Camera R1 with lenses having the AF/MF switch.
Does anybody know why pressing the * button, with assigned AF<->MF function, doesn't toggle between AF and MF? It doesnt seem to do anything.
To eliminate possible interdependency with other custom settings I tried this after the factory reset.
I also asked Canon support for help and after a month got an irrelevant answer.
Tried it with the R5II. It didn't work with the RF 135/1.8, but it would switch between AF and MF control with the RF 50/1.8.
I thought it might have been a conflict with allowing electronic MF after AF, or as a BBF user, at any time. So I turned off that setting but it still would not toggle between AF and MF with the RF 135.
As you may know, if you are a back button AF user (BBF) (AF with the shutter release disabled), if in the AF menu you allow electronic MF focus, you can manually focus lenses at any time without having to use the physical AF/MF switch on the lens.
I'm curious what you want to do with this feature because if you're a BBF user, it's kind of an irrelevant setting.
Thanks for reply and confirmation. Im not a BBF user. I opted for the * button as the most convenient for me. Unfortunately, the AF on all cameras, without exception, is unreliable and often fooled by various objects. When a Heron standing still turns the head away the AF will jump from the eye to a black patch on the shoulder or other black spot in the scene. Had Canon developed a good algorithm for the birds body recognition this should never happen. In such a case I need to quickly refocus and instead of fiddling with the lens switch Id like to have it assigned to a button. Both 100-400 and 100-500 lenses dont respond to the AF<->MF settings. It is also impossible to assign a digital cropping to a button. The Movie button cannot be assigned any function or turned off. In video the target acquisition is lethargic. The are many other limitations and nasty surprises. After disappointments with the R5II It is hard to accept them on the flagship camera. Canon is reluctant to admit to them and the UM do not list the important limitations which do not exist on other far less expensive camera.
Just curious---
I have an R5, not an R1, but I downloaded the R1 Manual, & checked all the Button Customization selections, and I didn't see one for switching MF/AF/
What Customization heading is it listed under?
Go -> Customize buttons for shooting -> Select function to assign to see the AF <-> MF option.
Over 1000 page UM neither shows this limitation nor lists the incompatible lenses and Canon support cant/doesnt want to explain why this doesnt work, at least with the lenses that I use. Thats why you can only discover problems and judge the camera after many months of extensive use. Not by reading the UM, testing a borrowed camera for a day or two or watching the comedian-salesmen on the YT. The AF system, since its introduction, has always been a struggle for the manufacturers and users alike. After decades of gradual, small improvements it is still unpredictable and unreliable, even on the top line cameras. Yesterday, during a video the R1 recognized and tracked the bird in the bushes with excellent accuracy, but when the bird came into the open all eight single-shot photo frames were garbage because the AF selected a black stump in front of the bird and clung to it. Another design screw up is the Video button, a total waste. If Canon photo designers talked to the video people they would place the Video button on the front of the cameras left bottom corner, just like it is done on the cinema line, and made it assignable. A non tilting LCD panel with reflective surface, low brightness and resolution is another big problem in the field. Instead Canon provided a 9 MP EVF which is no better than 5 MP in practical use. The battery, once impressive with the dSLRs is adequate, but not impressive any more. The R5 batteries with the letter P designation stand for puny.
VX4321 wrote:
Go -> Customize buttons for shooting -> Select function to assign to see the AF <-> MF option.
Over 1000 page UM neither shows this limitation nor lists the incompatible lenses and Canon support cant/doesnt want to explain why this doesnt work, at least with the lenses that I use. Thats why you can only discover problems and judge the camera after many months of extensive use. Not by reading the UM, testing a borrowed camera for a day or two or watching the comedian-salesmen on the YT. The AF system, since its introduction, has always been a struggle for the manufacturers and users alike. After decades of gradual, small improvements it is still unpredictable and unreliable, even on the top line cameras. Yesterday, during a video the R1 recognized and tracked the bird in the bushes with excellent accuracy, but when the bird came into the open all eight single-shot photo frames were garbage because the AF selected a black stump in front of the bird and clung to it. Another design screw up is the Video button, a total waste. If Canon photo designers talked to the video people they would place the Video button on the front of the cameras left bottom corner, just like it is done on the cinema line, and made it assignable. A non tilting LCD panel with reflective surface, low brightness and resolution is another big problem in the field. Instead Canon provided a 9 MP EVF which is no better than 5 MP in practical use. The battery, once impressive with the dSLRs is adequate, but not impressive any more. The R5 batteries with the letter P designation stand for puny....Show more →
Yeah, well, Canon cameras are so crap aren't they. I guess that's why they outsold Sony & Nickon combined in 2024.
If you are really so unhappy with the camera, why don't you trade it in for a another make and then you can whinge on a different board and leave us Canon folks in peace?
VX4321 wrote:
Go -> Customize buttons for shooting -> Select function to assign to see the AF <-> MF option.
.
I just re-reviewed the Customize Buttons For Shooting, and its Subcategory Options, in the Manual link I provided, and I still don't see any labeled as an AF<>MF option?
