7/29/2019 Cdlc Eos7d Af Modes Quickguide

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QuickGuide to EOS 7DAutofocus Modes

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This QuickGuide provides the information you will needto take full advantage of the Canon EOS 7Ds versatile19-point autofocus system, ve AF-point selection modes,and three AF shooting modes. The EOS 7D is adaptable topractically any shooting style and subject while providingyou with full control and continuous feedback. The morefamiliar you are with its capabilities, the better your ability toapply them to your needs and subject matter.

These instructions assume you are familiar with thelocation of basic controls such as the Main Dial on the frontof the camera, immediately behind the shutter button, andthe Quick Control Dial, Set Button (in the center of theQuick Control Dial) and Multi-controlleron the back. We

also assume you will be using a Canon EF-compatible lenswith the AF/MF switch set to AF. The additional AF-speciccontrols you will also need to be familiar with include the:

Multi-function (M-Fn) Button AF Drive Button AF Point Selection Button

AF SHOOTING MODE OPTIONS

One Shot AFIn this mode the AF system is set to focus on a stationaryobject. Once the system has conrmed sharp focus, a half-press on the shutter button will lock focus. You can thenre-compose (if you wish) before you release the shutter.

AI Servo AFIn this mode the AF system is set to detect a movingsubject, focus on it, and maintain focus as you releasethe shutter. This mode is ideal for subjects moving inthree-dimensional space; that is, toward or away from thecamera.

AI Focus AF

The AF system will automatically choose between OneShot AF or AI Servo AF based on whether it perceives thesubject to be still or in motion. Keep in mind, however, thatbecause AI Focus may not always be able to discriminatebetween subject and camera motion, you will have morepredictable results if you choose One Shot AF for stationarysubjects or AI Servo AF for subjects in motion.

Also note that automatic AF point selection and theviewnder display will function differently depending onwhether the EOS 7D is set to One Shot or AI Servo AF. Wewill highlight these differences throughout this QuickGuide.

AF Mode Selection

To select an AF mode, press the AF Drive Button, thenturn the Main Dial until the mode of your choice appearson the LCD panel on top of the camera.

AF POINT SELECTION OPTIONS

Automatic AF Point Selection (Default Mode)

In this mode all 19 AF points are active. You'll see a thinborder around the entire AF point area, which indicatesthat Automatic AF point selection is active. In One-ShotAF Mode, the 7D will focus on the closest subject withadequate detail. The point(s) being used will appear on-screen.

If you are in AI Servo AF Mode you can pre-select anyof the 19 AF points to use as the starting point to begintracking your subject. If the subject moves away from thatpoint, the camera will automatically select new points andcontinue to maintain focus. The new points will appear inthe nder so you always know what the camera is doing.

To pick a starting AF point in Servo AF Mode, rst press

the rearAF Point Selection Button, then use either theMain Dial, Quick Control Dial orMulti-controllerto movethe red highlight in the viewnder to the starting point ofyour choice.

Best for: Candids and other non-moving subjects whereyou want to quickly focus on whatever is closest to thecamera, or single moving subjects that you expect willmove across the composition as you continue to shoot.

Not recommended for: Situations where you need precisecontrol over the point of focus.

Zone AF Point Selection

Zone AF works the same way as Automatic AF pointselection except that it restricts the AF points to a smallcluster (zone) you have pre-selected. Within this zone thesystem will focus on the closest subject with adequatedetail, even if you're in Servo AF Mode.

You can select from one of ve zones: the nine-pointcluster in the center of the viewnder or a four-pointtriangular cluster to the left, right, above, or below thecenter. Whichever zone you select, its size and location arexed. Within the zone you select, the camera will functionjust as it would if all 19 points were active.

7/29/2019 Cdlc Eos7d Af Modes Quickguide

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Zone AF (cont'd)

Best for: Situations whereyou want to concentratefocus on the area of theviewnder where youexpect to place yourprimary subject.

Not recommended for: Situations where you need more

precise control over the point of focus; specically, wheremultiple focus points may cause the camera to focus closerthan you wish.

