I FINALLY Figured It Out (Canon R6 AF Settings)
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- Опубликовано: 6 июл 2024
- After owning the Canon R6 for almost 2 years I'm finally ready to share my updated Auto Focus settings that I use daily. I use these settings for weddings, portraits and taking photos of my family and am loving the results I'm getting!
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0:00 Intro
0:25 Touch & Drag
3:22 Using Servo
4:16 Eye Tracking AF
5:09 Customized AF Buttons
6:56 Orientation Linked AF Point
Another cool setting that utilizes the touch and drag:
Go to AF menu #5. The first option "Initial Servo AF pt for (face). Change that from AUTO to the top option.
This allows you to drag a box to your subject and it will then track that face/eye only. With using AUTO you get the issues you had described of the camera wanting to track people that aren't necessarily your subject.
Thanks for sharing!!
Wow, this is the best advice I’ve ever read on the internet about this camera lol
@@JesseGannTV I found this out from a comment on a different R6 video. Just paying it forward :D
Dude! That's a great tip! Thank you!
thank you! hoping this eliminates the issue where it will be tracking the correct subject and then at the worst time flip to something completely not the subject! thanks!
I just purchased an R6 and I'm so excited! Considering I'm coming from a Rebel T5, this is a huge upgrade. I'm ready to take my photography from a sometimes buisness to a full time buisness! :) Keep the R6 videos coming, you're one of my favorite people to learn from. You explain things in a way that resonates with me, and that I can remember in real life situations.
Thanks so much Sarah!! That means a lot! Let us know if you have any questions in the future!!
That’s a huge upgrade, now invest in some good glass!!
@@bobhuerbsch RF 28-70 will be next!
@@expectingamiricle There goes the family car! :-)
@@AnandaGarden what? Lol
I can’t tell you how helpful this was. As someone who loved to be in control and was just not loving this camera, I am now feeling so much better about it. I love that I can choose when to use eye detection a lot easier now. Thank you so much for this.
Hi! May I ask which AF mode are you in when you can just switch between eye detecting AF and touch&drag?
I find that when I'm in face detection mode the touch and drag function is not that great. I'm dragging an orange circle, not a square and it's not that accurate, I hate it :(
But if I switch to the one point mode where I drag a square the touch&drag function works perfectly well but I loose the eye detection option. Eye detection doesn't work in one point AF mode...
Which one do you use? If the first one, are you satisfied with dragging the orange circle? Does it work well for you? Maybe I'm missing something here or doing it the wrong way? Thank you :)
I was feeling overwhelmed by the R6. Just watched this video of yours and realize I have found someone who can help me. Thank you!
Shortly upgrading from my old 6D.
It's been such a simple & reliable tool to use.
Been hearing about how many autofocus things there are to learn with R6.
But I've learned a little already from this video.
Many thanks.
Great to hear!
Thank you for the video. I have the R6 and love it but use it almost exclusively for real estate photography. Every now and then I get "volunteered" for other types of photography because my real estate photograph is so good. People often assume if you can do one type of photography well, you can do all types of photography well. That sends me to RUclips for helpful videos. Your video was helpful in learning more AF settings. Thank you!
Just bought an R6. Love it! Your videos are helping me make the transition from my 6D easier.
I can't tell you how helpful this has been for me today, been having a problem with eye tracking when the Bride walks up the aisle. I will try this in the future.
Katelyn...the eye-tracking customization on the * button was a great idea!!! I paused the video so I could program mine right away. I can't believe I never thought to do that so thank you!!
Glad it was helpful Michael!!
OMG Katelyn! Thank you so so much! This is making my life sooo much easier on my weddings resulting on crisper images! THANK YOU! ♥
Glad it was helpful!
Just received my R6ii literally a few hours ago. Buddy of mine linked me to this video and I have to say, huge help! Thank you so much!!!
Just bought an R6 this week and this video was INCREDIBLY helpful! Definitely going to try out some of your favourite preferences! Thanks so much
I have been looking all over for this! I just purchased my EOS RP and you made me just fall in love with my camera!! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for that perspective. I live my R6. After a year I am still not super competent with it. I have missed shots during a wedding because of my settings. I used my 90D as a life preserver. I am in a better place now. Occasionally the R6 tech our smarts me. Thanks for sharing
Thank you once again! My previous camera bodies were the 5D4 and 5D3, but I recently added a R6. Your KJ Preset Process has been incredibly useful to me. I'm a event shooter and for my clients including portrait shots are critical but having to transition quickly back while keeping focus "on point" was a pain. The Orientation link tip and autofocus feature have been a game changer.I really appreciate your Videos, Presets and processes!
