R5 Mkii & R1 - Is there a programmable button to turn off auto focus/turn on manual focus

[pedz]

I've posted this before.  The 800mm f/11 will not manual focus no matter how "Lens electronic MF" is set.  I'm trying (and rather failing) to do bird photography with this lens and it just isn't working.  The birds are up in trees with branches in between or they are in scrub with tons of gunk in between and the lens loves to focus on the closest thing and there is nothing I can really do about it.  But I had an idea and I'm going to research it now but I thought I would also ask here.

Is there a programmable button that turns off auto-focus such that manual focus will work?  I know there is an "AF-Off" function but I'm not sure that is really what I'm looking for.  As I said, I plan to search and test but thought I would also ask.

The alternative is to flip the MF/AF button back and forth which I might end up doing.  It really is frustrating.

Edit: Sorry... This will be for the R5 Mark 2 and the R1 cameras

[pedz · Accepted solution]

On the R1 (I haven't tested the F5 Mk II but I predict it is the same): Program a button to AF-OFF.  Now, what is easiest for me is to half press the shutter button which focuses the lens or if you have a back button focus, you can press it.  This will get you roughly where the focus needs to be.  You can release the button used to focus.  Now press the button programmed for AF-OFF and the RF 800mm f/11 lens will manually focus.  Keeping the AF-OFF button held down, you can now full press the shutter button and the camera will not change focus.

On a different topic... What does the customize settings that has AF/MF stacked on top of each other with a <-> beside it do?  I can't find it does anything.  "Focus mode". 

 

[Waddizzle]

Select lenses, the great white primes, have such a button on the lens.  The lens should go into MF mode, and focus point display should remain active.  I would also expect the manual focus aides to come alive. 

[stevet1]

pedz

Not all lenses support Lens Electronic MF. 

According to this page from Canon, the 800mm is not compatible with Lens Electronic MF.

Info page.

Steve Thomas

[pedz]

Yes, I know.  I have another thread talking about it.  That is why this work around is important.  It puts the lens into MF temporarily while the button is pressed.

[jrhoffman75]

I think that icon relates to lenses that don’t have an AF/MF switch. In the pink menus there is a Focus mode setting that is greyed out for a lens with a switch.