5D Mk ii

Hi Everyone.

I have just bought a second hand 5D mk ii and cannot get it to auto focus. I have tried all the usual things, but cannot get it to focus unless the * button is pressed. It then works perfectly.

Is there something I have overlooked or have we bought a faulty camera.

Thanks

Steve

Sounds like the last owner had it set to back button focus. You should be able to change it too focus using half press shutter (if that's what you want).
Many photographers strongly prefer back button focus - give it a try for a while. You may learn to love it.

Just like Smarti77 mentioned, it is programmed to Back Button Focus (BBF). You can reset all settings in the camera menu, and use the half shutter press that way. Like Smarti pointed out though, using BBF has its benefits (especially when using focus/recompose, or for special circumstances like low light shooting when focusing is already tough to do). I have mine set for BBF, and will always have it that way!

You might want to reset all the settings on the camera and start over with your own. Though I too always use the back button to activate focus.

Thanks everyone.

I have now reset and everything is now focusing great.

I have bought it as an upgrade from a 500d for my wife to use.

I have the mkiii but have never used the back button focus. Maybe it's to experiment.

Thanks again

Steve

Back button focus is quite awkward at first and you'll probably miss a fair few shots but it's worth giving it a try.

It's really handy if you can get used to it though.

I have been playing about with the camera for a couple of days now. As you say, it does feel strange at first but soon got used to it

I use BBF and could never go back to regular focus.

It just feels awkward but I'm sure I will get used to it.

stevea001 wrote in post #18701612
It just feels awkward but I'm sure I will get used to it.

if you shoot sports, it's amazing.

I would've just left it on back button focus. BBF is superior for just about any kind of photography.

Definitely going to use bbf more

stevea001 wrote in post #18701810
Definitely going to use bbf more

If you take control of your AF point instead of allowing the camera to choose what might be in focus, coupled with being creative where you want to focus on something in the scene, but not have it at the center of your image, BBF is great.

You can use the center AF point for its strengths, get something or someone into focus, then move the view so that person is elsewhere in the frame, and take the shot. The halfpress of the shutter won't then cause focus to shoot off to whatever is now under the center AF person, the original subject will still be in relatively good focus (depending on your DOF, when you recompose your image, that person or thing may no longer be in critical focus).