Hi, thanks for your very informative advice and explanations. That helps me alot. So there are a lot of things I do like about this camera so I am inclined to try to learn how to use it and make it work for me. I've been going over the manual and searching the net but there are still some things I can't figure out. Also called Cannon support and they weren't able to give me a satisfactory answer.
Specifically When in AIAF Face Detect mode, I want the camera to focus on multiple faces. When I try aiming the camera at my kids, it will choose one of them with a white frame (camera thinks this is the main subject) and then it will put grey frames around the other kids(the camera thinks they are the secondary subjects). When you half press the shutter button, all the frames both white and grey should change to green to show that they are in focus. However ,when I half press the shutter button, the grey frames disappear and only the white frame changes to green, leaving only one of my kids in focus.
This is not what is supposed to happen according to Canon support
http://support-ph.canon-asia.com/contents/PH/EN/8200622100.html
I think according this article, the camera in face detect AIAF is supposed to focus on all the subjects both white and grey frames and they should all turn to green with half press of the shutter unless you use the face select to select only one subject to focus on. I've tried this in all kinds of lighting and I've only once or twice gotten the camera to focus on two people at a time. 95 percent of the time it will just focus on the main subject and it will drop the secondary subjects with half press of shutter button.
I called canon support and the rep just told me that my camera is probably defective and to send it back, but I am want to make sure this is really the case before I go to all the trouble of sending it back and getting a new one.
I've also investigated in the manual about how to use the 1 point flexizone AF to get all my kids in focus and have found that you can change the size of the AF frame only to SMALLER and not to larger than the standard. The standard size is already quite small and won't encompass all of my kids. If anyone has found how to work around this or get Face AIAF to focus on multiple faces, please share!
OK
Face detection operates by identifying faces which have been associated with names and prior photos of the person. Have you put names together with faces in the camera's menu? If not, then the camera doesn't recognize the other faces. The camera must also be set to the face ID "on" position in its main menu. When the camera recognizes known faces, the names of those people will be displayed on the LCD screen. Is this what's happening with your present setting? If not, probably you haven't instructed the camera to ID some people or the instructions you provided have not been properly registered in the camera's menu. So, first check your menu for face ID names and photos.
I don't own your camera so I can't give detailed instructions. However, Canon's specs for your camera indicate it has a total of 31 focus points which can be selected. Therefore, even if the single point focus is only a small and smaller frame, there should be other focus options.
Now, this basically means your camera does not operate as did your old camera. You are going to have to learn how to control your camera, it won't do what your old camera did automatically. Are you interested in learning how to control your camera? If not, maybe this isn't the right camera for you.
Instructions for focusing your camera exist on pages 88 through 95 of the manual.
Are you trying to use the camera in the "A" mode? If so, you need to switch to "P" mode. Basically, "P" is still an automatic shooting mode but the camera is now giving you more control over how the camera will operate. In fully automatic the camera simply will not do certain functions. Place the shooting mode selector switch on "P" and try again.
(I feel you are too hesitant to move away from a fully automatic camera. You are, therefore, insisting the new camera operate just as the old camera did. It won't. This is a much more sophisticated camera and it has been designed to take commands from the user. I won't say your camera is defective but I believe you simply have not found the combination of controls which are appropriate for your needs.)
Begin in "P" mode and work your way through the focus options given in the owner's manual. Once you switch to "P" mode, there will be several more options (in both the menu and the functions settings) available which were previously blacked out when the camera is in "A" mode. These new features are what you are looking for to give you control over your camera.
I'm going to ask just to be certain, you do understand the four way function switch on the back of the camera, right? If so, ...