I FINALLY PURCHASED THE R6!!! I am using it for a session for the first time today and watching this video is SUPER helpful! Thank you so much!!!
Glad I could help!
Thank you thank you thank you for making this video! I switched from a DSLR to a canon mirrorless and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out my optimal auto focus settings. I was having the same issues you described, but these combinations changed the game! ✨
This video was incredibly helpful for me! I own an R6 and am personally still struggling to find my go-to AF settings. Like you, I want to utilize eye-tracking, but drop it when the occasion doesn't call for it. Your tips were incredibly helpful! Your honesty about how it took you almost 2 years is so refreshing and empowering for me to hear, knowing that it is a learning process... and sometimes we're on a shoot (like your wedding example!) when we're learning. So THANK YOU for being real about still learning, even as a professional!
Thanks for watching!
Seriously you blew my mind with these, and so appreciated that you shared an updated video. I was also a hater on eye-tracking but the way you mentioned "you don't have to be married to it" I know feel like giving it a second try :)
This is so helpful! Thank you!!
Couldn’t be more thankful for this video!! Thank you
Thank you so much kj, these shortcut buttons are brilliant!!😊
Thanks for watching!
I recently upgraded to mirrorless and the R6 and have been feeling a bit lost by the new focus modes, this was really helpful thanks.
Thank you for this info! I got my R6 yesterday and so overwhelmed! This definitely has simplified the focus features I need the most!
Thanks for watching!
I’ve barely used my R6 but so far I’m loving it ! Love these videos they’ve helped a lot to understand the R6 more !
Awesome!! Thanks for watching!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have only recently purchased the R6 mk2 4 days ago so I'm on a massive learning curve but one I'm so looking forward to 😊
Thank you so much for this video! I didn't realize this was exactly what I needed!!
Glad it was helpful!
OMG!!! Another awesome lesson. “AF-On” 🙌🏽
Thanks so much!!
All great input! Thanks so much!!! I modified your old “top right” choice to “right side” so the touch and drag would work when shooting with the battery grip in the vertical position. Love ya! B y e !!! 🤣
Thanks!! Bye!!!!
Omg, THANK YOU for this video! I was missing shots and losing images due to not understand how to control of my focus points! You changed the game for me!
Great video! I use AF-ON for back button AF, and * to cycle focus modes. I have all of the other AF modes disabled so the * button only switches between single point and eye AF (the AF is so good that you don't even need the other modes!).
Thanks for sharing!!
The best useful presentation of AF features for R6/R5 I ever see. This is the proof you aren't a youtuber. And congrats for that!
Glad it was helpful! trying to redefine what a RUclipsr is haha!
I too use the Star and Grid buttons for types of autofocus. I just learned that I can program C1,C2, and C3 to have different back button autofocus modes. I use C1 for street and general photography. C2 for groups of people like weddings and events. C3 is for my landscape photography. To keep it clear in my head, I just pretend I'm switching out to a duplicate backup camera meant for X job. So My C1 camera is street photography.. Then my C2 camera is my Wedding photography. Then C3 Landscape work camera. Simple!
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing!
@@KatelynJames Hello, I just gave myself an early Christmas present. I have used Canon
all my life. My last was 7D. Now I want to learn how to use this R6. Where can I find all your courses? Thank you Jackie McNeel
Huge thank you this was bugging me and your explanation is so clear and easy to follow.
Omg I shoot a lot of stage productions and I love the accuracy eye tracking "can" provide, but like you experienced, it has a mind of its own. Using a custom button to enable/disable is such a great idea. Heading inside right now to set it up!
Thank you soooo much… this is great. Finally I will have control of my AF with my Canon R5C
Love the new set!!
Thanks so much Chris!
I'm thrilled to hear that your R6 set up is pretty much like mine. All my KJ training is paying off 😍
Haha great minds think alike!
I had the same issue with eye tracking so glad to see you found something to fix that. I will have to try it out!
It’s great!! Thanks for watching!
Thanks, this actually answers a lot of my concerns for setup on focusing in general. Switching up the R6!
Glad to hear it!
My R6ii came today. My prior camera is 5D MKii. Thanks so much for the AF-ON & Grid button explanation. The menu thing was killing me.
Thanks for the excellent R6 lesson, Katelyn. I've been using similar settings, tied to the C1 mode, taught by Michael the Maven, for bird photography. I also ran into the changing the shutter speed into the "too slow" mode issue when shooting my son's soccer games, as the passing clouds changed the amount of available light during high speed bursts. Because of the need for a fast shutter and consistent aperture, I ended up going to auto ISO, which did a fine job for the circumstances.
