Servo AF Settings - Questions about subject tracking

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01-08-2024
04:09 PM
- last edited on
01-09-2024
08:53 AM
by
Danny
File this under a question for which I should know the answer. Does Servo AF track the subject even if you don't have Face + Tracking on? I thought that was the case, but the other day, when I had the Focus Point set to 1 point or Spot, it did not track. However, when I used the *, which is custom set to Eye AF, it did track. The image was of ducks on a lake so there may not have been enough contrast, but Eye AF did track. So I'm a bit puzzled.
My set up is BBF with AF-On set to Focus/Metering Start and as stated * set to Eye AF.
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01-08-2024 04:42 PM
Is your AF1 menu tab top item set to Servo?
Conway, NH
1D X Mark III, M200, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, Lr Classic
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01-08-2024 04:47 PM - edited 01-08-2024 04:55 PM
Servo AF is different from Face and eye tracking in that it is only active as long as a focusing button is active. In the following video, Canon explain that for setting up BBF, one sets up servo focus, and then tap the BBF button to focus (and then stop) on a static subject, but if that button is held down, Servo will follow the selected object as it moves - even if it is not a face or eye. Even if you don't use BBF, it hopefully demonstrates the principle.
That is different from Continuous Focus that would cause the camera to continually focus as long as the camera was turned on - an excellent way of draining the battery. I have noticed that feature disappearing from the menu systems of some models now.
Face and eye detection intelligently look for faces and eyes and will track them as long as the focusing system is active.
For more detailed investigation of this you might find these interesting:
and
They might be helpful in some general info on the subject
cheers, TREVOR
The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris

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01-08-2024 04:49 PM
Yes

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01-08-2024 04:51 PM
I know not to drain the battery so that Continuous Focus is off. I had the BBF pressed while the duck was swimming and it did not track the duck until I hit the * that is set to Eye AF.
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01-08-2024 04:53 PM
Are you using BBF or half-pressing the shutter button? I am adding more to my original response FWIW
cheers, TREVOR
The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris
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01-08-2024 04:58 PM
Best then to give Canon support a call. Register your product first if you haven’t already done so.
Conway, NH
1D X Mark III, M200, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, Lr Classic

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01-08-2024 05:04 PM
Using BBF.

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01-08-2024 05:06 PM
Just got the camera back from CPS before Christmas for another issue. I think I'll try it again to see if it wasn't something of a fluke or an operator error.

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01-08-2024 05:07 PM
I did watch that Trevor last night, which led me to post here today.