In "P" mode you should now see the other focus point settings become available in the menu. (There will actually be several new features to work in the menus and functions settings, all aimed at giving you more control over your photos.) You will set the number of focus points to a comfortable number (other than single point) and instruct the camera to use all of those points - usually between five and nine - to ensure proper focus. (Remember though, if you are using multiple focus points and shooting an image of only one person, other items in your LCD frame will also be in focus. This is very much how your old camera would focus.) If you cannot locate in the menu the right position for a switch to multiple focus points, try calling Canon again and asking specifically for assistance with that issue. If at that point the camera will not move away from a single point of focus, I would begin to assume the camera is defective. More knowledgeable hands though may still prove you just haven't found the right setting. This is where your local dealer can offer assistance.
Of course, you could always use the instructions I provided in my earlier post. Look at the shooting information for your in focus shots. That should provide you a f-stop value you can assign to the camera in "Av" mode. Let's say the majority of your in focus shots were taken with an f-stop value of f 4 to f 5.6. That value will establish a midrange depth of field from your camera at virtually any camera to subject distance and any zoom range on your lens. Set the camera to "Av" mode and turn the control dial to reach a setting between f 4 and f 5.6. Before you shoot, make certain the camera has retained that f-stop setting. If you are in "Av" mode and the camera has somehow not retained that f 4 to f 5.6 value (usually because someone has become flustered and moved some controls without realizing what they are changing), reset the camera and take your shot. Focus on any person in the group shot and the camera should automatically provide sufficient depth of field to have everyone in focus.
Once again, this is not a fully automatic camera and there are other adjustments which can - and likely should - be made when shooting in "Av" mode. The exposure compensation adjustment is there to give you control over how bright or dark the image will be.
This camera has several incoming light metering modes which you control. Page 79 of the manual explains the metering system, its options and how to control them. You can, if you prefer, simply set metering to "Evaluative" (that would be similar to what your old camera used) and go with that. The point being, if you want the camera to be more than just a point and shoot, then you will need to learn just how the camera operates and how you can control how it operates. If you want a camera that requires no input from the user other than pointing the lens at a subject, this isn't the camera you want.
The basic rules of photography are rather simple and can be learned by anyone. Shooting in either "P" or "Av" mode still leaves most of the automatic operations of the camera to be made by the camera. You must first though set the controls to instruct the camera that "this" is how you want it to do its operations. Anyone on this forum will encourage you to make the best use of the higher quality camera you now own. You can be more creative and you can, once you have the camera under your control, have loads more enjoyment out of your camera than just pointing a lens in a certain direction. Your images will simply look better and be more valuable as years go by when you use a camera with your input providing creative control. Therefore, I would encourage you to stick with the Canon G1x m2 until you have its basic functions down.
Where did you buy the camera? A short trip to the retailer on a slow afternoon should provide you with some hands on instructions. Not always, but it should. Big box stores have people in their camera departments who don't now their gear. Not their fault, the big box stores don't train their employees very well. They will know Canon if they shoot with a Canon. But, if they use a Nikon or a Sony, they probably won't understand Canon's menus. Watching them fumble through the menu will be even more frustrating for you. If you made the purchase through a big box, make sure someone who understands Canon is there when you come in for assistance.
Most independent camera shops have several people on hand to give some after the sale service and you should be fine walking into any local dealer and asking for assistance. And, while you possibly didn't buy from them, most local shops are going to give some guidance just because they want you to enjoy your camera. So explore your options and try to get your camera under your own control. It's a fairly complicated piece of equipment and it requires some understanding by its user. Once you have the camera set where you want it to work, both write down the settings in the menu and functions systems and assign them to a Custom shooting mode. Then use that mode rather than "P" or "Av" and the camera will respond to those commands.
I would say though, this is the time for you to decide just how much you like this camera. If you truly enjoy it, learn to use to to your advantage. If you feel you will never be in command of the camera, then maybe you should just return it for a less capable camera that requires less input from the user. This is, after all, an "enthusiast's" camera and the user needs to be enthusiastic about the camera. If you cannot control the camera, eventually it will be put in a drawer and sit. Think of all the great photos you will miss if that happens.
Just play 5 minutes with different apertures and shutter speeds while photographing your kids, and you will be laughing later at your reluctance to learn.