AF boxes don't always capture what I want to focus on, they'll pick up something in the foreground or background. However, I also tried this with the single point AF and it's the same thing.

[Waddizzle]

What are you trying to photograph?