Jasper's R6 Mark II Autofocus Config

I have my camera setup with triple back button autofocus, one button for Eye detection and subject detection (AF-ON button), one for object detection (AE Lock button) and finally a "dumb" single shot spot autofocus (AF point button).

With this configuration, I'm able to go from tracking someone's eye, to a ball in play, to very specific spot with three different buttons for each, I have had this configuration for the last year shooting, events, sports, wildlife and portraits.

Normally, this isn't really possible due to not all buttons having the ability to be configured, but by utilising the ability to configure the "AF-ON button" and "AE Lock button" to "Metering and AF start", using the "Info Detail set." to further make specific adjustments and the "AE Lock button" utilising the options in PINK menu 1.

Please see the below screenshots for the full configuration:

Where to configure the buttons

Shutter button:

Go into the config for the shutter button half-press
Set this button to "Metering start" This turns the shutter button into just a picture taking tool.

AF-ON button:

Go into the config for the "AF-ON button"
Select "Metering and AF start" and go into "INFO Detail set."
Set the details as shown. The idea is that this button is the "clever one" with all the auto eye and subject detections. This allows you to quickly pick out humans and animals and use the eye AF.
Just showing the "Eye detection" set to auto, missed off the above screenshot

AE Lock Button:

Go into the config for the "AE Lock button"
Select "Metering and AF start" and go into "INFO Detail set."
Set the details as shown. The idea is that this button is the "Track this" option with Servo AF set to 2 which is the "Continue to track subjects, ignoring possible obstacles" using the "Spot AF" area. Please note "Eye tracking is set to OFF" This allows you to move this spot over objects and the camera will follow the object.

AF point button:

Go into the config for the "AF point button"
Set this to "Metering and AF start". Please note there's no "INFO Detail set." option here. The options for this button must be set in PINK menu 1
On PINK menu 1, please set as shown. The idea of this button is the "Old but reliable DLSR spot AF" using the basic "ONE SHOT" AF operation and with Subject to detect and Eye detection disabled. This allows you to move the focus point to any location and have the camera focus on just that without any cleverness (or potential for weirdness, dumb but reliable (in my experience of course)).

Multi-function button:

In addition to this, I have the "Multi-function button" set as below:

Go into the config for the "Multi-function button".
Select "Dial function settings" and go into "INFO Detail set.".
Set as shown.

This allows quick changes of:

  • "Drive mode", useful to access quickly to swap between timed shooting for tripod shots and normal speed shooting.
  • "AF area", this will just be for the "AF point button", the dumb spot button. I have found this useful for situations where I was the spot bigger or smaller, bigger is better as you can be less accurate with where you place your spot.
  • "Metering mode", just swapping between "Evaluative" and "Spot" metering, "Evaluative" being a good everyday option and "Spot" being useful for shooting subjects with a bright light behind them.
  • "ISO speed", this is just for switching back to auto ISO quickly.

I think that's pretty much everything for the configuration, although, there's a lot more that can be changed and tweaked.

Servo AF Cases:

As we used different "Servo AF Cases" for the "AF-ON" and "AE Lock" buttons, "Case 1" and "Case 2" respectively, we can customise the cases for those buttons further to fine tune how they behave.

First, head to "PINK 2" and you'll have a list of all of the Cases available, from here you can customise their behaviour.

Example of PINK Menu 2

Pressing the "RATE" button on either "Tracking sensitivity" or "Accel./decel. tracking" allows you to change their behaviour.

Click into Case 1 and set as shown.
Click into Case 2 and set as shown.

Breakdown of "Tracking sensitivity" and "Accel./decel. tracking":

While either option is selected, if "SET" is pressed, the below menus will appear, from here, you can press "INFO" to bring up a detailed explanation of the settings:

Tracking sensitivity setting.

Change the AF response when subjects in focus move away from the AF points in Servo AF mode.

From the Canon INFO page:

  • "- [minus] value: Keep subjects in focus, even if they exit the AF points. Ideal for continuing to track and keep a subject in focus. The lower the value, the longer the same subject is tracked, if it leaves the AF point.
  • + [plus] value: Switch the focus to any new subjects that are detected by AF points. Ideal for switching the focus immediately to new subjects that enter AF points. The higher the value, the faster focus is acquired on a new subject."
Accel./decel. tracking setting.

From the Canon INFO page:

"Change the Servo AF tracking response to subject acceleration, deceleration, or stopping.

  • With 0 [zero), stable focus can be achieved for subjects that do not suddenly accelerate or decelerate.
  • +1 and +2 are suitable for subjects that move suddenly, accelerate, decelerate, or stop. The higher the value, the more closely erratic subjects are tracked. Note that focus may be inconsistent for subjects that move at a relatively constant speed.
  • -1 and -2 are suitable for subjects that move at a relatively constant speed and when focus is inconsistent even when 0 [zero] is set."

By changing the Case settings to the above, I have found the autofocus to be more sticky and predictable in real world situations, as I have "Case 1" set on the "AF-ON" button, which I generally use for portraits and relatively slow subjects, whereas, "AE Lock" is for more high speed and erratic subjects.

Please feel free to adjust these and see what difference this makes for your style of photography!