Need more help setting up triple back button focus on R5

[LaneW]

I have received help with this before here, but now I cant figure out what I have done wrong.

I have set up triple back button focus.  I have full zone tracking on the AF On button, a zone on the asterix button.  Both working fine.  And I have the point selection button set to spot. When I push the button, is shows the white square for spot focus, like normal - but it does NOT actually focus.  

Here’s how  I set it up - In Customize Buttons I selected the AF point selection button. I understand that I cant do this using Metering and AF start like I did to set zone to the asterix button, so I used the settings in Switch to Registered AF Function instead, then selected detail set and set the AF method to spot.  Seems like it should work, and it does show up as spot focus when I press the button -  but it does not focus.

Help?

[p4pictures]

The Switch to registered AF function does what it says, but it doesn't also activate AF. So as you see, when you press the AF point button, the camera switches to your chosen AF method - spot - but no focus. 

Since the other two buttons are configured and switch to the correct modes, you need to set the camera to spot AF in the menu so that is the "default" when no overrides are in action. Then when you press AF-ON the configuration overrides the current - spot AF - and uses full zone tracking plus focuses while the AF-ON is pressed. Similarly for the asterisk button, it is set to override the active method and switch  to zone AF and also focus. For the AF point button, you choose the metering and AF start function, and it will now focus using the current setting of the AF method on the camera, which is spot AF. 

[LaneW]

As always, Brian, you are extremely helpful - thanks. Setting the default was part of my problem - and I think you have told me that before.  But I'm still not there.  

First, when I referenced spot, I was actually meaning single point - the single box, not box in a box.  Regardless, now that I have changed the default - and also realized that I was making changes in my Custom Function Modes, not M,P, Fv, etc.  I have that set to spot. Thought I had it figured out.  But alas, what I see on the screen now, pushing none of the back buttons, I don't see spot focus, but rather the single point (single box) and it will not focus still.  What am I missing?

Also - not to complicate further - can you advise how I may be able to set up similar AF for shooting video. The choices are very different, of course, but I'd like to get closer than I am now, if possible.....

[p4pictures]

Thank you for the kind words.

It doesn't matter what AF method you need, spot or 1-point, just make sure that is selected in the AF1 menu - so making it the default that will be used when the AF-point button is pressed. 

For custom modes, C1/C2/C3 these have separate custom control configurations. Even possible to have totally different configurations for C1 against C2 or C3. Secondly by default the camera is set to not automatically update the stored settings of a custom mode C1/C2/C3. What this means is that if you are in one of the custom modes, and make a change to the camera settings or customised controls they will only last while the camera is in that mode, and not powered off or changed to another mode. You can set the custom modes to auto update the stored settings with a setting in the custom shooting mode menu, under Custom shooting mode (C1-C3) you have three options, register settings, clear settings and auto update set. - make this one enabled even temporarily when you need to change or update the stored settings of a custom mode. 

So to video modes... You will be out of luck trying to create a triple back button AF setup here, as there is no sub-level of settings for AF + metering start even using the AF-ON button or asterisk buttons. 

[LaneW]

Got it, Brian. Thanks again.

So, I have set the default to spot in the AF 1 menu.  Set it, reset it, changed it, changed it back, multiple times - and still, with the customize button set for the point selection button, it still, shows only the single point square, not the spot square, and it will not focus.

Its as if it is locked up on the single point square.  I am really stumped here.

[Waddizzle]

What purpose do you think Custom Shooting Modes serve?

They are intended to be camera configuration presets.  You should keep the Auto-Update setting disabled, which is the default setting.  Only enable it when you intend to make changes to the preset configuration and then disable it after you make changes.  

Any changes that you make to the camera settings are LOST when the metering timer expires. This is especially true for exposure settings.  

I use these configurations on AF1 menu.  Both are based on M mode and ISO Auto.  Having control over Shutter and Aperture feels like shooting with film to me.  ISO Auto allows me to change film on the fly.  

C1.  This is my “Bird in Flight” mode.

• AF Operation - Servo AF
• AF Area - Expand AF Area
• Whole Area Tracking - On
• Subject to Detect - None
• Eye Detection - Auto
• Switching Tracked Subjects - 1

C2.  This is my “Bird on a Branch” Mode.

• AF Operation - One Shot
• AF Area - 1-point AF
• Whole Area Tracking - On
• Subject to Detect - None
• Eye Detection - Disable
• Switching Tracked Subjects - 1

I also have M Mode setup to use also,  I setup BBF for [AF-OFF] for C1.  I setup BBF for [AF-ON] for C2, which is more conventional.  There are other differences, but those are the major ones related Auto Focus.

[LaneW]

Waddizzle

Thanks. And I do understand the concept of the custom functions. I use them, similarly to how you are set up with one for BIF, one for stationary birds - and I had, and now can not get, spot focus on the point selection button - it wont focus.

That said, I have questions on your setup. Are you using an R5? I ask because I don't see, or know how to find, some of the settings you mention on your breakdown. Specifically - from your list:

• C1.  This is my “Bird in Flight” mode.

  • AF Operation - Servo AF
  • AF Area - Expand AF Area     Why not a zone or whole area focus with eye detection?
  • Whole Area Tracking - On       I dont follow how you have whole area tracking if you are using expand area?
  • Subject to Detect - None  Why not animals?
  • Eye Detection - Auto   - My only choice for eye detection are off or on, no auto?
  • Switching Tracked Subjects - 1

[jrhoffman75]

Maybe help:

https://youtu.be/f501yi_ygpcBing Videos