Can Canon AF do real time tracking of objects (not just faces,eyes,cars,animals etc)?

Deak wrote:

Joe, your experience echoes mine.

We are not talking about object recognition here, but lock on and subsequent tracking of random objects in a scene as opposed to faces or eyes.

Both my A6600 and A1 can track almost anything flawlessly as I recompose once locked on to any object or feature in the frame, while the Canon systems will track sporadically and then jump focus to other objects in the vicinity of the original target.

I guess you missed this post, where I did just that with my modest Canon M6 II, and discussed the R7.

I have tried many variations of settings on the R5, R6, and R3, and although object tracking performance improves (especially with face and eye detect off) with some setting changes, none can touch the performance that the two Sony cameras deliver. I have no experience with the R7.

This is a big difference often overlooked by reviewers who concentrate on subject detection as the primary method of initiating tracking.

I agree, by most reports, this is something Sony does well. It would be nice if reviewers gave more thorough attention to this and other aspects of focusing.

DPR, for example, tested the R5 in face recognition mode, and also the R6, which both did very well.  They discussed focusing at some length, but did not test the mode that you are suggesting, and unfortunately have not tested more recent cameras.  They tested the A6600, which did very well, but they noted the lack of focusing options.  One criticism I have of the tests is that they are no longer as challenging for modern cameras.  Every camera has advantages and disadvantages in focusing, and more information is always welcome.