EOS RebelT3i 600D auto focus problems in movie mode

I cannot get the auto focus to work in the movie mode. I'm following the instructions (page 141) in the ownr manual but must be doing something wrong. Can anyone give me some directions on this matter.

Auto focus is not available on the T3i for movie mode.

You CAN use autofocus at the beginning of the video(before starting) but it will not follow focus.

If focus needs to be changed during the video, it must be changed manually.

To kMatt & rrblint; Thanks for you input. So you set up the auto focus at the begining of the video and if the focus requires changing it must be done maually. So you have to switch from AF to MF during the shoot or do you start in the MF mode. What a bummer. Thanks again.

poppafat30 wrote in post #14658462
To kMatt & rrblint; Thanks for you input. So you set up the auto focus at the begining of the video and if the focus requires changing it must be done maually. So you have to switch from AF to MF during the shoot or do you start in the MF mode. What a bummer. Thanks again.

Did you just purchase the camera? The T4i just came out and has full time AF for video, may be worth the extra money to you.

Magic Lantern Firmware is the closest your going to get to auto Focus with "Follow Focus"

poppafat30 wrote in post #14658462
To kMatt & rrblint; Thanks for you input. So you set up the auto focus at the begining of the video and if the focus requires changing it must be done maually. So you have to switch from AF to MF during the shoot or do you start in the MF mode. What a bummer. Thanks again.

You don't have to use MF on the lens...Tether the camera to a computer and use EOS Utilities to control MF from the computer...Read your manual and see also the EOS Utilities manual in PDF form on the CD you got with the camera.

rrblint wrote in post #14658498
You don't have to use MF on the lens...Tether the camera to a computer and use EOS Utilities to control MF from the computer...Read your manual and see also the EOS Utilities manual in PDF form on the CD you got with the camera.

Do you mean to carry a computer with me and have my camera plugged into it to shoot videos; doen't seem practical since I don't have a laptop.

poppafat30 wrote in post #14658569
Do you mean to carry a computer with me and have my camera plugged into it to shoot videos; doen't seem practical since I don't have a laptop.

Yes...Very impractical!...Would be much better if it would Bluetooth to a laptop that you have with you...Just thought you should be aware of the possibility...Could be useful in SOME situations...Actually I don't shoot a lot of video(I just tested the tethering mode to see if it worked).

In your situation you may have to use MF on the lens or look into Magic Lantern or a T4i as some of the others have suggested...Wish I had better news for you.

Me too.
Thanks to all for your replies. Nice to know there is help here if I need it.

AF will suck. It will be slow and not entirely smooth looking.
MF isnt' hard but takes a little practice.
Magic Lantern will give you focus peaking, and you will be able to see what is in focus and what isn't...along with a truck load of other functions.