-= Canon EOS R6 Mark II owners unite! Post photos and discuss.

On my R6 I use back button focus with the AF-On button set for single point focus and the * button set for eye detect focus. I have my R6II set up the same way but when I use single point focus I get a larger box bouncing around the frame. I'm not sure what it is there for. I called Canon and the guy there didn't know and was reading the manual as we were talking.

The things I'd like to know is: 1) what it the extra larger box trying to tell me and is it valuable information 2) can I turn it off assuming it is not valuable information 3) is the camera still focusing on the single point I chose or the larger (zone) box?

I was at a wrestling meet yesterday using single point mostly, sometimes using eye AF, but the other box was dancing around the entire time in single point.

Anyone else noticed this behavior and understand why it is happening.

The * button set for eye focus works as it did on the R6.

bpalermini wrote in post #19456730
On my R6 I use back button focus with he AF-On button set for single point focus and the * button set for eye detect focus. I have my R6II set up the same way but when I use single point focus I get a larger box bouncing around the frame. I'm not sure what it is there for. I called Canon and the guy there didn't know and was reading the manual as we were talking.

The things I'd like to know is: 1) what it the extra larger box trying to tell me and is it valuable information 2) can I turn it off assuming it is not valuable information 3) is the camera still focusing on the single point I chose or the larger (zone) box?

I was at a wrestling meet yesterday using single point mostly but the other box was dancing around the entire time..

Anyone else noticed this behavior and understand why it is happening.

The second button set for eye focus works as it did on the R6.

I observed a similar larger dancing box for the first time this morning. R6II, EF24-105 f4 II, using the AF-On button for focus, one point or single point focus, one shot AF mode, outdoors, 32-33 degrees F, snowing. I was out for about 90 minutes and only saw it for a short time while out. It did not consistently manifest.

Now, hours later, indoors and warm, I do not observe it.

I do not understand it nor do I know why it is happening. I've only seen it the one time this morning and thought nothing of it until I saw your post.

bpalermini wrote in post #19456730
On my R6 I use back button focus with he AF-On button set for single point focus and the * button set for eye detect focus. I have my R6II set up the same way but when I use single point focus I get a larger box bouncing around the frame. I'm not sure what it is there for. I called Canon and the guy there didn't know and was reading the manual as we were talking.

The things I'd like to know is: 1) what it the extra larger box trying to tell me and is it valuable information 2) can I turn it off assuming it is not valuable information 3) is the camera still focusing on the single point I chose or the larger (zone) box?

I was at a wrestling meet yesterday using single point mostly but the other box was dancing around the entire time..

Anyone else noticed this behavior and understand why it is happening.

The second button set for eye focus works as it did on the R6.

I’m not sure, but I think this has to do with how you set up AF #1 in the main menu. If you have “Whole area tracking Servo AF” set to ON it will still look within the entire frame, regardless of AF mode. Try turning it off. If you do you may need to enable it in the orange menu for your star button (in the detail set).

bpalermini wrote in post #19456730
On my R6 I use back button focus with the AF-On button set for single point focus and the * button set for eye detect focus. I have my R6II set up the same way but when I use single point focus I get a larger box bouncing around the frame. I'm not sure what it is there for. I called Canon and the guy there didn't know and was reading the manual as we were talking.

The things I'd like to know is: 1) what it the extra larger box trying to tell me and is it valuable information 2) can I turn it off assuming it is not valuable information 3) is the camera still focusing on the single point I chose or the larger (zone) box?

I was at a wrestling meet yesterday using single point mostly, sometimes using eye AF, but the other box was dancing around the entire time in single point.

Anyone else noticed this behavior and understand why it is happening.

The * button set for eye focus works as it did on the R6.

Same! I notice even if I set my AF to a point, the AF will sometimes override and then provide a larger AF area around a subject (or around part of a subject). It's kind of weird.
I almost wonder if it can't make a solid focus with a point, it will then expand automatically. I can't exactly figure this one out. It may have something to do with the new subject autofocus, but I thought I tried it with that turned off with the same thing happening.

Some backyard shots with the R6II and RF 100-400 STM. All the shots were at 400mm.

An eagle sequence at Hayton Reserve in the Skagit Valley (WA). This pair of eagles has had a nest at Hayton Reserve for a number of years. I can't say for sure that it's been the same pair the whole time, but it often is.

All taken with the R6II and the RF 24-240 STM at 240mm.

One of the eagles:

Some random shots from the Skagit Valley.

All taken with the R6II and RF 24-240.

Mount Baker with the Fir-Conway Lutheran Church. 240mm

One more item of interest (or not). I recently learned about Lightroom's "Enhance" feature. It takes an image and uses AI to create an image that's twice the size of the original. So an image that is 3000x2000 pixels will become 6000x4000. I thought I would give it a try.

Here's an eagle taken with the R6II + RF 1.4x + RF 100-400 STM at 560mm. The image is not cropped.

LJ3Jim wrote in post #19457272
One more item of interest (or not). I recently learned about Lightroom's "Enhance" feature. It takes an image and uses AI to create an image that's twice the size of the original. So an image that is 3000x2000 pixels will become 6000x4000. I thought I would give it a try.

Here's an eagle taken with the R6II + RF 1.4x + RF 100-400 STM at 560mm. The image is not cropped.

The same eagle taken with the R6II + RF 24-240 at 240. This image is also not cropped.

