Canon R7 - Autofocus Setup and Button Layout for Wildlife Photography

[@markwiemels]

How on earth does your channel only have 1.8k subs. Just keep publishing, your preparation style, and information, is excellent.

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks. 5 Months in on the channel; so hopefully it will gain traction. I love making the videos and the community has been great :) Oh an I've watched some of you videos also and subscribed. Very good channel :)

[@chriswitterick5560]

I've had the R7 for months now and I would still be scratching my head if it weren't for your excellent tutorial. Can't thank you enough.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful

[@robertstrickland1979]

a great video for setup as i just got my R7, i would be lost without this video.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful

[@PeteGottfried]

Just wanted to thank you for this video. Retired for a little over a year, I bought a Rebel T7 to reteach myself as I hadn't picked up an SLR since high school and college. A month ago I bought a Tamron 150-600 and now just upgraded my body to an R7 five days ago. I watched this video (I like shooting birds), set up my camera, and took it for a trial run. Wow! I was so excited with the results from this outing. I can't wait to get back out. Thanks again!

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful !

[@augusteelder6483]

This has been the most effective and helpful settings-management tutorial. Thank you. A game changer.

[@WILDALASKA]

Great to hear!

[@matthewbrookes8561]

Thank you .... excellent tutorial, especially for people like me, for whom the R7 is our first mirrorless camera. Your tutorial has saved me literally days 🙂👍

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@julieoates2825]

I got my R7 and RF100-500mm lens yesterday and was so pleased to find your Channel this morning. It's really helped me get set up as this is the first Canon camera I have owned, and everything is very unfamiliar. Appreciate your no nonsense style, and so glad to hear you mention the wonderful Duade Paton. You both have a very easy style in your presentations. Thankyou :)

[@WILDALASKA]

Congrats on your new setup. You will enjoy it immensely.

[@christophersteele2531]

Best video for explaining the settings on the Canon so far. Thank you!

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cathco9]

Thank you very much! I was already using BBF and Animal Eye AF. Changing the M-fn to tracking is a great deal. Done! Changing the AF Point button to Direct AF area selection is a great idea. Done! Your tutorials are easy to follow along with because you take your time and speak at an easy pace. I purchased my R7 on release day but haven't used it much at all. Tough to put the R5 down but I really want to get to know this camera too. I'm new to your channel. I'm going to watch your other videos on the R7. Glad you came up on my feed. 🙂

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad you found the channel and if there's any questions you have or things you want to see or curious about leave me a comment. Ya my R5 is still king, but the R7 is so fun to use and has a place in the toolkit for range, fps, etc. Hope you enjoy the other content.

[@finnritslev4559]

I have watched many of the other KZbin videos with AF settings of R5/R6 - I have an R6 and mainly do birds - and just ordered an R7 as no. 29 in the queue.:-) Your presentation of the Canon R3/R5/R6/R7 AF is absolutely one of the best. I like how you explain WHY you do what you do. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED,

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks

[@jereXIX]

Thanks for this! Just took my R7 out for the first time yesterday and am already getting some great shots. Your vids are a huge help.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad to help and great to hear !

[@georgemccormick1247]

Don’t think five fingers will be enough, I’ve scheduled a sixth finger implant but seriously loved the video. Still waiting for my R7 but these settings will help me greatly. Looking forward to your line by line setup. Thanks again.❤

[@WILDALASKA]

Coming soon!

[@susanfirth2279]

I just picked up my new R7 yesterday so this was great timing. I will be watching this again with my camera in hand. Very helpful and informative.

[@WILDALASKA]

Great to hear!

[@ianslingsby3415]

Thank you this helped me a lot I used your tutorial to set up my new R7 and got me out in the field faster then trying to work through the manual.

[@WILDALASKA]

Great to hear!

[@TimWillinghamRatz]

Great instructions! Just got my R7 today and this was a huge help getting me started!

[@WILDALASKA]

Great to hear!

[@lanep4322]

Excellent info. My R7 will be here soon and I can already see getting the ideal menus settings in place for wildlife could be a little challenging. This helps enormously.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad to help!

