Canon R3, R5, R7 and More-The What, When, and Why for Spot, Zone, and Eye Detection Autofocus 

For the life of me I don’t understand why you do not have more subscribers. When it comes to CANON and bird photography you are ‘the man’. Much appreciated!

Thank goodness another video I can reference for people so I don't have to engage in conversation. I get asked these same questions every day in the field. Now I don't have to heh

Superb video! Canon should be paying you for explaining what these camera settings all do. That explanation and behavior of the Zone AF helps me understand AF so much better now! You are not only a great photographer but also a great teacher!

Thanks, Ron. That was one of the clearest, well summarized videos I've seen of this topic. You've really clearly identified the strengths of the Canon focusing system and how best to implement it in each of the 3 main cameras which makes the cameras so much more functional. Regards, Catherine

Hey Ron, great video as always. I set up my R5 last Fall with your 3 back button AF focus from one of your previous videos and it has served me well ever since. Thanks again. Rudy

Great video. I always pick up a nugget of valuable information from your videos. I have been setting my AF 1 method to tracking and was getting it with all buttons. Now I have it set to zone and tracking directly set via custom buttons. Thanks Ron

Thank You!! You always give me new good info to chew on. BTW: my harness is one of my favorite things and I love to show anyone that I come by, out in field, with larger lenses. (If you've been getting sales from Wisconsin, it's my fault. :) )

love this!!! verry well exlained and detailed video. i have to try this backbutton focus on my camera

And another absolutely brilliant video from our Canon Autofocus Wizard himself!!! We cannot thank you enough, Sir. If i may ask one question: in a custom sized zone, must the area encompass the whole bird, or is a significant portion of the bird in the zone sufficient? Thank you!!!!!

Incredibly good video.

I enjoy your videos. Had one thought on how to achieve 3 button focus on R7. First, set up zone focus the way you want it in basic settings. Second, use customize buttons to add Metering and AF Start to DOF preview button. This will provide zone focus the way you want it and the ability to change zones. Then, use customize buttons to add spot and eye detect to AF on and * buttons in accordance with your preference. Do this by selecting Metering and Af Start and then selecting info-detail set. This will allow you to customize settings for spot and eye detect per your preferences.

Just last week I had the chance to rent an R7 and 600mm f11 lens. I'm coming to this experience from my Lumix G9 and 100-400mm lens. Anyway, in the short two days I had to use the camera I was generally impressed. I started with the wide zone and eye track which worked pretty well although it false alerted one time on a static subject, choosing to focus on the wing while telling me it had the eye. Better results were achieved by sticking with eye track but switching to the + like AF pattern. Anyway, your R7 setup video was a big help getting me ready to use the camera. While I think I'll stick with my G9, I have to admit a Mark 2 version of the R7 with the 100-500mm lens would be tempting if Canon upgrades the EVF, reduces rolling shutter and mechanical shutter shock. If Canon can do all that, I think they will have created the mirrorless replacement for the Nikon D500, well worth charging, say, $2,000.

Couldn't imagine a more clear explanation for this topic. One quick question, Ron. I've followed your back button focus setup to the letter on my R3 including registered call function for spot focus setup, however when I press the outside button to activate spot focus it gives me the square without the dot in it (the one up from spot AF). Any ideas?

Great video! With only 2 back-button focus choices for the R7, which two modes work best for you on that body?

Ron: Another great video. My question is: Is there a "Subject Tracking" on/off feature on the Canon R5?

Hi there. When using a zone for say birds in flight. What zone do you use. Thanks

Great video. Have you found a camera bag that holds the rf 600f4 and also has room to hold the camera body detached? Currently just using the bag the lens came with but I’d like to be able to travel with 1 bag instead of 2. Thanks so much!

Very interesting, I used your R3 auto focus settings you talked about on a earlier video. I must admit that did have issues with subject tracking over so I am keen to try out the suggestions you make in this new video. I assume the settings in this later video are a further development of the settings you used earlier.

Hi: question. I just received my RF 600 F4 and it sounds like if there is a rattling ball inside the lens moving side to side . Is that normal ?

Hi, where can I buy the stickers for the 100-500 rf or EF 500 f/4 , if you can help me please , thanks

Hi i need to know your comments on a R5 with a 300 f2.8 mk2 without using teleconverter .

4:48. So in this menu. I do not see the subject tracking to turn it off on my R5! How do I find it and turn it off

What skin are you using on your 600mm RF lens ?

A good attempt at trying to explain the various areas. However there remains a flaw in your experiment ( I’m referring to the newer bodies such as R6 mk2) I implore you to run the ‘spot’ explanation again but this time instead of using a subjectless camouflaged background, put a picture with a FACE TRUE SPOT AF will IGNORE that FACE! Hence disabling EYE DETECTION in the AF1 Menu disables eye detection but NOT SUBJECT detection as your setup shows To achieve what you desire you need to deselect animal, person detection to NO SUBJECT Please just try it. I have run this experiment many times!

Excellent video, thank you. 17:52 is Commons Buzzards, not Bustards 🙂