Canon 7D Mark II Auto Focus - Part 5/5: AF Cases

Subscribe for more videos: www.youtube.co...
Visit my website: www.grantatkins...
Canon’s 7D Mark 2 has a powerful and effective autofocus system, with a comprehensive set of controls and adjustments for setting it up. It shares quite similar menu and setup options to those found on the much more expensive 5D Mark 3, 5DSR and 1DX series cameras.

[@decodingwilderness]

People out there are giving classes for teaching such things, even when such a comprehensive explanation is available for free. Thank you very much .

[@DTime]

Great series! Thanks a lot for explaining all about AF. Just bought a second hand 7Dmk2 for birds and insects, so these videos are very helpful.

[@michaelholton2289]

me too! What lenses are you using?

[@EdWatson-y2w]

All 5 parts contained great and very useful everyday information. One on back button focus would be great too. Thanks again for taking the time to provide very meaningful and easy to follow guides.

[@johnjackson9601]

I just purchased the 7DII and this series of videos on the focus system is excellent. Thank you so much for explaining the autofocus system so clearly and completely.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Appreciate the positive feedback :-)

[@funknick]

I just picked up a lightly used Canon 7D mk2 after birding with a Panasonic G85 and its DfD contrast AF. In less than an hour, I now feel like I understand way more about this new incoming camera body. This series is a great primer and shares a lot of useful workflow tips. Thank you so much for putting in the time and effort to condense a difficult topic into a series of easy to follow videos! Much appreciated!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Totally appreciate you taking time to write, thanks so much!

[@kenmarsh5145]

This is an excellent series, I've learned a great deal about my camera's autofocus functions. Very well done!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks for that feedback and glad it was helpful!

[@jingshelpmaboab]

Thanks, Grant! What an excellent explanation. This series of 5 videos is really helping me understand the features of the 7D Mk II AF and more to the point how I would use them under different circumstances. I'm sure I'll be watching them again (and again)! Lucid, informed and no nonsense - wish more of KZbin could be like this.

[@collincourtois8587]

If only all of our teachers had been this good... Thank you so much!!!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks for the feedback Collin!

[@barrycarter6846]

Grant, now got a 1DX2 and 5D4 and looked at all the main Canon tutorials on these 3 settings. This video is excellent and so precise in your logic and it answers an awful lot of unanswered questions, keep up the good work

[@marinafort9540]

Thanks for creating this series on the auto focus features, it was just what I needed to finally get my head around all the settings and what they all mean. I have even more appreciation of my 7DmkII now!

[@MelanieCoffee]

Thank you! I just purchased a slightly used 7D MKII for concert photography (which is a kind of wildlife, I suppose). Coming from a history of shooting film with an AE-1, and later using Canon T4i - this was very, very helpful in understanding the 7D's AF system! I'm excited to head to the clubs and try out some new settings!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks for watching and glad it was helpful. I never knew the AE-1 but for sure the 7D Mk2 is a strong upgrade on the T4 and I hope you get great results using it 🙂

[@flightscapeaviationphoto]

Among the best tutorial videos on specific bodies on a complex subject... great job Mr Atkinson

[@grantatkinson8108]

Appreciate that very much Mark

[@rudydoyle]

I just upgraded from Canon 7D I to the 7D II. I just watched all 5 videos. Great job, Very informative, and easy to understand. Thanks so much.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks for that feedback!

[@TimHorne]

WOW, this series of videos has been great! I have recently decided to get a 7D M II to go along side my 5D M III. This has been one of the most informative video series on using this range of camera. I plan on using my 5D for landscapes and portraits with wide to normal lenses and the 7D for wildlife and sports with mostly telephoto lenses. I'll be watching these over and over. Thanks again!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Glad the videos have come in useful!

[@TimHorne]

All my life when someone would ask where in the world I would like to visit I would answer "no where in particular". Then, I saw your photography on your website and now how easily you explain these videos. Now I do have a dream destination and that is being able to attend one of your photo safaris. Don't know when I'll be able to do it, but at least I have a dream/goal!