[@thomasmcnaule7598]

This video really helped me when I got this camera. The only minor change I made was leaving iso on auto and using the back dial for exposure compensation. I hope your channel continues to grow as your content is really helpful and entertaining. Cheers!

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it helped. Just meant to be a base and then you mutate it to your style which I like. Once you can get into the full manual mode the better. you can experiment with light more. EVF makes it much easier. Its just hair ore control im my experience. I used to shoot the Auto ISO and exposure comp on DSLR and took me awhile to move full manual. But very happy since.

[@gaylinlyons6534]

Easy to follow. I have setup my R7 this way and am off to practise, practise, practise…. Thank you!!!

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it helped!

[@zachmoore4411]

This video was incredibly helpful setting up my r7. Much appreciated!

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful

[@steveherman1283]

I just got R7, I will try this setup. Thanks much for posting!

[@WILDALASKA]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@dangold2595]

Great info, I set up my R7 for birds from this video. Excellent teaching style you have 🎉

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it helped

[@fritsscholtenhzn6268]

Thank for the R7 videos. 7dmk2 and 90D are in my dry cabinet. Look out to R 7. Like I going back to school. Also working with Sony. So my brain training a lot. Wildlife is the big part of pics. Greetings from Thailand, here I live in a retired position

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks for sharing

[@FrankSD76]

Thanks! Excellent explanation of settings for bird photography.

[@WILDALASKA]

Thank You !

[@norbertbarics]

Great video, I'll get back to these settings when I'll order my R7!

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks.

[@MyWetNose]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It's always helpful to have a base starting point for a new camera setup.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Harry-tm2bt]

Just got my camera at last, set it up like your tutorial shows and just loving it. Many thanks.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad to help

[@MaryarenaSalyarena]

My favorite review and reviewer! I have heard this video many times until I had everything clear! Now to practice with my new R7. I can see that you really have used this camera and I appreciate your help. Looking forward for your Full Review and All Settings video. Love your humble approach and openness. God bless!

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks. That means a lot. The R7 is a fun and easy camera to use and the results are extremely good. Ive been using my R7 about 80% of the time and the times I use the R5 lately have been because it had the right lens already attached ;) Ill be shooting the full settings video here in a couple weeks. so hopefully by the end of the month ro first of August it will be out.

[@wasil3k]

I just bought R7 recently, it's my 1st mirrorless cam, im gonna try Your settings for start, I think it will change over time, but now ill try Yours :) Thanks for Video !

[@WILDALASKA]

👍

[@OwlwatchOrg]

Thanks for taking the time to share. Love my R7 (I own 2), one In keep a 800F11 with 1.4x, the other with EF100-400 with a 1.4x

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks for sharing!

[@SarahMBernier]

Thank you thank you! I’ve been SO frustrated trying to figure the focus out on this camera-jumped up from the 7D Mark II and was overwhelmed.

[@WILDALASKA]

glad it was helpful

[@vacuumandgaspressurecoexisting]

Very helpful and easy to understand. Been using the camera a couple of days now as my first system camera and this is one of those things i struggled figuring out. You desevere a heck of a lot more subscribers.

[@WILDALASKA]

its a new channel. if you build it they will come :0 Thanks for the compliment,.

[@naturebites5974]

Great video! I love the video, I have watched it several times. As a result, I love this camera and I am getting good results. Thank you.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PhilThach]

That's a nice setup. I have mine set up a lot like that with full-screen focus on the main focus button and single point on the *. I think I may try Auto in the case settings area and see how that goes. Thanks!

[@WILDALASKA]

Decoupling the subject tracking was the main find for me. So I could get the single point correctly. And loved you macro spider pics in your last video ;)

[@PhilThach]

@@WILDALASKA I think when I do sports photography I will turn the tracking back on but for wildlife I definitely want my single point to be a single point and stay a single point. Lol

[@WILDALASKA]

@@PhilThach agree

[@melissamelville9558]

Thank you so much for this. I have been struggling with getting this camera dialed in big time.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad I could help!