One thing that made a massive difference in my ability to accurately utilize eye detect to lock onto my main subject in groups/crowds was ensuring that the “Initial Servo AF pt for [Live Tracking]” (AF Menu 5) is set to “AF pt set for [spot].”
With this setup, I’m able to put the small spot focus point (or even the expanded spot options) on my main subject’s face then activate Eye AF with the designated back button focus button and the camera will lock onto my subject’s eye or face. Conversely, I found that when I tried using “Initial AF pt set for [Live Tracking], the camera would completely ignore my spot AF point and chose to lock onto whichever random eye the camera thought was the right one.
It’s also useful to use AF Case 2 with the “Tracking Sensitivity” set to -2 and adjust the “Switching Tracked Subjects” (AF Menu 4) to 0.
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve had my canon R6 for a year and a half and I never knew about the customizing settings for 👁 auto tracking thank you so much!!! lol 💪🏼💯🙌🏼
It is a game changer!!
Thank you. You have just simplified the settings on my EOS R, that I could not get an answer to by watching other videos. Thanks.
Excellent tips... I already do some of them with my brand new R6.... Thank you...
Thanks for watching!!
Nice video..informational. I shoot only in EyeAF during entire wedding. In Eye-AF also, you can change the person to focus on the eye by touch & drag or using joystick. I dont change the focus mode to single point unless and until the subject is not a human being :)
I have the R5, so not sure if it applies, but what helped me most in the eye-focus was having servo on, and change initial servo AF to spot, not face/eye detect. This way it starts with spot focusing (I choose the subject or recompose after the spot focusing point detects the eye). This made it much faster, no need to switch between modes, and if your autofocus settings are set to sticky, it will keep tracking the subject. Doesn't work as good with distances, but for a group of 6-8 people it's perfect for me.
This is so helpful thank you!!
Love it !! Thanks
So helpful! Thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
This was so helpful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
If this is your new RUclips studio..I'm loving it!!
It is!! We love it too!
Wow!!! Thank you so much!!
I got now an R6 coming from the first R, and I personally like an AF mode that gives a square starting point that goes back to the center when I lift the finger of the shutter button. It's a setting called Pt Starting point, using this method I find I have more control over the AF
I have always used the * button for switching between SERVO & ONE SHOT but I'll definitely utilize the button to the right of it to switch to AF eye tracking so thank you.
Very helpful info for my new canon R6.
Glad it was helpful!
Another further optimization of your setup:
Go to AF menu # 1 and set "AF Operation" to "SERVO AF".
Then you don't need to use the button on the far right of the back to switch between SERVO and One Shot, since the AF-ON and *-button now works as both Servo and One Shot, at the same time. How?
To use the Servo function, press and hold the AF-ON button.
To use One shot, press the AF-ON button once to find focus, and when the button is released the focus is locked. To refresh focus, just press and release the button again.
This works in the same way for eye-tracking on the *-button.
Thanks for sharing!
Do note that one-shot is still different and generally a bit faster, plus in Servo you get no feedback that focus was acquired.
Personally I configured AF-On to use Servo (press Info in the button configuration to specify additional settings, super useful), keep it in one shot otherwise and use touch AF for one-shot.
Omg I didn’t know my R had this. I just tried it out and I am so excited for my senior shoot this weekend. Thank you 🙂
So exciting! He sure to practice before the shoot!
@@KatelynJames I did today and I love it!!
Awesome video. Thank you for all this! Still super relevant to the r6 mk2.
Thanks for watching!
Hi Katelyn, have you dug into the Q button? I haven't seen it on your reviews yet for the R6, but it's crazy handy! You don't have to go into the camera menu to make these major changes, just hit Q and it's a mini menu. Of course the other custom buttons you mentioned like the * are going to be the fastest, but wanted to mention Q.
Thank you!! I am new but learning from you!!
Welcome!
Fantastic video. I moved from an 5Dii to a 7Dii to a R6 and I've been struggling with the focus. Thanks
Great video! Thank you!
Love it! 👌
I love the wey you explain in detail I wish I could work with you as second shooter
Good info!
Thanks for watching!
AH i just set my eye tracking to the snowflake... so helpful!
Great video! X2 on the nose getting in the way with touch and drag so I have it set to the left side of the screen.
Thanks for sharing! and thanks for watching!!
Very helpful, thanks
I have just gone from the 5dMKIV to the 6dMKII -Thanks for this video.
So much more stuff in this camera it was kinda overwhelming
I just mine yesterday WOW AMAZING great video
Been a entry level photographer for a while now, and just got the R6 MKII and it is different than some of the options on my R5C so found this video.
A few thoughts as I watch along.