[@grantatkinson8108]

I always find when I am out photographing any kind of wildlife, whether it be a bird in the back garden or something bigger, that photography kind of takes me into the animals world for a little while Tim..so you have excellent cameras for doing that wherever you are :-)

[@romeshilangakoon1]

EXCELLENT SET OF VIDEOS WITH CLEAR EXPLANATIONS TO GET THE BEST OUT OF THE CAMERA FOR WILD LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

[@brianandtarryn]

Very good, thank you. Canon should hire you to do tutorials for them. Your simple but comprehensive style makes sense and certainly opens up the features of the camera. I look forward to future tutorials. It would be great to see you in action giving commentary and explanations as to what you are doing and why you are doing it that way. I have a specific interest in raptors but so far have come short of getting any worthwhile shots of these magnificent creatures in flight. I use a 7d mk ii with a Canon 100-400 IS ii plus 1.4 teleconverter. My camera is now set and I'll try get a few shots of Bald Eagles! Thanks again.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks for the positive feedback. I am still working on adding and expanding the gear video content as my experience with uTube grows. Hope you get some decent shots of the eagles. Usually the hardest thing can be to really get close enough ...cheers

[@brianandtarryn]

Hi Grant, thank you for the reply. I thought I'd give you an update on my eagle shooting trip.. Well, we were out in the cold today and saw a few but all were too far away so we'll have to try again. I discovered something interesting about my kit though that may be of interest to your subscribers who use a tele-converter. I use a Canon Extender EF 1.4x III between my 7D Mk II and my Canon 100 - 400 IS II and wanted to try the "Auto selection 65 point auto focus" but guess what? With the 1.4 extender on, the only auto focus options I have are: Manual select: spot AF; 1 point AF and expand AF area. The other four options are greyed out and can not be selected. When I mount the lens directly to the camera without the tele-converter, I have the choice of all seven options. When I mount a Tamron 150-600, I also have all seven options. This really is quite disappointing as I like the extra reach the 1.4 x extender provides. Cheers.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Hi Brian, thanks for the update..hope you get closer next time. With regard to the extender, I believe that the combination you write of has a max aperture of f8, at which point the 7d2 AF grid is limited to the middle point and a few surrounding...you cannot move the point around either which does limit its usefulness a bit. Only the very latest Canon AF grids are capable of having all AF points active with an f8 max aperture combination, so far the 5Dm4, the 1DX Mark 2 and the 80D.

[@brianandtarryn]

Grant Atkinson Thanks for the explanation. It makes perfect sense now.

[@JoelleVerbrugge]

A million times "Thank you" for these 5 videos about 7 D MkII AF... It helped me a lot !!!

[@niruoak]

All 5 are fantastic videos. Clears nitty gritties of AF on Canon 7D Mk II. Thanks a lot.

[@gilbertallan2852]

Gilbert Allan Clear and concise auto focus settings for the Mark2. which are going to assist greatly on a forthcoming trip to Malawi.

[@Snowcatnz2]

Brian Thankyou thankyou thankyou for this and the others in the 7d mkII AF video series, you make it so easy to understand what was until now a confusing subject. Keep up the great work.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks for that feedback!

[@thejjzzable]

The AF system of the 7D mk2 is very complicated, so this kind of guide is very useful.

[@mikekerry5466]

Just watched all 5 of these videos on the Mk2's auto focus. Very helpful thanks Grant - you make it so clear - keep up the good work.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks for that feedback Mike :-)

[@TimelyAcademy]

Hello Grant, just purchased my Canon 7D MKII and been following your tips on AF. Really helpful, thank you. Malcolm

[@grantatkinson8108]

Very glad to hear that it helps!

[@TimelyAcademy]

Love your work Grant, you are a talented man

[@peterb.7437]

Thank you Grant you certainly helped me understand the AF system of the 7DMKII, I remember I also followed your 7D instructions on bird in flight settings. Until now I used it. I appreciate you. I watched all parts of the videos.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Glad that the information can be useful

[@Speedster2707]

I just finished all 5 of these after I read the 1dx mk II manual (very dry). You make it easier to understand and help bring settings into real life use. Thanks.

[@grantatkinson8108]

+Speedster2707 Thanks for the feedback, and glad the videos helped, what some of those settings do is not always easy to figure out and it can be hard to relate it to one's own work :-).

[@saulmirandaaliaga]

What a great series of videos. Clear, comprehensive and, most of all, very useful. Thanks again, Grant!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Appreciate the feedback :-)

[@flattrackunfiltered2021]

Hands down the best tutorial I have yet seen on the Canon 7D MkII. Great flow of delivery of information. Keep up the good work.

[@pschmoe]

Awesome job Grant. I've had my 7D mkII for a while now, and with your tutorials I can only get better !! Thank you!!

[@BBROPHOTO]

Grant, thank you so much for these videos. I've been using Canon DSLRs for quite a while. I've used the 5D3 quite a bit and was happy with the stock settings as I used it mostly for gigs and concert photography, but coming from the 7D original to the 7D MK II I was pretty overwhelmed when using it for birds in flight! These videos helped me hugely and have made me get better results, with now the knowledge on knowing what settings to use best for different situations. I would consider myself pretty technically good with Canon gear, but their new AF systems are just so advanced!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Good news is that most of the autofocus settings are relevant in setting up the other bodies, once you get the hang of one like the 7d2. Perhaps all the numbers wont be the same but working through it will be - that goes for the 1dx, 1dx Mark 2 and the 5d4, 5dsr

[@BBROPHOTO]

Down the line I plan on moving to the 1DX II, so I really wanted to get to grips with the new style AF system. Thanks again for the really clear videos! Really appreciated

[@hankfoto]

I just went though all 5 of your auto focus and will refer back to from time to time. So Grant I can't thank you enough. May all good things come your way. Hank

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks so much Henry !

