R5 Settings for Soccer

sintos wrote:

Hello,

As many of us, I'm still trying to understand Canon AF R5 and keeping practicing it...

1. Do we agree with the fact that with Large AF zone, face detection is working ?

2. I have read that R5 will better perform with larger AF zone as long that it gives more data to compare and analyze ?

3. Into the AF Tab 4, third element "switching tracked subject", is it new with latest firmware ? Any experience about this ?

Thanks !

For what you shoot (ie Field Hockey), IMHO the R6ii is the better body to use (or wait for the R5ii). Mainly because you can be much more selective with the Subject Detect AF when there are multiple players in the frame. You might consider a switch.

Like many people, with the R5 I have Servo with Eye Detect set to the AF-ON button, and Spot AF set to the ( * ) button (some folks use the opposite buttons, but it produces the same effect). For wildlife I use Auto initial because it picks up my (usually lone) subject anywhere in the frame (this works great for BIFs especially). However for people in groups it’s best to use the other “Initial” setting (last focus point). That way you can be more selective, at least initially.

”Switching Tracked Subjects” has been there since day 1. I keep it set all the way to ( 0 ) for maximum stickiness. I also use Case 2 modified to ( -2 and +2 ), again for maximum stickiness.

I’d also recommend NOT letting your (fast moving) subjects roam around the viewfinder as you shoot, as this can produce subject motion blur even at ordinarily high shutter speeds. Instead try to keep it in exactly the same spot in the viewfinder as you track along with the subject. You can of course still do the recompose thing when you’re not actually activating the shutter.

This is what works best for me with the R5 (and similar R6 Mark I).

Best of luck!

R2