Here's a heavy crop from the 560mm image:

And here's a heavy crop from the 240mm image that has been "Enhanced" by Lightroom. Your thoughts? Has anyone else tried "Enhanced"?

Not yet. I have used the Topaz app that adds pixels but not LRC version.

I should have explained my photos a bit. They aren't intended to be anything special. Friday was a very nice day here in the Pacific Northwest. It was the first chance I had to go to places that I know well and take photos similar to many I've taken before.

After shooting a few hundred pictures, I found I was very happy with the R6 Mark II. Over the past dozen years, I've owned or used the 60D, 70D, 80D, 7D2, 5D4, 1DX2, R6, and R5. My favorite of those was the 1DX2. It took photos that were excellent straight out of the camera. The 6D Mark II is very close to that; maybe even a little better for the way I shoot. I did very little post processing for the images I posted today. Most were just cropped and/or straightened. I used a little dehaze on some. I didn't need any noise reduction or sharpening. I'm very happy with the results.

LJ3Jim wrote in post #19457356
I should have explained my photos a bit. They aren't intended to be anything special. Friday was a very nice day here in the Pacific Northwest. It was the first chance I had to go to places that I know well and take photos similar to many I've taken before.

After shooting a few hundred pictures, I found I was very happy with the R6 Mark II. Over the past dozen years, I've owned or used the 60D, 70D, 80D, 7D2, 5D4, 1DX2, R6, and R5. My favorite of those was the 1DX2. It took photos that were excellent straight out of the camera. The 6D Mark II is very close to that; maybe even a little better for the way I shoot. I did very little post processing for the images I posted today. Most were just cropped and/or straightened. I used a little dehaze on some. I didn't need any noise reduction or sharpening. I'm very happy with the results.

So far I really like what I’ve seen with my R6II. It will be perfect for certain areas of my shooting. I’ve tried both Enhance and Topaz Gigapixel. It’s a long story but getting Gigapixel have me a good price on Topaz AI. Free. I didn’t really want Giga but oh well. Sometimes I get mixed results using them for what I do so haven’t used either much.

drisley wrote in post #19454403
I also did this shot with no prep. I just had the cam down by my side, and quickly pointed in the direction I wanted and clicked and the AF hit the right eye of the woman in the middle at F1.4.

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I keep thinking about your method and I like your two shots. 15 years ago taking images on the street was nothing. If you are out there you are fair game. These days it is a little more sensitive for a better word. When travelling I try go get into urban photography, which I should try do more of where I live. I was actually really inspired in Porto, Portugal by a photog displaying his work on the street. I'm going to use the R6II with single point for buildings, etc. The beauty of this AF system is you don't even have to point the camera at someone directly. Also the shoot from the hip method. Only 24mp so just shoot away.

Not that 45 was an issue but 24 will be better suited for that, for me anyway. I also found that downsampling 45mp took more effort as sometimes you get that crunchy look. Something my R never showed. I'm sure looking forward to Portugal. I said I was going to be one body photog from now on. Yeah right. Ordered the R7 a few days ago. The R6II AF will also be very handy when I need a FF for shooting action, etc.

Got put there but pretty bitter with the wind. Tried to be creative but not my favourites.

Sunrise. This is what I saw on the camera's LCD as well as what I saw when imported to Lightroom.

digital paradise wrote in post #19457527
I keep thinking about your method and I like your two shots. 15 years ago taking images on the street was nothing. If you are out there you are fair game. These days it is a little more sensitive for a better word. When travelling I try go get into urban photography, which I should try do more of where I live. I was actually really inspired in Porto, Portugal by a photog displaying his work on the street. I'm going to use the R6II with single point for buildings, etc. The beauty of this AF system is you don't even have to point the camera at someone directly. Also the shoot from the hip method. Only 24mp so just shoot away.

Not that 45 was an issue but 24 will be better suited for that, for me anyway. I also found that downsampling 45mp took more effort as sometimes you get that crunchy look. Something my R never showed. I'm sure looking forward to Portugal. I said I was going to be one body photog from now on. Yeah right. Ordered the R7 a few days ago. The R6II AF will also be very handy when I need a FF for shooting action, etc.

Thank you!

I agree with all that you said. I had the 1D Mark III for most of my shooting over about 10 years and it was a beastly thing to carry around. In some ways it was good because you could get respect with it (many people thought I was with the local papers) back when owning such any DSLR was still rare. On the other hand, trying to get anything stealthily was almost impossible unless you have a long lens (but that has its own problems).
The biggest problem was having to to put the camera up to your eye, compose, move your AF point, then snap. I also generally wear hats/caps so I would have to reverse the brim. Now with mirrorless I can do most of my shooting from the back LCD and just get a general composition and click.

Interesting about the 45MP downsampling. For me that 30MP of the 5DIV (and R) were absolutely the sweet spot. 24MP, especially with more accurate AF and a good lens for me can match up great when upscaled to 30MP when needed (or even larger with the Enhance feature in LR/Adobe Camera Raw). It's weird though how strongly numbers and marketing can affect your thinking though. When I downloaded the R/R5/R6 raws from James Reader's comparison and upscaled and saw almost no difference between the 3 cams, I knew that extra $2000 cdn on the R5 would make little to no difference in the real world. But still it's nice to "future proof" with higher MP if for nothing else except re-sale since most people don't realize that there are diminishing returns on MP and that MP don't matter much anymore.