[@noselfcontrol]

Fantastic series of videos Grant! I just purchased my 7D MkII recently and this has helped me get my head around the AF system. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Glad it was useful :-)

[@andrewbealing]

Thanks Grant, a very useful set of videos for someone like me who has just got their first long lens (400mm f5.6) to go with my 7dm2 and making early attempts at bird photography.

[@GaetanoZammit]

Grant, Thank you for simplifying the AF system. You educate very well.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Very glad you found it Gaetano!

[@Opeth12341]

Fantastic, Grant! I watched all 5 videos and I feel so much more confident of using this beast of a camera that I bought today

[@grantatkinson8108]

Great to hear Ankur, it has great autofocus and will reward a little careful thought about setup for ones own shooting requirements :-)

[@Opeth12341]

Thank you, Grant! For now, I am going to experiment with your settings, as I feel I will essentially shoot similar subjects, and customize from there on

[@thommysides4616]

I just bought this camera used at a Black Friday sale here in South Africa. It only has a 7,000 shutter count! My wife is going to love this camera. I'm Santa this year.... lol.

[@want2Bleev]

Thank you for your concise and easy to understand explanation on auto focus system. Watched all 5 parts and have better understanding on how to work the settings. I feel I can work my camera faster and take better pictures.

[@alster1152]

Thanks Grant your explanations are very clear and easy to understand.

[@rryounie9646]

Thank you, I enjoyed your information. I have been searching for someone who explains in detail so that one can easily comprehend ... I shoot fast action equine shots. Having just purchased the Canon 7d Mark ii , I was thrilled to find some who held my hand on settings. I am exciting to watch more of your videos .. Again, Thank you !

[@grantatkinson8108]

Glad the video was useful R&R Younie!

[@TheSuperslicks]

Only just got my Canon 7d ll today with sigma 150-600 sport lens, and i am already confident in the menu system, Thank you very much for the great help regards josh

[@jackieboshoff2013]

Thanks for an excellent series Grant. I recently inherited my partner's 7DMrkii from my partner when she upgraded to the R7. It's a huge upgrade for me coming from a 77d. I'm trying to find an article or video regarding the setup for african wildlife (all settings incl case settings). I have found wildlife settings, but they are mostly recommended settings by people in the UK and US applicable to bird photography and BIF. I'm specifically looking for settings based on all African wildlife (not just birds) for conditions in Africa as I am based in South Africa. Do you perhaps have any tips for me or can point me in the right direction? Many thanks

[@grantatkinson8108]

Hi Jackie, the R7 is somewhat similar with most of its setup options to the Canon R6 and Canon R5 so maybe check on Janine Krayers setup guide for that camera and then adapt it where necessary ? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHKrXodsns5oo5I

[@jackieboshoff2013]

@@grantatkinson8108 thanks a stack for getting back to me Grant. That's actually exactly what I did yesterday 😀

[@hughjones13]

Thank you Grant for these video tutorials ! I recently discovered them. Jad my 7D Mk2 for a year and a half and you have made things crystal clear for me ! Thanks again!

[@Smoothblue90]

Excellent video. I have been using the cases. I need to come back and watch this a few more times to get to the point where I understand. I am impressed that you do not stick with the cases and go out on your own.

[@grsiva]

The best explanation online for this topic. Great job! Will help all those who want to know about their 7D Mark II type cameras.

[@carlalock9381]

Love the videos. Thank you so much for your clarity and simple explanations turning a daunting subject into a manageable one. Thank you from a fellow South African.

[@williamhill3751]

Really like how you give great detail with 7D Mark 2. Thank you Grant.

[@vyngrey]

Highly informative and clearly explained. Thank you so much! I am a new owner of a 7D and am excited to get out and photograph some wildlife! These tutorials were very helpful in understanding the many many settings!

[@Hector_F]

Great series! Thank you very much for sharing your experience and knowledge so clearly, concise and coherently. I am new in photography, I am still studying and still don’t have a camera, but I am able to understand all, plus English is not my mother tongue. Great video!! Thank you!!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Thanks for the feedback Hector :-)

[@jamesnoon7989]

Hi Grant, Thank you very much for this informative series of Videos on The 7D mkii. I just un-boxed mine yesterday and your videos were a great help in getting me setup for wildlife. I'm looking forward to getting out there with my new setup.

