EOS R5 Eye detection and subject tracking not working in zone or spot

[LaneW]

My R5 is set up with 3 BBF. One is full frame, other a small zone and other spot.  Eye detection and subject tracking works in full frame but not in zone or spot. Is that feature only available in full frame focus?

[Waddizzle]

That is essentially correct.  

[p4pictures]

If this is the original EOS R5 then it's correct. Subject tracking only works when the camera is set to Face + Tracking AF or one of the three zone AF areas. For the Zone AF areas the tracking is only inside the area covered by the zone and the camera will not move the zone to follow the subject out of the zone.

Eye detection for people or animals is only possible with the Face + Tracking AF method. 

All other AF methods, spot, 1-point, expansion cross and surround do not track or detect the subject at all.

You may find that enabling the Initial AF point for servo AF is beneficial since this provides you with a target point to  direct the camera to a specific part of the frame to start detecting the subject. 

I've written about this on my blog https://www.p4pictures.com/2022/04/decide-where-to-focus-eos-r5-r6-face-detection/ 

[LaneW]

Brian,

Thanks for your reply.  Its very helpful. I have read it and the blog item that you attached and am starting to get it - sort of.  Here is what I am trying to accomplish and what I'm struggling with:

I shoot birds primarily. As I said initially, My R5 is set up with 3 BBF. One is full frame, other a zone and other spot.

Using Auto for Initial Servo AF point, I have eye detection and subject tracking working in full frame and in zone, where it did not before. Problem 1: In zone, it is tracking, showing the white box - but when I press the back button for zone, it drops tracking. Not in full frame

Problem 2: Also, now, when I press my back button set to spot, I get the full frame instead.  I have to  change the AF Method setting setting from face detection back to spot, and then I get the spot focus back on my back button, but lose tracking and eye detection (which I realize comes with the spot choice) but on the full frame and zone back buttons. I am trying to get the spot function to work, but also tracking in full and zone.

On another note, I also read your blog post about customizing buttons.  (I have all of the tied up except the light and lock.) You mention turning off eye detection and I only partially understand why I would do that, except that I THINK it is helpful with a bird that is distant in the frame and may speed up focusing?  If so, I am looking for a way to set that on/off function up, but cant find a button to do it with!

I realize some of this is off the track of your original reply, but look forward to what you may be able to tell me to get in the right direction. You can probably tell that I am just enough knowledgeable about the R5 to be dangerous :).

Thanks for your help.

Lane