[@darkbidding]

A bit of a different method: I watched a video where a guy setup two back buttons, BOTH as ‘Metering and AF Start’, but each with completely different settings. He did as you did and uncoupled AF Start from the 1/2 shutter button press, but then assigned Metering and AF Start to both the AF-ON button AND the * (asterisk) button. When he was setting the custom button choices, while Metering and AF Start was highlighted in blue, he hit ‘INFO’ and up popped a whole list of settings, so that the AF-ON button had completely different settings than the asterisk button, making both different variations of the same function. In this Info menu for the button assignment, he was able to specify: Servo AF characteristics; AF operation; AF area; Subject tracking; Subject to detect; Spot detection; and Eye detection. I thought this was honestly kind of a game changer. Here’s his video (he starts talking about it at 1:03:10): kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKvFY4GJr7x_qZY

[@WILDALASKA]

lot of cool setups out there. thats what makes these camera so nice

[@imzaazmi]

Tqvm for this tutorial sir..I follow your setting its really help..I m a Happy man now dancing in the wood with R7 ... yeahhhh!!!!

[@WILDALASKA]

glad it was helpful

[@Harry-tm2bt]

Fantastic, waiting for mine to arrive and this video is a great learning start. Thank you

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mikex3909]

Very detailed and concise. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I just got the camera today and have it set up like my r5, which resulted in a few head scratchers. I’ll give your settings a try over the next few days. Great presentation.

[@WILDALASKA]

the subject detect being on is what is probably messing you up vs your R5. That's why I turned it of and then set a button for on and off for it.

[@panfilomarinucci4788]

Thanks for your great videos on the R7! I got mine today and was working on setting it to work like my R5 and this hit the nail right on the head! Great job! The R7 seems to be a really good camera and great value at the price point.

[@WILDALASKA]

Great to hear!

[@jesusrr8536]

Un

[@shaggydog789]

Incredible video! Easily the best one out there :) One thing i'm confused about is the difference between subject detect and eye detect. Does subject detect use eye detection? Is using eye detect back button focussing the same as using subject detect with eye detect? If I've got a back button eye detect focus, why do i need it turned on in the main settings menu? Shouldn't this be turned off like subject detection? Again amazing video, subscribed so I i can learn more 🎉

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad the video was helpful. Subject detect says what type..animal, car, person, etc. Eye detect adds to subject by looking for an eye. you base af is single point in this setup and the eye detect af-on button overrides the assigned in menu single point. just follow the set up and watch this video here to see how I use this setup in the field ---- kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWqrlYZuZtejbac

[@timparkinson372]

Great video. Just got an R7 and this is super helpful.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad to hear it!

[@williambakkernl]

Great video with good suggestions! This is probably the first thing I'm going to try when my R7 arrives this Sunday, can't wait!

[@WILDALASKA]

Awesome. Its very customizable. So my suggestion set it up them mutate the process to suit your shooting methods :) and thanks

[@yanpetit]

Thanks, very helpful. You are very knowledgeable.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@julianlo2635]

Thank you so much on such an excellent talk! Highly appreciated. I was having trouble in getting the 15 fps/30 fps setting, and was able to sort out, just turning the electronic shutter ON. Will follow you autofocus set up and happy wildlife Photography, man!

[@WILDALASKA]

glad it helped.

[@natrajdigitals721]

Well explained in detail and very useful in the field

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad you liked it

[@stephenthompson1998]

Just got R10 and this video helps a lot as I was a bit lost after using a Sony camera

[@WILDALASKA]

Very cool. Go check out the Full R10 set up video also ---->. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpOlhKWPgdubpJI

[@lindastt]

Wow! Thank you so much. This is a great video. I have the R5 and use a similar BB focus. I do not have my R7 yet so keep reading comments and looking at videos so I will be ready to set it up. I knew the focus system was a little different and you explained and showed everything so well. When my R7 arrives, I will be up and running quickly. Thanks again!