Touch and drag: It is faster than the joystick, but I personally had to turn it off as all the time my face would touch the screen while shooting and move my AF point.
Something I saw on the R6 messing around today is full frame servo and it seems to let me start my AF point anywhere and then track it as I hold focus, allowing me to reframe as a maybe even faster alternative to click and drag to get a non center focus point.
I also changed up the buttons on the back, a variation of what you use. I am setup for back button focus so no focus from the shutter.
AF on Button is focus and regular focus mode, next button is spot focus and AF, and then the third is eye focus.
So I have all 3 main focus modes at a press of a button that I need to use based on a situation, I did have an single/servo button but now I just live in servo mode I have not found any disadvantage of leaving it in that mode.
I was one of those people that loved the eye af right from the start. And I was using the touch screen to compose my Af point when I was in one shot mode. I have my set up different than you but I actually love what the tip of reconfiguring the buttons to make some things faster. Hmmm. Won’t try it this though yet.. I have a wedding Saturday and im comfortable with my own way still don’t want to use the wedding as my trial run. Lol. Thank you so much I learn a lot from you.
Yes! A little practice with the new setup is a good idea!
@@KatelynJames I’m leaving to the wedding in a bit in Waco Texas. Pray for me that I do a wonderful job for the couple. 😇
I just watched this again for the fourth time in two months and it's true: I think I love you.
Thanks! ALL of these settings should be default when they ship the Rs.
now im back focusing too, the r6 is awesome.
Thanks for watching!
as a female wedding photographer, i only consistently watch your videos to learn more about my business, how to build confidence, how to better my work and general motivation. So grateful for women like you that cater to us
Thanks so much!! Glad it is helpful!
@@KatelynJameshi what lens do you have attached to the camera?
yes ! looved this video ! been struggling with the same things with my R6. feels like i just got a “cheat sheet” 😂🥰
haha!! It does feel like a cheat!
Really good video thank you.
I have the same setting for AF buttons. I use also the front button (next to the lens) for AF spot and the light button for Quick changing the AF modes.
Thanks for watching!
I see your still happy with that lens 🤟🤟🤟
Oh yes!
I have 24 hours to learn the R6 coming from Olympus and this video helped me so much. My mind was swirling with all the new autofocus stuff and you have unlocked some real power moves for me. Thank you!!
Hey! Have you figured out your AF settings yet? I'm really confused how to customise the star button function on the Canon R6. I'm looking to shoot constantly using back button focusing, using eye tracking most of the time and every so often switching the eye tracking off. I have changed my settings in the menu, but it still seems to be using eye tracking with both options. Do you know and how I can fix this?
@@user-jb7ij3wb5f I had to give the body back so I don’t have it to reference but yes I was able to customize the star button to drop eye focus. But what I most often did was bring my right thumb to the screen to scrub focus to get the shot.
@@tobisonbrownHiya, thankyou. What do you mean about scrubbing the focus? Do you mean using the touch and drag instead?
Thanks
I recently watched a video with Rudy Winston of Canon. He said that "1-point AF", "Expand AF area", and "Expand AF area: Around" all use the same size AF point. The only difference between the three is if the camera cannot determine a focus point, it will go outside of the initial point to either 4 or 9 points to try and obtain a focus. The second two AF settings do not focus on a larger area as most of us think.
Thanks for sharing!
"I used to focus and then compose, now I compose and then focus" - such a simple switch, and yet I couldn't get my head around this concept until now. Of course I'm having issues, I've been trying to focus as if it's a 5D. Arrrrgh thank you!
Thank you.
You're welcome!
You are easy to understand as you have a clear voice for those hard of hearing problems. Don't talk to fast like some either
! Thanks for your videos !!!
Thanks for watching!
Ma’am you just saved my life !
Thank you for your video. I own an R5 but need to help out a friend with her R6 so was interested in your primer. She’s coming from a 5DIV I believe and focus modes I think will be her big challenge and she has not used any back-button focus so I think that is her first hurtle. Take care.
appreciate all your vids! #1 for R6 info! Started with rebel T6 and now currently with M50 but my spark is going down hill. I did 1whole month of watching and reading everything with pros and cons with the r3,5, and 6 ahahaha. Finally made my decision and bought the R6 30min ago :D . My wife said " Your hobby is expensive, you better start making money with it." xD
Good stuff!
FINALLY! A credible-knowledgable-youtuber that isnt BASHING the Canon R6 Mark ii. lol I Just bought one I absolutely LOVE it and I've been wanting to learn how to use it more effectively. So glad I found your channel. Just subscribed. Thank you for sharing what you know!
