Selecting the AF Area and AF Point (Viewfinder Shooting)

The number of available AF points, the focusing patterns, and the Area AF frame shape vary by lens. For details, refer to Compatible Lenses and Autofocusing (Viewfinder Shooting).

AF Area Selection Mode

Four AF area selection modes are available. For instructions on choosing a mode, see Selecting the AF Area Selection Mode.

Manual selection:1 pt AF

The camera focuses using a single AF point.

Manual select.:Zone AF

  • The camera focuses in a zone consisting of nine AF points. Subjects are easier to acquire than with 1-point AF.
  • Generally focuses on the nearest subject. Note that any detected faces are given priority in focusing.
  • With [AI Servo AF], focusing continues as long as subjects can be tracked within the zone.

Manual select.:Large Zone AF

  • The AF area is divided into three focusing zones (left, center, and right) for focusing.
  • Subjects are easier to acquire than with Zone AF.
  • Generally focuses on the nearest subject. Note that any detected faces are given priority in focusing.
  • With [AI Servo AF], focusing continues as long as subjects can be tracked within the large zone.

Auto selection AF

  • The Area AF frame (entire AF area) is used to focus.
  • With [One-Shot AF], generally focuses on the nearest subject. Note that any detected faces are given priority in focusing.
  • With [AI Servo AF], focusing continues as long as the Area AF frame can track the subject.

Caution

  • AF points may not track subjects under some shooting conditions when [AI Servo AF] is used with [Manual select.:Zone AF], [Manual select.:Large Zone AF], or [Auto selection AF].
  • Focusing may be difficult when using a peripheral AF point or a wide-angle or telephoto lens. In such a case, use the center AF point or an AF point close to the center.
  • When the AF point(s) light up, part or all of the viewfinder may light up in red, which is a characteristic of AF point display.
  • In low temperatures, the AF point display may be difficult to see or have a slower tracking response due to the nature of the AF point display device (using liquid crystal).

Selecting the AF Area Selection Mode

  1. Press the AF point selection or AF area selection button (Timer 06sec).

  2. Press the AF area selection button.

    • Each time you press the AF area selection button, the AF area selection mode changes.

Note

  • The AF area selection mode can be selected in Creative Zone modes by pressing the AF point selection or AF area selection button, then turning the Main dial dial when [7: AF area selection method] in [Set-up: Custom Functions(C.Fn)] is set to [1:AF area selection→Main Dial] ().

Selecting the AF Point or Zone Manually

  1. Press the AF point selection or AF area selection button (Timer 06sec).

  2. Select an AF point or zone.

    • To select AF points horizontally and vertically, you can turn the Main dial dial and Quick control dial dial, respectively.
    • Turning the Main dial or Quick control dial dial switches zones (or cycles through Zone AF zones) in Zone AF and Large Zone AF modes.

Note

  • When you keep holding down the Quick Control button and turn the Main dial dial, you can select an AF point vertically.

  • The following information is displayed in the viewfinder when you press the AF point selection or AF area selection button.

    • Manual select.:Zone AF, Manual select.:Large Zone AF, Auto selection AF:Area AF
    • Manual selection:1 pt AF: SEL Area (center), SEL AF (off center)

Meaning of Lit or Blinking AF Points

Pressing the AF point selection or AF area selection button lights up the AF points that are cross-type AF points for high-precision autofocusing. The blinking AF points are horizontal-line or vertical-line sensitive.

Shooting Conditions That Make Focusing Difficult

  • Subjects with very low contrast.

    (Example: Blue skies, solid-color flat surfaces, etc.)

  • Subjects in very low light.

  • Strongly backlit or reflective subjects.

    (Example: Cars with highly reflective surfaces, etc.)

  • Near and distant subjects positioned close to an AF point.

    (Example: Animals in cages, etc.)

  • Light source such as dots of light positioned close to an AF point.

    (Example: Night scenes, etc.)

  • Subjects with repetitive patterns.

    (Example: Skyscraper windows, computer keyboards, etc.)

  • Subjects with finer patterns than an AF point.

    (Example: Faces or flowers as small as or smaller than an AF point, etc.)

In such cases, focus in either of the following two ways.

  1. With [One-Shot AF], focus on an object at the same distance as the subject and lock the focus, then recompose the shot ().
  2. Set the lens's focus mode switch to MF and focus manually ().

Note

  • Depending on the subject, focus can be achieved by slightly recomposing the shot and performing AF operation again.