[@WILDALASKA]

Awesome, thank you!

[@CrisURace]

thank you very much, i just got the camera and i'm new to mirrorless. Amazing tech!!!!!!

[@WILDALASKA]

Great to hear!

[@kasetia21]

Wow ... Great video with simple yet detailed explanation. I just subscribe and find the content is so valuable. Many thanks for sharing.

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks and welcome

[@deannasauntry3065]

I'm very new to mirrorless (and really anything better than my Rebel T5i haha), so I felt so overwhelmed with the customization of the buttons!!! (SO many buttons!) Thank you for showing your setup for the R7! It'll probably take me a while to get used to this system, but I really like the shortcuts you set up for working with the AF! I'm assuming it's mostly muscle memory to get used to this setup as well...so lots of practice is needed on my part. Great video and I'm looking forward to watching more on the R7! :)

[@WILDALASKA]

Welcome to the world of mirrorless. At first the EVF will aggravate you, but once you get used to it, it will be your best friend. Ability to see all your setting, histogram, and exposure is amazing.

[@nsbhagwat]

Thanks for the video. I am waiting for my R7 and this video definitely helps.

[@WILDALASKA]

awesome. Fingers crossed n the camera availability.

[@matthewbell1968]

Excellent, top drawer explanation which I'll use when.... My r7 arrives!! Thank you, subscribed 👍

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was useful. And thanks

[@jeffolson4731]

Great video. I get mine early next week and I will use your setup as a starting point.

[@WILDALASKA]

Very cool.

[@jeffolson4731]

@@WILDALASKA I just got my camera and set it up like you have it. I am going to let the batteries charge a little then go test it out. Thanks for the great video!

[@craigcarlson4022]

Hey, (I've never caught your name, so...) Mr. Wild Alaska, I need to send you a huge shout out for your channel and the advice you've provided. Thanks in part to you i gave the R7 a second look. I was able to actually operate one when a Canon rep brought one to a local store. And as you'd shared in another video, (but many others had poo-poo'd) the viewfinder is just fine, not great, but still fine. And that combo focus position stick and exposure comp dial are also quite useable. Maybe not with gloves on, but otherwise, fine. Bought the camera last week and am hear learning how to set it up for bird photography. Also need to thank you for your review of the Small Rig carbon travel tripod. I got rid of two smaller tripods i never enjoyed using and replaced them with that Small Rig kit. Well worth what they charge for it. Many thanks! Craig

[@WILDALASKA]

Awesome. Glad to hear that the vids are useful. Best regards, Scott

[@Bambi851]

Excellent video, really clear and helpful. Thanks

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@KevinNordstrom]

I was set on saving for the R5 for a while. Then I thought about waiting and waiting for the R1.....but thank you for affirming with your test videos so far about my confidence and confirmation in the purchase last night of the R7 for wildlife. I have the sigma 150-600 and saving for the the 100-500. Can't wait for it to arrive to replace my RP with its 5 fps to jump to 15fps and great auto focus of the R7. Sure there will be more noise than fullframe but nothing post processing won't fix and to be honest I enjoy the art of editing photos anyways.

[@WILDALASKA]

Very cool, And its looking like the R1 may not be out even in 2023 :(

[@martacody8059]

Thanks so much! This was a great video. I followed all of your settings but am also trying out changing ISO to the up button on the D pad and then using the wheel to change ISO. Will try it out more extensively in the field as well as your other settings. I’m looking forward to your future videos as I find them very applicable to how I will be using the camera. Coming from an 80D I’m new to mirrorless so your information has been invaluable.

[@WILDALASKA]

Great to hear!

[@aurora64blue47]

I am have just recently purchased the Canon R7 and am in the process of setting up the camera. Very good tutorial. I may have missed an important point, however, so I need to ask. What mode does the camera need to be in, in order to make these adjustments. In one of your other set up videos you started the video by stating that the camera must be in "Manual mode". Thanks for the help!

[@WILDALASKA]

MANUAL

[@thebelly925]

Excellent work! Thank you so much for this!!!