Manual AF PointManual AF point selectionallows you to pick anyone of the 19 AF pointsto be active, with the restinactive. This forces thecamera to focus upon asmall and precise part

of a subject or scene. A single AF point, visible in black

(or illuminated red) clearly indicates where the camera islooking to focus.

Best for: Selective focus on a small area such as asubjects eye or a subject that has a foreground object suchas a fence or archway in front of it.

Not recommended for: Situations where subject orcamera movement will make it difcult to maintain aspecic point of focus. In these situations AF PointExpansion may be a better option.

AF Point ExpansionAF Point Expansion allowsyou to manually select oneAF point to be the primarypoint you want to use. Aslong as there is adequatedetail, the system willconcentrate focus onthe one point you haveselected.

If for any reason thesystem point loses sightof the subject or cantnd sufcient detail, it will

automatically activative

the surrounding AF points. The number and location ofsurrounding AF points will vary depending upon whichAF point you manually selected. There is no way to addor subtract the surrounding AF points.The viewnder will,however, display the expanded points: During selection andshooting your primary AF point will appear as a standardAF box. The expanded points will have the standard AFbox and a smaller spot AF box within it.

AF Point Expansion will work the same way whether

youre shooting a stationary subject in One-Shot AF Modeor tracking a moving subject in AI Servo AF.

Best for: Situations where you want to limit focus to aspecic point but also allow the AF system to automaticallyexpand that point if its unable to achieve focus. This modeis particularly useful for sports photography and othermoving subjects, especially if youre concerned that thesingle AF point you selected may pick up plain, solid areasof a players uniform, a blank wall, open sky, and so on.

Spot AF PointAs with Manual AF

Point Selection, youselect any one of the19 AF points to bethe active point offocus. The differenceis that the AF point is

smaller and more concentrated. This allows you to readan even smaller area of the subject and focus even moreprecisely on one particular element in a scene. When SpotAF is active, a small secondary box appears inside of yourmanually-selected AF point. You will see a box within abox in the viewnder.

Keep in mind that although the AF point size is reduced

as compared to ordinary Manual AF point selection, theactual area is larger than the inner box. Allow for this factwhen composing and shooting.

Best for: Pin-point focus upon a tiny area of a scene,particularly when neither the camera nor the subjectare in motion. Spot AF is particularly useful for macrophotography of three-dimensional subjects, where depth-of-eld can be extremely shallow.

Not recommended for: Moving subjects where it may bedifcult to keep the AF point placed on an area of adequatecontrast and detail.

Enabling or Disabling AF Selection Mode OptionsThe factory default setting is to have AF Point Expansionmode and Spot AF mode disabled and not selectable. Toenable or disable any of the AF point selection modes:

1. Navigate to Custom Function III-6 (Select AF areaselec. mode) on your EOS 7D.

2. Press the Set Button to move the orangehighlighting from the number 6 at the top rightcorner down to the Disable-Enable-Register row.

3. Turn the Quick Control Dial to highlight Register.Press the Set Button to select Register.

4. Turn the Quick Control Dial to scroll through theoptions. If an option is un-checked, press the SetButton to display a checkmark. If an option has acheckmark, pressing the Set Button will uncheck it.

5. Scroll to the word Apply. When Apply ishighlighted in orange, press the Set Button.

6. The highlighting will immediately move to the wordEnable. Press the Set Button one last time tolock-in your choices.

How to activate the AF point selection mode of yourchoice using the viewnder:

1. Press the rearAF Point Selection Button. Theavailable focus points will illuminate.

2. Tap the M.Fn Button to cycle through the availablemodes. They will appear in green at the bottom ofthe viewnder. You will see only the modes youhave previously enabled via Custom Function III-6.

3. When you see the mode of your choice, tap theShutter Button to select it.

How to choose the AF point or zone of your choiceusing the viewnder:

1. Press the AF Point Selection Button. The availablefocus points will illuminate.

2. Using either the Main Dial on the front or theQuick ControllerorMulti-controlleron the rear,move the AF point (or zone) to where you want it.

3. Tap the shutter button half-way to register the pointor zone youve chosen.