New mirrorless AF systems

Hi all,
I recently took the plunge into the mirrorless world after many years of using film and digital SLRs with the purchase of an R6.

The single most challenging thing I am finding is the AF system, I have never really used the multiple focus points available in my last few cameras, instead tending to focus using the middle point and recomposing (a hangover from using a camera with only three points). More recently as I have started taking photos of moving objects I have enabled the other focus points so to allow AI Servo to function better.

With the purchase of the R6 I have decided I need to get good with the new tech and take advantage of the new AF system. My first couple of outings I have found the AF a little frustrating through the viewfinder as the camera seems to have a mind of its own when picking what to focus on. I have left the camera AF in the default of Face+Tracking.

I have discovered by accident that you can select what to focus on by tapping on the rear screen, however this is not always practical, especially when primarily using the viewfinder (I have to say though in some situation this feature is absolutely fantastic!).

What are others doing in the AF world on these cameras? I suspect the way forward is going to be choosing the right AF for the situation, something I rarely have done in the past.

If your not taking portraits, don’t use the face tracking. It will move all around looking for a face. I use single point and expanded point focus points. I love the touch screen focus point.

Eye AF is amazing. You need to go through the R5 and R6 threads. Plenty of people have posted their AF setups. I have AF-ON set to Eye AF, and * set to selected AF which I can switch with my control ring.

One of the daftest default settings ever on the M5 & I understand Canon persisted with on later mirrorless was to leave the entire touchscreen active when you're looking thru the viewfinder, so that even though the display was off your nose could be picking the focus point for you randomly (drove me nuts until & found others with same issue)

Fix for same is to disable all but top right-hand quarter of touchscreen so you can use yer thumb to select whatever focus points if needed while you frame the subject in viewfinder.

I don't know how bad AF on R6 and what is supported. My RP AF is fine to focus on face, eye and on running dog.
I also see zero difference between switching wheel and buttons on EOS and enabling portion of the screen for tap focusing. Same thing, eye to VF, finger on camera body to select AF point. But RP tap on the screen is much more effective than wheel and buttons on EOS. Including entire screen AF points.

BTW, I came from RF patch, not three dots .

Great thanks for the insights guys!

As I switch from the Canon 7D ad 5DII to the R6, I am encountering similar struggles with its AF as the OP is experiencing. The first thing was to ask questions in this forum, and one of the responders recommended an eBook written by Nina Bailey titled, "Understanding The Canon EOS R6." In the eBook, Nina Bailey explains what every menu setting does, and when to use such setting. I prefer to use the viewfinder, and only use the back screen for menu settings, or for macro photography.

The next step has been to watch the R5 and R6 tutorials on "youtube," specifically the ones where the photographers customize the camera's buttons for portrait, sports, bird, and other types of photography.

Edited to add the following: you can customize the dials and buttons so that eye focus and tracking are activated as needed. I setup mine to that AF is done with the back button (the shutter release is pressed only to take photos), and to activate tracking and eye focus with other back buttons. Also, to move the focus point with the joystick, all while viewing through the viewfinder. I learned from a bird photographer on "youtube." The idea is to avoid the focus to take place on the bird instead of a branch that may be on the way. In this case, to move the focus point to the bird, and then activate eye focus. But if the bird is in the clear, then just keep eye focus active.

He said that you can set the R5 and R5 that way for all photographic needs, since all you have to do is to change from animal to people, plus for inanimate subjects, on the menu. For scenery for example, just don't activate tracking and eye focus. Otherwise, customize the camera so that One-Shot and Servo modes can be switched as needed with another button on the camera.

If you ask me how to do this, I have no idea. I just have been experimenting following the video tutorials, including this one:
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=sqLQ-TzwCis