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad you liked it!

[@jaheuk]

Great video! Get me started real quick, however I miss the next steps: HOW to tackle the buttons when you are in the field seeing a flying bird, a slow moving one or a one that sits?

[@WILDALASKA]

Here ya go ---> kzbin.info/www/bejne/np_VqWyef8h4Z7s

[@kaiulanirees3779]

I appreciate these videos… they are very helpful!

[@WILDALASKA]

I'm so glad!

[@lbeetech]

I really like the vibe of your channel...subscribed!

[@WILDALASKA]

Yay! Thank you!

[@MrElldee200]

Thank you for your in depth video in setting up R7. I hoping when I go to the which is a stones throw from my house...Will pratice Birds in flight which ive only just starting to do. Wish me luck... Thank you again. Lori

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Chris_Wolfgram]

Exactly what I was looking for ! 🙂 I just used this on “both” of my R7’s. Recently I had a couple situations where my R7 just did not want to get between the branches and foliage and find the eye of my bird…. But I had no way to use spot focus, and find it myself ☹️ Now I do 🙂 TYSM 👍 Already subscribed.

[@WILDALASKA]

very cool

[@lynetteupchurch4382]

Love your tutorials. Life saver!

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad you like them!

[@philclancaster]

thanks, I've pre-ordered and can't wait to get it having seen your videos

[@WILDALASKA]

Awesome, thank you!

[@martint.evansmd1076]

Thanks for the prompt reply. As an owner of both the R5 & (as of today) the R7, your common sense approach to custom buttons is wonderful. While there are many videos on how to set up the R5, your logical approach on the set ups would be welcomed by many. The R7 set up but it is obviously different than what is available on the R5. You referenced this in your R7 comments. My point is that it would be helpful to make them similar in custom buttons but I cannot fully get there mostly because of some limitations in the R5 with the tracking. How do you adjust between the 2 with one as a primary and the second as a back up.

[@WILDALASKA]

Grats on the R5-great camera. My back button are pretty much same just a little more spread apart. af-on is eye AF and * is single point. The muscle memory part is ISO. on R5 its the default dial and on R7 its the dial at the joystick. Ill make a how do I use the camera in field video this weekend hopefully. Im getting more comments about it as well as as SHOOT MANUAL video ;).

[@bluesbrother928]

Thank you so much for your time to create those Videos. I just came back from Ecuador and I am disappointed with the focus performance of my bird shots on the 5d iv. Hit rate 10 to 30 %. I was thinking to switch the body before the trip to r5 but could not convince myself to spent so much money. Luckily i stumbled over your channel and i think now i am ready to make the switch back to crop body with the r7. Subscribed. And keep the content coming.

[@WILDALASKA]

The mirrorless systems autofocus (all brands) will change the way you shoot when moving over from DSLR. R7 would be a good choice to dip your toes in.

[@crbhagwat]

Thank you very much sir, yesterday only I received my R7+ RF 100-500 mm. Then I immediately set it as per your instructions, it works great. But I think it will take little longer to get my muscle memory to develop and work faster. Thank you very much. L would to love to go through your entire menu settings video I wish you Merry x'mas.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it helped

[@djwaveshark]

mmmm very interesting config. So easy to remember. I do a test this weekend.... Thx.

[@WILDALASKA]

Did it work?

[@mteeggers1177]

Thank you for doing this!! picking one up today coming from a 90D looking forward to trying your settings on the R7

[@WILDALASKA]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@PeteQuad]

This was great. I had most of my settings in already but you gave me several improvements and ideas. I might have an idea for a potential improvement to one of your suggestions which I will be trying out in the field. Instead of pressing the Q button to then toggle between auto focus areas, you can actually set a top press of the D pad itself as a direct toggle between the auto focus areas. So you literally just hit up on the D pad and it will toggle between spot and area. The D pad still seems to function as normal in other uses.

[@WILDALASKA]

my autofocus areas are on the remap of the focus points button below the star button. the q button only has the drive modes h and h+. but I like the d pad suggestion. very clever approach.

