60D Autofocus Question

I was reading through my 60D manual (pgs. 75-78) over the weekend and for the life of me can't figure something out. I use back button focusing, and predominantly keep my camera in AI Servo. I know the focus confirmation beep and light do not work in AI Servo, but do the autofocus points light up? I know that AI Servo is used for moving objects, but I often just set it to this and leave it. When I am shooting a still subject, it appears to use the center point to focus, regardless of composition or subject distance. Does this seem to be correct behavior and correct assumptions on my part? When in AI Servo I think I can manually select the AF point and it lights up, just curious why when using auto select it doesn't light up to tell you which one it is using for focus. If it always uses the center point in AI Servo, then this makes sense. Thanks in advance.

bmaxphoto wrote in post #15626977
I was reading through my 60D manual (pgs. 75-78) over the weekend and for the life of me can't figure something out. I use back button focusing, and predominantly keep my camera in AI Servo. I know the focus confirmation beep and light do not work in AI Servo, but do the autofocus points light up? I know that AI Servo is used for moving objects, but I often just set it to this and leave it. When I am shooting a still subject, it appears to use the center point to focus, regardless of composition or subject distance. Does this seem to be correct behavior and correct assumptions on my part? When in AI Servo I think I can manually select the AF point and it lights up, just curious why when using auto select it doesn't light up to tell you which one it is using for focus. If it always uses the center point in AI Servo, then this makes sense. Thanks in advance.

I did something interesting. I pulled out my 60D, switched it on, and ran through some of the controls to see what happened. In the so called "Basic Zone" settings on the mode dial from green box full automatic and sports mode, etc, the camera showed the active focus point in the viewfinder. In the so-called "Creative Zone" settings from Program AE and manual, the focus points aren't displayed. I don't know anything about focus confirmation beeps, because that's the first thing I turn off when I get a camera, too annoying for me.

When using AI Servo AF and Automatic(camera chosen) AF point selection no AF point will light in red. The AF will start with the center AF point but will "pass off" to other AF points as the subject moves, provided that the subject stays within the purview of one of the other AF points...See p. 77 of the manual.

Camera chosen AF? Yikes!

Keyan wrote in post #15627490
Camera chosen AF? Yikes!

Good for BIFs in a clear blue sky.

rrblint wrote in post #15627508
Good for BIFs in a clear blue sky.

True, I always end up tracking them too low and then it grabs a tree.

60D has to START tracking with the center point. The outer points only track when focus is 'passed' to them by the camera. You'll never initially pick up a BIF with an outer point.

bmaxphoto wrote in post #15626977
I was reading through my 60D manual (pgs. 75-78) over the weekend and for the life of me can't figure something out. I use back button focusing, and predominantly keep my camera in AI Servo. I know the focus confirmation beep and light do not work in AI Servo, but do the autofocus points light up? I know that AI Servo is used for moving objects, but I often just set it to this and leave it. When I am shooting a still subject, it appears to use the center point to focus, regardless of composition or subject distance. Does this seem to be correct behavior and correct assumptions on my part? When in AI Servo I think I can manually select the AF point and it lights up, just curious why when using auto select it doesn't light up to tell you which one it is using for focus. If it always uses the center point in AI Servo, then this makes sense. Thanks in advance.

I suggest you watch this seminar given by Rudy Winston on Canon's Autofocus, you need to know Canon's AF possibilities, limitations and get a few misconceptions erased:
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=iAx86nblZ2g
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=3_F7lCvp5DI
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=1WTWiN9kLts

TSchrief wrote in post #15627930
60D has to START tracking with the center point. The outer points only track when focus is 'passed' to them by the camera. You'll never initially pick up a BIF with an outer point.

I thought that I said that in post #3.

rrblint wrote in post #15627973
I thought that I said that in post #3.

You most certainly did. I missed that. My wife is always asking me if I pay attention to ANYTHING! Perhaps she has a point.