What subcategory is it listed under, and what is the exact wording, if may ask?
Even if the figures are not absolutely spot on, I think it is still reasonable to say that Canon have the majority share of the market and out-sell their rivals by a respectable margin.
This is of course merely incidental to my other point, which is that if the OP is so pissed off with his camera, he should think seriously about getting something different.
I guess it's on the "later" models, as it's not on my R5.
My brief Google research seems to indicate that its primary purpose is for use with lenses that don't have an AF / MF switch.
Does it completely" override" a lens AF / MF switch changing it to AF when set to MF, and Vica Vesa?
Doesn't seem to make a lot of sense when you can change it with the lens switch, or use Manual Focus Override, though perhaps it bit faster or more coinvent, I guess?
It's rather pointless to turn this in to another ad-nauseam Canon vs Nikon vs Sony debacle.
All modern I L cameras have a rather steep learning curve just to use them effectively, never mind master them.
It strikes me that that the OP has perhaps made an incorrect assumption as to a camera function and blames the camera company for the function not behaving in accordance with his assumption.
It would likely be similar if with a Nikon or Sony on their perspective forums.
Thank you for the link. Another conversation here on FM a user told me not to complain about Canon because they sold more cameras than other brands but I couldn't find any real world wide sales numbers.
I'm all in on Canon but very disappointed with their RF lenses. Canon started selling the transformative EF 200400 mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4 in May 2013 but have failed to follow up. Many good photographers like the RF100-500 and RF200-800 but Canon should have industry leading innovative products.
Sy Sez wrote:
I guess it's on the "later" models, as it's not on my R5.
My brief Google research seems to indicate that its primary purpose is for use with lenses that don't have an AF / MF switch.
Does it completely" override" a lens AF / MF switch changing it to AF when set to MF, and Vica Vesa?
Doesn't seem to make a lot of sense when you can change it with the lens switch, or use Manual Focus Override, though perhaps it bit faster or more coinvent, I guess?
Well, as a BBF user, I agree this feature does not make sense when you can simply not press a back button for AF and instead simply turn the focusing ring for direct MF, if you have that capability turned on in the AF custom functions.
But OP prefers to have AF on the shutter release, which makes switching to MF a necessity. Their desire for this CF is to be able to do it with a simple no-look button press while shooting, rather than having to feel around, or actually look for, the AF-MF switch on the lens. I can appreciate what they want to do. Unfortunately Canon's designers/engineers have a somewhat different intent with this feature. It seems to only work with 'lower end' RF lenses that do not have a dedicated AF-MF switch, like the 50/1.8, and I assume also the 16/2.8, though I didn't try it.
I'd guess it would be a 'simple' firmware update for this feature to override the AF-MF switch on RF lenses equipped with a dedicated one. But it's another matter of whether Canon actually will do so. OP could send a message requesting this feature change to at least get it on the radar of someone at Canon.
The post is about a specific problem, but as usual the fun boys cant stand reading that their beloved toy is imperfect and rush with an unsolicited advice. Others without the camera, but plenty of spare time ask questions, out of curiosity, and search various sources. Yes, it doesnt make sense when the function works in case of the lens without AF/MF switch, but doesnt with the lenses which has it and showing the option in the camera menu. It even makes less sense asking again why Id like to have it assigned to a button. What else can I say? A typical forum discussion.
Canon has not recovered from the Canon F1 debacle in the last century and became the most conservative and averse to any risks. The new lens mount was a disaster for them and for the customers when Canon reverted to the bayonet mount. The new FD lenses were excellent and are still in high demand among the film makers. Currently all Canon competition is more innovative. I was writing Canon management about the DO technology which they abandoned, but Nikon picked up, and simple things like the Arca Swiss incompatibility of their tripod mounts. Canon implemented the center pinch lens cups 10 years after the competition. Sending messages to Canon it is a waste of time. They seem afraid to pass any criticism to the head office just like all good-news-only ambassadors.
Nobody here has any control over what Canon does. They are only stating the technical info how the AF<->MF works at the moment. I find that the BBF still works well on RF bodies. If that does not meet your needs, then maybe you can find other gear that does.
rscheffler wrote:
Well, as a BBF user, I agree this feature does not make sense when you can simply not press a back button for AF and instead simply turn the focusing ring for direct MF, if you have that capability turned on in the AF custom functions. .
I know it can be somewhat difficult, as it was for me, for some to adopt to AF-ON, BB AF after many years using the Shutter button especially on DSLR's, but with Mirrorless where you can visualize focus it's much more assured.
With my R5, with the AF Point Selection Button configured to scroll through my selected AF Area/Methods, the BB AF ON Button utilizing the selected Method selection, and the AE On * Button assigned to Eye Detection AF when pressed, three buttons close in a horizontal row make things quick & easy.
Mirrorless has also transformed me back to my original SLR pre-Auto-exposure days, as I can now view what the sensor "sees", with a real-time Histogram, so it's pretty much all the way Manual Exposure now.
Sometimes you actually can "Teach an old dog new tricks".