[@PeteQuad]

@@WILDALASKA Oh right, I forgot I did that opposite of you. Great to see the different methods.

[@cathco9]

@@WILDALASKA I'm using my DOF preview button to cycle through drive modes. Set my R5 up this way too. I've never used the DOF preview button for what it was set for.

[@WILDALASKA]

@@cathco9 that's what is great about all the mirrorless camera's. The ability to custom set up the camera. Greta idea as I don't use the DOF button either.

[@buckshotshots]

Thanks for all your efforts concerning the R7 (watch most of them at least twice ). Now all I need is my R7 to arrive (uk) the suspense is killing me grrr! A video about any help you can give using the R7 with a sigma 150-600 mm lens would help me no end as have found other vlogers talking about the combo but less than helpful on minimulizing the shortfalls . Keep up the good work Paul

[@WILDALASKA]

Duade Paton did a video on the Sigma lens. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp3Qm3ZmbNtrr6s The Tamron I reviewed in the prior video I reviewed is very similar in performance also.

[@RedmilesShark]

The only difference between RAW and C-RAW is the fact that shadows can have lost some data. Raising the exposure by 4 or 5 stops in C-RAW can show some artifacts where it would be less or nonexistent on RAW. But that's mainly a problem in a very high contrast scenarios or the end-user borking the exposure all-together. Which is quite impressive when using an EVF.

[@WILDALASKA]

👍

[@alcosound]

Thanks for the explanation of the AF/button set-up. I am still trying to find a good customization that doesn't depart too far from my dSLRs (which run mostly unmodified), and all these customizations are proving a headache...

[@WILDALASKA]

👍

[@dmvdl1880]

Thank you for cycling through all the menu pages step by step. I copied your setup into my custom3. I switched some places if the buttons and since I do not use video I placed the M-fn button on that one. I have put the EV+\- there to dial through it when I need it. I also left Iso on Iso. So I can control exposure with those two quite fast.

[@WILDALASKA]

Nice work!

[@tonyc1437]

G’day Wild Alaska I just want to mirror all the other fine comments about your tutorial style and information. Brilliant thankyou I have used eos 7D mk1 and more recently 5D MkIV both adequate ef mount cameras. The R7 is my first foray into mirrorless and animal/eye tracking. A considerable stumbling block for me was investment in ef long fast lenses, (would they work) I’m pleased to report they all work seamlessly even f4 500mm. With your information I’m so much better off again - no need to reinvent the wheel. Thanks again. I’m looking forward to your complete settings video.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it was helpful. And yes the Ef 500 F4 works great. Its my main lens

[@tonyc1437]

@@WILDALASKA well then that’s great I’m pleased I made the purchase of the R7 and happened by your video. All the best for the festive season.

[@djwaveshark]

Fantastic explanation about custom modes. Waiting for stock here in spain

[@WILDALASKA]

fingers crossed

[@johngalea2285]

There was one item that confused me for a bit, after I figured it out it was obvious, but the quick menu is ONLY visible in the view finder not on the back screen. Again, super helpful video thank you.

[@WILDALASKA]

yes. I set that as I don't want to move my eye from the viewfinder if I need to change the quick menu. My final r7 setup I don't use that anymore though

[@josephjackson7351]

Great video, Thank you. I am still waiting for myR7 in Australia, but I will be watching and setting my camera to some of your settings When I receive it, I have been used to double BBF on the 7D2 , but it seems like the R7 is a very customisable beast. I definitely intend setting something on the Depth of field button at the front of the camera, I had a Panasonic lumix G9 And I had the DOF button set to start video on that, and it worked great, I am maybe thinking of setting that button to start Tracking. Anyway again a great video, great presentation, I look forward to seeing some more of your splendid work.👍

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks. There re still a lot of buttons I didn't assign anything to. so there's more customization to be had. All the mirrorless systems Sony, Nikon, and canon all have this ability. Makes it nice to have "your" setup on your camera and not forced into one way of using your camera

[@debrafoster7998]

Thanks for your videos on the R7. I was wondering if you'd made any changes to your setup in the subsequent months.

