R3 AF modes question, is this not possible?

[Viggo]

Hi!

I’ve just gotten an R3 and the AF-system seems very different from my old R5.

I had my R5 set up to directly select AF-area/mode with one button. So, I could cycle through single point and whole area tracking-with a starting single point. So when for example a bird in a tree couldn’t be located, I would switch to single point with one button push. I used dual BBF in combination with this.

With the R3 all points are just starting tracking and to use single point I have to go to Q (or custom button) to turn off tracking and it takes way too much time.

Is there no way to switch between single point and AF-tracking/subject tracking with a single starting AF-point with the R3?

 

[neuroanatomist]

If I understand your question correctly, yes. I have the toggle between one shot and servo AF set to the M.Fn2 button. Single point for both.

 

[Viggo]

If I understand your question correctly, yes. I have the toggle between one shot and servo AF set to the M.Fn2 button. Single point for both.

They’re both in Servo. So it continues to focus if a subject moves with both single point and with subject tracking. Meaning that when tracking is on my single point doesn’t stay in the place I put it, it locks on to a subject and follows it around the frame. On my R5 my single point never changes place in the focusing area by itself , only I could move it. With the R3 and and tracking on, both whole area and my single point locks on to a subject and tracks it around the frame.

For example I track a bird with eye detection and the whole shabang and it works great, but then I want to take a picture of a static statue or building or whatever, the single point starts to tracks and AF points jumping around on my static subject. So I need to go to Q and turn off tracking to get my single point to stay a single point in a single place. Very annoying..

 

[koenkooi]

On the R8 and R5II you can influence that behaviour with the ‘whole area subject tracking’ toggle. I think on the R3 you want to check how ‘subject tracking’ alters the behaviour: https://cam.start.canon/en/C010/manual/html/UG-04_AF-Drive_0060.html#AF-Drive_0060_3

It took me a while to get used to the AF on the R8, it is, like your R3, quite different from the R5.
In the button config menu you can use INFO to toggle with AF settings a button toggles. I’ve set the shutter to full eye AF and tracking and the AF-ON button will do spot-AF with tracking disabled when held down.

Kids/birds/deer generally don’t need any overrides, dragonflies and amphibians quite often do need spot-AF. YMMV of course

 

[Viggo]

On the R8 and R5II you can influence that behaviour with the ‘whole area subject tracking’ toggle. I think on the R3 you want to check how ‘subject tracking’ alters the behaviour: https://cam.start.canon/en/C010/manual/html/UG-04_AF-Drive_0060.html#AF-Drive_0060_3

It took me a while to get used to the AF on the R8, it is, like your R3, quite different from the R5.
In the button config menu you can use INFO to toggle with AF settings a button toggles. I’ve set the shutter to full eye AF and tracking and the AF-ON button will do spot-AF with tracking disabled when held down.

Kids/birds/deer generally don’t need any overrides, dragonflies and amphibians quite often do need spot-AF. YMMV of course

Thanks! I’ll have a look at the link. I found a button to assign turning tracking on/off, it just very unfamiliar and it requires a double button push instead of just moving my thumb, but I tried some light BIF today and in get the idea of starting tracking with different AF-areas like single point expanded and it works really well. The keeper rate with R3 blows the R5 out of the water. And the files are truly amazing. I feels this camera is kind of underrated because of the resolution by many, but man, it’s incredible…

 

[neuroanatomist]

They’re both in Servo.

So, I did not understand your question. Apologies!

 

[koenkooi]

Thanks! I’ll have a look at the link. I found a button to assign turning tracking on/off, it just very unfamiliar and it requires a double button push instead of just moving my thumb, but I tried some light BIF today and in get the idea of starting tracking with different AF-areas like single point expanded and it works really well. The keeper rate with R3 blows the R5 out of the water. And the files are truly amazing. I feels this camera is kind of underrated because of the resolution by many, but man, it’s incredible…

I first tried with having ‘subject tracking’ in My Menu and then tried with having it under a button. Both options didn’t work for me, so I moved to having AF-ON in a tracking disabled mode. That works well enough for me, but it still feels like I’m doing something wrong

It took a few months before I got used to the AF in the R8, it even made me change how I do some things, for the better.
I wish the option were a bit more intuitive or better explained, Canon should include videos and animations in their online manual!

For the time being I read the manual, watch a few youtube videos on the subject, go out to try it myself and then search the fora for matching experiences. If the results weren’t so impressive this would feel like work, not like fun

 

[Viggo]

I first tried with having ‘subject tracking’ in My Menu and then tried with having it under a button. Both options didn’t work for me, so I moved to having AF-ON in a tracking disabled mode. That works well enough for me, but it still feels like I’m doing something wrong

It took a few months before I got used to the AF in the R8, it even made me change how I do some things, for the better.
I wish the option were a bit more intuitive or better explained, Canon should include videos and animations in their online manual!

For the time being I read the manual, watch a few youtube videos on the subject, go out to try it myself and then search the fora for matching experiences. If the results weren’t so impressive this would feel like work, not like fun

Thanks! Much appreciated. Is there no «Canon AF guide» for the R3

 

[Viggo]

So, I did not understand your question. Apologies!

Absolutely no worries of course I didn’t explain it very well either, because I didn’t understood how it worked either

 

[Raptors]

Not really a AF guide but you may get something from it.

R3 Setup tips from Canon

Salesforce

comeandsee.my.salesforce.com

 

[Viggo]

Not really a AF guide but you may get something from it.

R3 Setup tips from Canon

Salesforce

comeandsee.my.salesforce.com

Thanks!

 

[Viggo]

I solved it with tracking on the AF-ON button and move AF-point with said button. Then when I want single point I move it to where I want with the AF-ON button, as I find it the quickest way to move the AF-point. Then I move my thumb to the *-button which is set to AF-ON «, but set up via Info-button for detailed settings, to enable single point, tracking off and area to single point. Problem solved and at least as quick as with the R5 .