Reading mode: Light Dark

Found new (undocumented?) 7D AF point selection feature

Go to last post
T

Topaz

Leading Member
Messages
588
Solutions
1
Reaction score
10
Location
Tokyo, JP
I ran into something surprising today on my 7D. I already knew well that while in AF point selection mode, pushing the joystick straight in will select the center AF point. This is mentioned on p. 88 of the manual and matches the feature I have used in xxD series models in the past.

What I discovered today is that if you push the joystick straight in a 2nd time, it returns the focus point to where it was previously! I actually can't find any mention of this in the instruction manual (maybe I am just missing it, though). Was I just obtuse for not noticing this feature before, or is it new to other people too?

What this means is that you can use single single button pushes to jump between 3 focus points: the center point, one non-center manual focus point of your choice, and an extra manual focus point if you use the Registered AF Point feature and assign a custom button to access it.

For example, just as a test, I customized my AF-ON button to call up the registered AF point, and I customized my joystick to do AF point direct selection. Then, in single point AF mode, I set the right-most AF point as the "registered" AF. Then I set the top-most AF point as the active AF point. By pressing the joystick straight in, I can toggle between top and center. By pressing AF-ON, I can temporarily toggle over to the right side. So it's basically instantaneous for me to flip between these 3 AF points as needed.

Actually if you use CF III-12 to enable orientation-linked AF points, then you have 2 more "memorized" AF points at your disposal for a total of 5, as long as you're willing to turn your camera on the side!

Curious to hear if anybody else has taken advantage of this.
 
Thanks for the info, I could have used that feature last night when I was shooting a kids All Star hockey game at Canada's Bell Cup in Ottawa. Moving to an off center focus point during faceoffs works great but you want to quickly get back to center as not miss anything!

Going to try that today at the outdoor rink.

Happy New Year
Maw
 
see - http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1019&message=33688555

unfortunately the b&h videos aren't working right now. but they were very helpful. also see the videos on canon usa site. the camera is so jam packed with features that they needed videos to augment the manual. i wouldn't have known this feature had i not come across theses videos.

it's fleetingly mentioned on page 220 of the manual. see the footnote ( 3) under "AF point direct selection."
 
Loren Charif said:
Good catch, Topaz, thank you; this is the second great tip I've gotten from you. I guess we need to keep you around!
Click to expand...
Heh. Thanks, Loren. Especially if somebody else pays for the beer, I'll be happy to stay! Actually, I get a lot more valuable advice from others here than I can ever contribute back, so that's probably enough to keep me around, even without the beer.

I have spurts of activity here every few years when I get my hands on a new piece of camera equipment. After a while I calm down and get back to taking (lousy) pictures instead of geeking out, testing features, and posting about them. But the geek phase usually lasts a few weeks. :-)
 
Michel Smolak said:
Hi, you explained "I customized my AF-ON button to call up the registered AF point".

Which CF or set up do you use to do that?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
As poster b.a.fog points out in his reply, this is on page 219 of the manual. I think it is a little bit hard to read, though. So just to provide some more detail here:

To customize the button ahead of time:

1) Go to the Custom Controls screen (either CF IV-1 or via the Q-button Quick Control screen).

2) Select the button you want to use for this purpose (basically your only 2 choices are the AF-ON button or the * button).

3) Select "metering and AF start" as the assigned function. However, while you have that icon highlighted, press the INFO button.

4) Now you should see a screen that lets you choose which focus point the AF start will activate. There are only 2 choices: the currently selected point, or the registered point. Change to the registered AF point, and save your new setting.

To set the registered AF point: first select a manual AF point normally. Then push the "+" magnify button and the LCD illumination button (the light bulb icon) at the same time. Your camera will remember the point you chose (it will leave a little square on the viewfinder in that location, to remind you).

To use the registered AF point when shooting: just push the AF-ON or * (whichever you customized, above). As long as you hold it down, the registered AF point will be used for focusing. The camera will return to your current AF point when you let go.

Hope this helps.
 
Ok, how do i clear the selected point? :-D
 
And If so: does any-
one have the link?

THANKS!
Daniel
--
db.
 
Thanks for the tip, I did not know that. I can see how single joystick tap = center AF, and double tapped = previous Af point can be extremely useful.

too bad the new 60d got rid of the joystick and replaced it with a very cramped D-pad
 
I remember reading this somewhere....
Topaz said:
I ran into something surprising today on my 7D. I already knew well that while in AF point selection mode, pushing the joystick straight in will select the center AF point. This is mentioned on p. 88 of the manual and matches the feature I have used in xxD series models in the past.

What I discovered today is that if you push the joystick straight in a 2nd time, it returns the focus point to where it was previously! I actually can't find any mention of this in the instruction manual (maybe I am just missing it, though). Was I just obtuse for not noticing this feature before, or is it new to other people too?

What this means is that you can use single single button pushes to jump between 3 focus points: the center point, one non-center manual focus point of your choice, and an extra manual focus point if you use the Registered AF Point feature and assign a custom button to access it.

For example, just as a test, I customized my AF-ON button to call up the registered AF point, and I customized my joystick to do AF point direct selection. Then, in single point AF mode, I set the right-most AF point as the "registered" AF. Then I set the top-most AF point as the active AF point. By pressing the joystick straight in, I can toggle between top and center. By pressing AF-ON, I can temporarily toggle over to the right side. So it's basically instantaneous for me to flip between these 3 AF points as needed.

Actually if you use CF III-12 to enable orientation-linked AF points, then you have 2 more "memorized" AF points at your disposal for a total of 5, as long as you're willing to turn your camera on the side!

Curious to hear if anybody else has taken advantage of this.
Click to expand...
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rndman
 
They all have direct access to each focus point with a single click (dpad or joystick). The feature is useful on the 7D with some many points, but the xxD line has had direct access to all focus points for a while now.

Steve
007peter said:
Thanks for the tip, I did not know that. I can see how single joystick tap = center AF, and double tapped = previous Af point can be extremely useful.

too bad the new 60d got rid of the joystick and replaced it with a very cramped D-pad
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top