Focus point(s) not showing up on image review (focus issue)????

[Maria]

Hi Folks,

Hoping someone can help me figure out why i'm having focus issues.  Typical example is that i take some shots and of say 20 only 10 are in focus.  Granted the lens i used in my last test is front focusing and i will have it adjusted but still something is up. 

When i review the images on the camera LCD on one image it shows me where it focused (the little red box shows in the review).  On the other image (the one that is in focus) it is not showing it.  So wondering if maybe i switched focus points and one happens to be better (yes i know center is best but trying to figure out if that is my issue).

In what situation would the focus point NOT show up when reviewing an image on the LCD?

When I look at the EXIF data for the images they are almost identical - only difference is that one was shot at ISO 200 and one at ISO 250 - that should make no difference in focus.

Used a Canon 6D and Canon 70-200 f/4 lens.  Shooting in Manual Mode, settings were 1/500, f/4 ISO 200/250 both shot at about a focal length of 100mm, subject is in the same spot just turned a slightly before taking the shot.  I have inlcude examples (zoomed in to show the difference):

and here is the full image SOOC (RAW image convereted to JPG, no adjustments made) of the one that looks in focus.

[Waddizzle]

Yes, it can be a little confusing.  The plug-in seems to make the assumption that the user has manually selected an AF point, and not let the camera pick one on its' own.  The display states would make more sense if you were using a camera that had a more sophisticated AF system, combined with shooting in AI Servo mode.

Speaking of shooting mode, I recall that you said that you use AI Servo mode.  However, you also said that you camera beeps when it locks focus when you press BBF.  If the camera beeps on focus lock, then you are definitely in One Shot mode, not AI Servo, which does not beep on focus lock because the camera would beep non-stop.

I strongly advise manually selecting the center AF point, and using just that one.  The other points are most useful when you are using a tripod.  For the vast majority of handheld shots, using the center AF point is the way to go.  Using One Shot mode is probably best, too, because the 6D AF system lacks "AF Assist Points", which make AI Servo mode really sing.

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To best understand the AF point display, just start taking pictures, and remembering when you release the BBF button.  Release it before and after shutter release.  If you select the center AF point, all of the rest of the AF points will be idle, Black + White, and only the center point will display different states.  Even try taking a picture without pressing BBF, and take notice of how the center AF point is displayed.  The state you want is "Red + Black", for best results.

[Waddizzle]

"So i still don't understand WHEN in playback on the Camera on the LCD the red box would not show up? "

It would not show up if you manually focused the lens.

[jmphotography]

OMG Seriously. I have bee looking for this answer for months. Thank you for dumbing it down for me to understand! Phew! Now I can sleep at night. haha. Seriously, thank you Waddizzle

[Maria]

Thanks WAddizzle! I know why the centre af is better than the others but depending on the composition it doesn't always work with the centre AF point. My compositions often have the subject off to one side and focus and recompose will only add problems. I often shoot wide open (or one stop from wide open) so that movement to recompose can cause the subject to be out of focus.

As far as why the AF point is not showing up on one image vs the others I am 100% positive I did not manually focus so this is just odd....

But for sure I will do some tests to see what happens and how the software is displaying each state.

[Maria]

Re composition - cropping in post to create the composition I want isn't ideal either ;(

[Tjohnson120]

Try turning off lens abberation correction and lens electronic MF.