[@WILDALASKA]

I made a later video on the setup. It's pretty close to the original. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3aZmqymZpufmJY

[@debrafoster7998]

That's great- thank you! @@WILDALASKA

[@Anxiouslydisengaged]

Quick question. What's the purpose of the subject-tracking? I've noticed that subject-tracking doesn't *also* put the subject in focus, so what is it's primary function? I find that I more often just default to the AF-ON button we've used or the manual AF area. Thanks for the video. I have been using this for several weeks now and it's great.

[@WILDALASKA]

Subject tracking when af is n to engaged shows you with the grey box where it sees the focus will go. Also if you are hitting any autofocus method it will focus on the subject detected close to the method selected or within the box type selected. Its off 99% of the time for me

[@gillianainslie521]

Enjoy your video, especially now I know the R7 camera a bit better. Have you done a video on the best & quickest way to change exposure compensation in Manual (or Fv, if better) mode on the R7?

[@WILDALASKA]

yes use manual AV,TV, and ISO. Get out of auto mode :) Have the histogram in your viewfinder and watch the exposure change in realtime and compare that against the histogram for blown out highlights or shadows and your good :)

[@timothyconner3474]

Excellent video A great help thanks

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad it helped

[@susangingras6721]

This was great, I've been so frustrated trying to get the settings correct

[@WILDALASKA]

glad it was helpful

[@dancampeau1963]

The R7 is powerful and doesn't get a lot of respect. I don't care about rolling shutter. I use EFC all the time. I am using a Canon 100-400mm RF lens, and birds don't care about noise from 400m away. I crop in post and still get sharp pics.

[@WILDALASKA]

👍

[@soak000]

Really like your clear cut videos. I do have a question. I have mine set nearly identical to yours, but what I am understanding is that even with subject tracking, focus must be acquired first. Once the subject is tracked, let's say a bird is flying towards camera and away from camera, I still have to keep focusing with AI Servo (BBF or half shutter). Is that correct assumption? Because with subject tracking, if something is not in focus, it allows only to track and be able to focus quickly when a subject is in motion. Is that correct?

[@WILDALASKA]

this video shows how I use it in the field. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWqrlYZuZtejbac

[@jeromedufresne8096]

Thank you for your detailed video. Do you note important rolling shutter issue with the R7? I own an EOS R and I have a lot of rolling shutter issue. Thank you.

[@WILDALASKA]

It exists but when your getting 70 shots you ay see 10 or with issues on erratic movement subjects. Easy to get around

[@johngalea2285]

Totally awesome video

[@WILDALASKA]

thx

[@ianwaldren6352]

Ian Waldren Thanks for the the advice, very useful. My unit has just arrived but cannot use it until the adapter also arrives. Your set up is generally similar to what I have used on my 7D ii's and should suit me well. The R7 looks very capable but it will have to be treated gently, no way it will put up with the punishment in the field my 7d's have been subject to. Would have preferred to pay more for professional build quality like the 7D2.

[@WILDALASKA]

Of course and a CFExpress card. But given the price im super happy. It's testing out fairly well. We have to remember they made this for everyone and sadly isn't a true 7D. Hopefully in the future they will make such a beast again.

[@Geophoto63]

The tutorial is very good, I am considering buying Canon R7 as a second body, I have the Canon R5 but these two cameras are a little different, this camera only has 2 wheels to change the exposure, I am old school and I do everything 100% manual, I have seen other tutorials but this one has impressed me in the way you configure the parameters and the buttons for different functions, you explain everything very well but I did not understand much how all this works in the field? the birds are moving fast and the light is constantly changing, do you use auto ISO for birds in flight and wildlife???? Regard.. and thank you for you Time.

[@WILDALASKA]

I don't use auto iso. I set my shutter and aperture and leave it for the most part and im adjusting the iso on the fly at all times.

