7D II Customizing AF Selections

I have been watching several videos and following other instruction sites, and I can not find out if the 7D2 will do what I have in mind.

Here is what I want, and perhaps someone can tell me if the camera will do it, and if so, how to set it up:

When I use the shutter button I want the camera to focus one shot and case 1 and hold focus while I recompose or just take the shot.
At the same time, I want the back button AF-0n to be AI-servo and switch to Case 2.

This would have been perfect a few nights ago at a BBgame. I was taking the action on the court, but also my niece was a cheerleader on the side. Front button for her to focus on her and recompose, and back button for the court action.

It would even be nice if the front button was center focus only, and the back button was Center with expansion, but that might be asking for too much.

Can do?

Yes, more or less. First you have to rethink, since the cases have no effect in One shot AF.

While the AF ON Button is active from the factory, if you want to use the AF ON Button for focus, you should remove AF from the Shutter. Otherwise you will refocus again.
I have been using Back Button AF for several years now.

You can assign one case to the AF-ON button and the second case to the * button.

Yup can do but I'm almost certain you can't use the shutter button for focusing at that point, you'll have to use 2 back buttons. I just set mine up like this and think it's gonna work out great.


I have the (AF ON) button set to AIServo and to maintain what ever focus points and case # are set and the (*) button to one shot and center point only.

Go to the custom controls: set the shutter button to (metering start) Select the AF-ON button set it to (metering and AF start) then hit the INFO button and go through the parameters to associate the AF-ON button with. Then go to the (*) button and set up the parameters there as well.

Thank you for the answers guys. I will try to set those things up.

With the 7dii you can leave the shutter button for start metering and one shot focus. Then go in the custom menu and you can set the af on and * for start metering and have each selected for a different Ai servo case. You can do a multitude of other customizations including which focus points to use or manually set. I have my 7d2 set up like this so I can switch from one shot to AI servo with out having to change any settings. I'm still tinkering and learning. there are a lot of different ways to set up different buttons. Good luck.

Thank you djsanders for the advice. Haven't had a chance to try any options yet, but soon.

Diver-Down wrote in post #17424104
Yup can do but I'm almost certain you can't use the shutter button for focusing at that point, you'll have to use 2 back buttons. I just set mine up like this and think it's gonna work out great.


I have the (AF ON) button set to AIServo and to maintain what ever focus points and case # are set and the (*) button to one shot and center point only.

Go to the custom controls: set the shutter button to (metering start) Select the AF-ON button set it to (metering and AF start) then hit the INFO button and go through the parameters to associate the AF-ON button with. Then go to the (*) button and set up the parameters there as well.

I like this setup but can you also have it set shutter speed and aperture

Wow, this camera is more fantastic than I knew.

AF-ON button = AI-Servo, Center + 8 Surrounding points, Case 2
* button = One Shot, Expanded Center, Case 1
Front button = One shot, Center Focus, Case 1

Still checking into more that it will do, but that setup is sweet.

guntoter wrote in post #17426082
* button = One Shot, Expanded Center, Case 1
Front button = One shot, Center Focus, Case 1

OK, once again, then. The different AF cases have no effect whatsoever when you use One Shot AF.

apersson850 wrote in post #17426695
OK, once again, then. The different AF cases have no effect whatsoever when you use One Shot AF.

Hmmmm. Ok. Thanks.

Obviously, I am still learning this camera, and loving it.

Check the DOF preview button. You can program it to toggle between one shot and AI Servo when you hold it down. Put your camera in servo with whatever case you want and hold down the DOF preview button when you want to change to one shot. Case doesn't matter with one shot. You can do the same thing with the * but the DOF preview may be more convenient and not as easily confused with the AF-ON button.

Also, if you find you don't want those setting all the time but find them extensively useful under some conditions, you can set it up and then save it as one of your custom mode settings. Then it's out of the way until you need it.

rgs, Thanks for the advice.