7D mark II question on 9 point AF

dangermoney wrote in post #19029819
https://media.canon-asia.com …FGuideBook_smar​tphone.pdf

Thanks. It looks like a redesign of the original manual intended for viewing online.

OK, I think with the 3 settings I posted, you will see the AF points and get feedback on what they are doing.

I have mine set to
selected constant
VF illumination auto

When tracking a bird I can see which point has focus. It reminds me of a cloud of mosquitos. I usually use the center large zone of 25 points for BIF.

FYI based on a max of F6.3 for the tamron and sigma at 600mm the largest working zone will be the one I use. Maybe one of these days I'll try something different.

I don't use BBF. The camera is normally in manual, AI servo and spot focus point. I have one button set to switch between one shot focus and AI servo; another button is set to the 7D2 equivalent of the ring of fire settings.

Rod

mwsilver wrote in post #19029875
Thanks. It looks like a redesign of the original manual intended for viewing online.

downloaded and will read

Jeff USN Photog 72-76 wrote in post #19030057
downloaded and will read

This format has been significantly redesigned in this version and now has more than three times as many more pages as the original which had 51, The pages are smaller with less content per page in the new version. I don't know if they added anything new. If you want to print it out, the original format would be a better choice, IMHO. I can email it if you are interested.

All of this we've been discussing is explained in the camera's full-up manual which can be downloaded from Canon's website.

dangermoney wrote in post #19030122
All of this we've been discussing is explained in the camera's full-up manual which can be downloaded from Canon's website.

Yes, much of the information is there starting around page 95 of the full manual., however, the original AF Guidebook was a more complete primmer on the subject than just reading the manual. The new version may just be excerpts from the manual. I haven't reviewed it in detail so I'm not sure.

Here is the one I have bookmarked

http://downloads.canon​.com …_AF_guide_CUSA_​9-2014.pdf

Gregsiem wrote in post #19030131
Here is the one I have bookmarked

http://downloads.canon​.com …_AF_guide_CUSA_​9-2014.pdf

Yes, that's it. I think you can get more from it than just reading the sections which cover the topic in the original manual. And, the 51 pages can be quickly and easily printed out double sided on only 26 sheets of paper for those who want hard copy. The new version seems more like the manual in format and the content has been changed somewhat. Perhaps reading both versions would be in order.

The centre is your primary AF point and the outer points are asset points. When using expansion mode in One Shot the centre point plus whatever outer point if needed will light up in viewfinder and show later on the LCD or in DPP. You have to set the LCD up for that.

Try this test. In One Shot trying focusing on a wall with little contrast. As you move the camera around at times centre point may have enough information and light up. Sometimes an outer point is called into action. When this happens the outer point will always light up first followed by the centre point. This happens every time the centre point needs help. This tells you that an outer point was called into action to assist the centre point but the centre point is still in play.

Canon has stated that AI Servo works exactly like One Shot but unfortunately does not show this. Even if an outer point was called into action it will not show up in the viewfinder or on the LCD and DPP when viewing later. Only the centre point will show red when viewing later. For shooting moving target viewing results later is a little unreliable as I pointed out in my seagull example in another thread. Using AI Servo you have to trust the process. When your target is in focus start shooting. Takes time and practise.

As for 65 point zone there are two ways to set it up. No initial AF point or initial AF point. For no Initial AF point as soon as AF detects something the AF points will start to light up randomly on the target depending on how good the contrast is. If you use the Initial AF point this is your start point and will be red at the start. Get your AF point on the target. As soon as it starts to focus the centre point drops out as the initial AF point and becomes part of the 65 AF point cluster. When you stop AF it appears again and the process starts over. You can move the initial AF point around to to any place you like. All the points used when the shot was taken will show up in the viewfinder while shooting and later on the LCD and DPP.

I should mention that the other two zone AF modes to not offer the Initial AF point option.

Wish I could take it to my camera store!

something I noticed with my 7D2 even though I set the AF point illumination in manual it dosen't show red, it does show red when I push the button to select the various AF type (1,5,9 65). But when I am focusing the points are always in black even though I set illumination to on.

Again, if I set up for SBF and have 9 or 65 point and half press the SB the active points in the 9 or 65 point screen show as I move the camera around and the points on the edge go active as I move it towards something that is closer and then as it moves more towards the center more appear keeping it in focus
BUT
If I push the BBF only the center point and the 4 assist points show up even though I am set for 65 point and the outer frame of the 65 points show but it doesn't react to focusing until the center point is on the closest object. Also when displaying the shot just taken showing the point in focus it is always the center point.

It really seems like it is always single point although the AF select button does show the various styles (1,5,9,15,65)

basically other than 15 point, the 4,9 and 65 when I hit the BFF the center point and the 4 assist show in the viewfinder, I would say it is doing 1 button but when I am in 65 it will lock on with the center point and hold focus as I move around, I focused on the sky and then moved towards a tree branch, it didn't lock onto the tree branch until the center point hit it but then even as I moved the lens away from the branch as long as it was in the 65 point area it stayed in focus but DOESN'T show any active points (SBF does show the points as they lock focus but I don't like SBF)

I am trying to use single point focus for birds but am just trying to make sure it is working correctly.

I set the AF to 5 or 9 button and hope the AF points are working as I can't tell from the viewfinder.

Sorry for being so dumb and as I said if I could get to the guys at the camera store they could probably tell me in 2 minutes.

I wonder if the AF area selection point is set to Af point expansion in the custom controls for the AF-ON button and this is changing whatever you have set when you use BBF.

For BBF there is an extra step you have to do in order to get it all working sweetly.

When setting up the BBF and you are in that menu item that shows what each button will do, you need to hit the info button and then there is more customization to be done there on the focus zones. I don’t have my camera with me now so can’t be more explicit, but poke around there.

graham121 wrote in post #19030686
I wonder if the AF area selection point is set to Af point expansion in the custom controls for the AF-ON button and this is changing whatever you have set when you use BBF.

WOW I think that is it! I set the AF-on to 9 point center active, and the * to single point

boy is this camera modifiable