[@Geophoto63]

@@WILDALASKA OK, Thank you

[@peterpreisdinslaken1510]

Klasse gemacht gefällt mir außerordentlich gut Best Regards from Germany LG.Pidi

[@WILDALASKA]

Danke

[@phryxe]

Great video, thanks! One thing I didn’t get though was the setting for the star button (Metering and AF start). What settings are there in detail set (info)? Edit: I assume, as you didn’t change anothing there, that these were default settings. I reset what I previous had dabbled with. I’ll see how this works out for me. Thanks again!

[@WILDALASKA]

Just set the * button to execute whatever AF method is set in the menu, which for me is the AF Single Point.

[@mattbrash]

Wild Alaska,try this.....you can set up the buttons to track animal eyes,people eyes and spot focus by selecting "customize buttons" then the button,then "metering and AF start,then in the lower left "Info/detail set." then you can select your case,servo,animal detect,eye detect....I've set up my AF ON button to animal eye detect,the * button to people eye detect and the DOF preview button to Spot Focus....You are far better at this than I am,but I thought you may find this useful

[@WILDALASKA]

that's a cool set up. I mainly just shoot animals but I like the button approach. And I love that we can customize the setups in so many cool ways. thanks !

[@messylaura]

i'm not on the R7 yet, one thing i like to do esp for birds in trees where there are many branches is to switch between servo and one shot the reason for this is i have my M50 set to 5x mag and smallest box when in one shot, this allows me to pick a bird out between the branches alot quicker i'm guess the eye detect in the R7 does alot of that for you though? great video

[@WILDALASKA]

if it can find the eye then yes. but a lot of the time if a bird is amongst branches I just use single point and find a part of the bird which gets me in its focal plane. Then it may find the eye or I just shoot on that focal plane. But I stay in servo.

[@marksharman7097]

Hi, thank you for an excellent video. I have just received my R7 and your set up for the autofocus etc has been a great help. I just watched the video again and have a question. Regarding the "star" button configuration, I still have the small focus area with the 8 surrounding helpers selected, when I attempt to use it I can see the focus area but when I press the "star" button to focus it just reverts back to a single square so not seeing the 8 helpers working, just wondering if I have missed something or have a setting wrong, regards Mark

[@WILDALASKA]

if you hit the star your going to whatever is assigned in the menu for AF area. If you want to 8 point you have to assign it there or use the focus area button to change it.

[@marksharman7097]

@@WILDALASKA thank you for your reply, I thought that’s what I was doing, I have assigned the button below the star as in your video with the exception of the additional 8 point, so when I select that I can see it on the screen and viewfinder but when I use the star button to focus the 8 point changes to just a square, the focus operates but I was expecting to see the 8 helpers searching for focus but in my case they disappears

[@trevorgriffin8375]

Hi WA, loved this video, have assigned customisation as you’ve suggested, all works flawlessly with one exception, on playback my magnification button below the star button will no longer allow me to enlarge my images to check sharpness, is this a glitch or have I done something wrong - any help appreciated. Many thanks and keep up the good work

[@WILDALASKA]

It should work as before as nothing in the setup changed that. You may want to reset the camera back to default and go through the steps again.

[@trevorgriffin8375]

@@WILDALASKA many thanks, I thought exactly that, I will try what you suggest, thanks again, I’m enjoying watching your channel, keep up the good work

[@travislucas7483]

I would be interested is seeing a video of your R5 set up. I mean I have dual back button set up but I would like to see the things your set up differs on.

[@WILDALASKA]

coming very soon. Still making sure I know what everything is doing. Im working on the raw burst first. Its interesting how it works.

[@nwphoto47]

Nice and simple thanks

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks.

[@ockertlombard699]

Thank you very much, it helped a lot in setting up my R7. Just one question please. After setting up the button just below the star button (the one with the blue magnifying glass) to do "Direct AF area selection", I found that when I review my images that the magnification doesn't work anymore. Did I do something wrong? Thanks from the southern tip of Africa (Cape Town)!

[@WILDALASKA]

just use the touch screen and pinch zoom like you do on a phone, etc.

[@ockertlombard699]

@@WILDALASKA Thanks, I will definitely do that.