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Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines in Landscape or Vertical Lines in Portrait Orient

Started Feb 7, 2021 | Questions
JLGRAPHY New Member • Posts: 4
Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines in Landscape or Vertical Lines in Portrait Orient
1

Hello,

I have a new R6 with 28-70mm F2 that I pick up about 2 weeks ago – was a Nikon shooter for 10+ years, gave up 2 bodies and primes for this new setup, been very pleased so far (minus the ergonomics and UI lol).

I recently noticed a big flaw with this otherwise near perfect AF system. In portrait orientation with straight, defined, geometric lines it focus hunts and actually NEVER finds it, doesn't matter what focusing point or method – please view the short video linked.

I'm trying to find out whether it's a body or lens issue. Could someone with a R6 and any other lens or the 28-70mm F2 try the out the quick experiment and report back here? Thank you so much in advance!

Jason

https://youtu.be/KHm1hn4jBzs

*UPDATE*

I discovered that it's actually an issue only with horizontal lines (hence vertical in portrait). The AF will NEVER find focus with horizontal lines when held in landscape orientation or vertical lines when in portrait – no matter how defined and clean the edges are.

Looking forward to others' testing and findings. Thank you.

ANSWER:
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Canon EOS R6 Canon RF 28-70mm F2L USM
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R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,540
Re: Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines
5

No Canon camera (mirrorless or DSLR in Live View) can focus on purely horizontal lines.

If you run into this situation, tilt the camera 30 degrees and lock focus.

R2

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Alexander Rosenwald Regular Member • Posts: 385
Re: Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines

You found one of the mayor improvements DSLMs brought us over DSLRs. No cross sensors.

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OP JLGRAPHY New Member • Posts: 4
Re: Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines

R2D2 wrote:

No Canon camera (mirrorless or DSLR in Live View) can focus on purely horizontal lines.

If you run into this situation, tilt the camera 30 degrees and lock focus.

R2

I see! I was a DSLR user before this so I had never experienced such phenomenon. Thank you for the reply and insight!

davel33 Senior Member • Posts: 2,974
Re: Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines

Unless your DSLR is using cross type focus points it can have the same problem.  It may not be as noticeable because most DSLR's have a mix of both vertical and horizontal focus points with cross type around the center.

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RDKirk Forum Pro • Posts: 16,545
Re: Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines

Alexander Rosenwald wrote:

You found one of the mayor improvements DSLMs brought us over DSLRs. No cross sensors.

Took me back to my split-image rangefinder days with manual focusing film SLRs.

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moon1029 Regular Member • Posts: 304
Re: Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines in Landscape or Vertical Lines in Portrait

JLGRAPHY wrote:

Hello,

I have a new R6 with 28-70mm F2 that I pick up about 2 weeks ago – was a Nikon shooter for 10+ years, gave up 2 bodies and primes for this new setup, been very pleased so far (minus the ergonomics and UI lol).

I recently noticed a big flaw with this otherwise near perfect AF system. In portrait orientation with straight, defined, geometric lines it focus hunts and actually NEVER finds it, doesn't matter what focusing point or method – please view the short video linked.

I'm trying to find out whether it's a body or lens issue. Could someone with a R6 and any other lens or the 28-70mm F2 try the out the quick experiment and report back here? Thank you so much in advance!

Jason

https://youtu.be/KHm1hn4jBzs

*UPDATE*

I discovered that it's actually an issue only with horizontal lines (hence vertical in portrait). The AF will NEVER find focus with horizontal lines when held in landscape orientation or vertical lines when in portrait – no matter how defined and clean the edges are.

Looking forward to others' testing and findings. Thank you.

Thanks so much for posting this with the clear video illustration!

I felt my 5DIII focuses better in some situations but I can't tell precisely. I also had problem focusing when I tried to focus on the red ring of my lenses with my R6.

I've tried on my R6. It happens only with horizontal lines. It can properly focus in portrait modes (and thus vertical lines in landscape mode). Same findings as you on my R6.

Thanks for posting this, and others' replies regarding DPAF.

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R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,540
Re: Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines in Landscape or Vertical Lines in Portrait
1

moon1029 wrote:

Thanks for posting this, and others' replies regarding DPAF.

Keep in mind that it’s not just a Dual Pixel phenomenon.  This also applies to CDAF and hybrid sensors.

R2

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OP JLGRAPHY New Member • Posts: 4
Re: Canon R6 AF Hunt / Failure with Horizontal Lines in Landscape or Vertical Lines in Portrait

moon1029 wrote:

JLGRAPHY wrote:

Hello,

I have a new R6 with 28-70mm F2 that I pick up about 2 weeks ago – was a Nikon shooter for 10+ years, gave up 2 bodies and primes for this new setup, been very pleased so far (minus the ergonomics and UI lol).

I recently noticed a big flaw with this otherwise near perfect AF system. In portrait orientation with straight, defined, geometric lines it focus hunts and actually NEVER finds it, doesn't matter what focusing point or method – please view the short video linked.

I'm trying to find out whether it's a body or lens issue. Could someone with a R6 and any other lens or the 28-70mm F2 try the out the quick experiment and report back here? Thank you so much in advance!

Jason

https://youtu.be/KHm1hn4jBzs

*UPDATE*

I discovered that it's actually an issue only with horizontal lines (hence vertical in portrait). The AF will NEVER find focus with horizontal lines when held in landscape orientation or vertical lines when in portrait – no matter how defined and clean the edges are.

Looking forward to others' testing and findings. Thank you.

Thanks so much for posting this with the clear video illustration!

I felt my 5DIII focuses better in some situations but I can't tell precisely. I also had problem focusing when I tried to focus on the red ring of my lenses with my R6.

I've tried on my R6. It happens only with horizontal lines. It can properly focus in portrait modes (and thus vertical lines in landscape mode). Same findings as you on my R6.

Thanks for posting this, and others' replies regarding DPAF.

My pleasure!

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