Am I doing it right?

When I have my 7D on continuous shoot, to focus, I have my thumb on the AF-ON button, I've always done it like this, but I read something today that suggested if I half press the shutter button it will do the same. I just tried it and nothing happens. I'm talking about AI Servo and AV or TV mode.

Note, this is NOT a blame the camera thread.

RTFM! (just kidding).

Did you buy the 7D used? If so, maybe the previous owner removed/disabled AF to the shutter button. By default, the shutter button should allow continuous focus. It's a feature in the menu, one of the custom functions where you can customize your buttons to do certain things.

If you're the only owner, then perhaps while you were playing w/ the settings initially, you may have accidentally turned it off.

I'm glad I asked then! No, I bought it new. I better go and have a tweak to see if I can get it working the way everyones elses does.
Just realised what RTFM means and yes I've read the f#$@%ing manual but it still not clear to me and my camera has never worked with just pressing the shutter button half way except, I've discovered, in full auto which I dont use.

OK, I am feeling overwhelmed and confused by the controls, do you think you could find it within your heart to tell me how to set it as I cannot find it in the manual, yes, I've looked.

I know this is a silly question for me to ask.. but when you "half press the shutter button"... you're holding it down at half-pressed, right? It needs to be half-pressed continuously for AI servo to keep tracking, kinda like how you need to hold down the AF-ON button for it to work.

jwcdds is correct. by default it should focus when you half press the shutter button.

I have since been a convert of the AF-ON button, no need to go back to the half press shutter button focus

jwcdds wrote in post #11147383
I know this is a silly question for me to ask.. but when you "half press the shutter button"... you're holding it down at half-pressed, right? It needs to be half-pressed continuously for AI servo to keep tracking, kinda like how you need to hold down the AF-ON button for it to work.

Yes I am holding it down, nothing happens, it doesn't focus that way unless I have it in full auto, which I dont use.

I started with a 400D and I customised that to use the * button. When I got this camera by habit I just put my thumb on the AF-ON button which was in the same, or similar place to the old camera and it worked. I got into the habit of always focussing like that.

Whippeticious wrote in post #11147477
Yes I am holding it down, nothing happens, it doesn't focus that way unless I have it in full auto, which I dont use.

I started with a 400D and I customised that to use the * button. When I got this camera by habit I just put my thumb on the AF-ON button which was in the same, or similar place to the old camera and it worked. I got into the habit of always focussing like that.

Hit the "Q" button on your camera...
On the bottom right corner of the screen, there is a icon that looks like the back of the camera. Select that. A menu opens that allows you to assign what each (configurable) button does on the camera... Tell us what the shutter button is assigned to...

Sounds like a demo unit. All Canon cameras ship with the shutter button 1/2 press initiating AF as default.

Hit the "Q" button. Joystick down to the bottom right icon. Tap the "Set" button. The first selection is what the shutter button does besides take a picture. Metering and AF start, Metering start, AE lock. Sounds like you want "Metering and AF start".

Thankyou thankyou thankyou! nputer and oldvultureface! Now it works.