Awesome that you have started to dig into the other controls. Have you set up your C1 through C3 yet? Also have you customize your own menu setting? I have found this to be an amazing tool
Thank you. I found this video very helpful.
Although I do not own an R6, recently I bought an R5 and I have been struggling with the autofocus system ever since. It is not that the autofocus options are overwhelming. The problem I find is that the camera has a perverse ability to focus on any subject other than the one I want it to focus on. One by one I have been disabling autofocus features in the hope that it will give me control of the camera and allow me to choose where the focus point should be. I have even been tempted to send the camera back to the shop and go back to my 5D mk4, but your advice to give it time is particularly valuable and I think I might start adopting some of the more automatic auto focus features when I have learned how to control them properly.
The first time I used my R5 most of the automated features were enabled, which was very frustrating as it made the camera do unexpected things. The manual does not explain clearly how the camera decides what to focus on - for example when Subject to Detect is set to No Priority the manual says that "The camera determines the main subject automatically from the subject information detected." What is that supposed to mean? Why can't the camera just do what the photographer tells it to do and stop trying to make its own decisions about what it thinks it should focus on?
Thanks for watching!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Tested this out on my R6 mk2 and wow it's actually hella useful! This camera is nuts I came from an 5D mk1 and now Im in a spaceship lol
first time viewing your YT content. thanks for the effort and the sharing. i am a new subscriber. thumbs up.
Thanks so much!!
I haven’t even watched the video yet but feel more relaxed just reading the title!! I literally was contemplating selling my R6 my husband got me for Christmas becuz I am hating it so much right now. I cannot for the life of me figure out the autofocus and missed SO MANY once in a lifetime shots this week of my daughter. I wish I had used my D750 with my back button focus that I love. I am hoping this video is the key. Thank you before I even watch it, feeling less discouraged.
You got this Mary!! Let us know if you have any questions!!
Mary, the R6 is a great camera with an awesome focus system! I will give you some pointers that are a little different from this video. Maybe try both and see which one you like best.
These are my settings that I feel are easier to use.
> Leave the AF operation on SERVO AF the whole time. It doesn't matter if your subject is still, just leave it on SERVO even if you are shooting still subjects. (Don't do this on DSLRs though). Be sure to Disable Continuous AF in the AF Menu (first page).
> I customized my AF-ON button to activate Eye Detection AF.
> * is set to Metering and AF start. I use this to focus on still subjects that are not people.
> I use the Multi-controller (joystick) to direct my AF point selection. If I am shooting people, I make sure my focusing box is around the person I want to focus on and then press the AF-ON button to lock on their eyes (SUPER IMPORTANT... especially in wedding processionals). My AF method is usually set to "Expand AF area: Around" because it gives me a good area to tell which face/eyes I should focus on. Very rarely I go to 1-point AF. If for some reason I can't lock in on someone's eyes, and it's focusing on someone else that I don't want to, I use the * button.
@@KatelynJames Okay, after watching this video at least 5 times and stop/going thru my settings over and over, I think I'm starting to get it. Btw I did decide to keep my R6 (happy hubby) and am a LITTLE less frustrated! practice helps. QUESTION tho - does your zoom lens constantly go in and out (trying to focus) when the camera is on but you're not actually taking a picture? Like when I'm looking at the LCD screen, the lens is constantly in/out.....mostly worried that it'll wear out the lens motor thingy (besides wearing down battery faster). I need that constant searching of the zoom to stahppp!! :-) TIA!
@@joelhernandez2469 So when I point at a subject, press my AF-ON button to engage the "AF-ON button Metering & AF Start", I focus on subject and then go to recompose, but camera changes focus as I recompose. How do I stop that? I think I'm asking how I can focus recompose without it changing focus?
@@luckymary5723 do you have Continuous AF? If so, disable it
What I miss from my R6 mkII (and missed from my Nikon Z6 and 6II) is the possibility to adjust the sensibility of the eye /sensor/detector. It was possible on my Lumix GH4 (soon 10 years ago). It was a really nice feature
Katelyn, can you give an example of when you would use one shot over servo? Thank you for making this!
In a pinch at a soccer match I've actually used my big nose to touch and drag the focus point over to where I needed it
Love it!
Thanks for all the tips. RE: Touch and Drag Autofocus The problem is not the size of ones nose, but which eye you shoot with. For right eye shooters it may not be a problem, but for left eye shooters (like me) I found it pretty much unusable Especially in portrait mode. I find it difficult to get my finger onto the screen at all, while Im looking through the view finder. Thats currently with the EOS-R, but I think it is similar with the R6 (on my wish list).
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for clarifying why this was difficult for me to do!