[@CinchSK]

Excellent video/explanation of the 7D2 AF cases. Thanks for all the helpful information!

[@ottokite]

Thank you! At last I understand how the AF case settings work. Ingenious idea to add them to the My Menu too. All that is needed is to put this into practice. I'm off to a Canon sponsored wildlife shoot at a local wildlife park today so apt timing. Thanks again. :)

[@grantatkinson8108]

Great to hear, and thanks for letting me know. Hope you have good results on our outing :-)

[@smalltalk.productions9977]

thank you for the effort and the sharing. for me, this info is very helpful and relevant. though nearly 4yrs old, as a new 7DMk2 user, i really appreciate this series of vids. thumbs up.

[@jeffreyriggs1911]

Thank you very much. I have had my 7dm2 and with the advanced AF over my old t2i... I just havent felt great about the switch. Your explanations, when and where to use and why has really made things come to light. Cant wait to get out and click away on the U11 soccer team!!!!!

[@rmrumph]

Thank you! I'm new to this camera and feeling less overwhelmed after seeing this series.

[@davet3530]

Excellent explanation Grant and a great tip to place the settings on My Menu. It supplements your other videos very well. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to other videos in the future.

[@pppabcdef]

Lovely video, I recently purchased a 7D Mark 2 and have been trying to get a clear understanding of these three settings, this video has cleared most of them, thank you so much- Praveen

[@grantatkinson8108]

+Praveen Purohit thanks for the feedback and glad the video helped!

[@mrclean28h]

I am enjoying your tutorial alot as I get use to my new 7D MK II. I hope to see a video showing the practial use and the changing of the settings

[@surajdeen7531]

Just got hold of the Canon Mark II, Thank you for all the videos. Very helpful.

[@bossman10011]

Thank you so much, clearly explained. Just what I needed to help get use to the focus system of my used 7D Mark II.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Glad it was helpful, its still a good piece of gear and we still own and use one :-)

[@odarrien]

Thank you for these videos. I should be getting my 7Dmii this week and this series was a really good prep for that is I’m coming from the 200D which has far fewer features.

[@Splinter5k]

great explanation! im an amateur bird photographer and understanding this will definitely help!

[@pjkdiver]

just watched the 7d mkii autofocus series.....wow, just fantastic!

[@B4MBI72]

Great set of guides, my 7d mk2 arrives tomorrow and I already feel I understand these settings.

[@sizefive]

Very helpful. Just got the camera last month. moved up from the 7D.

[@marianwhitcomb7518]

Grant, Thank you SO much...I feel with this camera like one of those jet pilots who crashed the plane because there were too many darn buttons!

[@p82d]

Fantastic, this is just what I wanted to see and get a grasp on! Thanks so much for the clear and concise explanations - setting up the tracking controls in custom menu right away!

[@chuckyzzz]

Very good series 1 to 5. Thanks

[@4586johnc]

Excellent series on the Canon 7D Mk2. Thank You!

[@pratik99916]

Nothing for long time! Please continue making informative videos, same as your previous on 7d II.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Hi Pratik, I am still in the busy part of my wildlife guiding time, so will be hoping to get some new videos online from December onwards :-)

[@jmccous]

Thank you for valuable information and insight on the 7D Mark II.

[@georgea.6738]

Excellent presentation and clear tutorial.Thanks.

[@grantatkinson8108]

Glad it was helpful and thanks for the feedback!

[@philippehubo6275]

Thank you for these great video’s, explains perfectly a rather complicated matter... Keep up the good work Grant, and thanks again !!

[@jasons3777]

These videos have been very helpful for me. Many thanks.

[@partaphatu]

You are too good a teacher. Thanks

[@grantatkinson8108]

Glad it was useful !

[@Colt-4570]

Great common sense explanations of the auto focus system! Thanks.

[@tshianeonethononda691]

Thank you so much for explanations

[@petramackay2053]

Just purchased a 7D mkii and found this info really useful…ta much

[@CannonDigital]

Very helpful and practical videos, Thanks Grant.

[@rgs455atw]

Watched all 5, excellent explanations, thanks.

[@dazzassti]

fantastic video, nice one, very informative and well presented.

[@scarmenl]

Thank you Grant. The series has been excellent.

[@hsvgash]

would also like to say your vids have helped me heaps thankyou so much

[@KeepItSimpleSemperFi]

Thank you for the clear descriptions.

[@PhotoSportiv]

OMG! Just realised how great My Menus are..:) Im sold! Cheers Grant!

[@keverton123]

excellent explanation grant, thank you.

[@sachinkathpalia]

Very good tutorial Grant. thank you.

[@wpsam52]

Great series of videos. Thanks for posting!

[@clanky44]

Thank you Grant for this series. My wife just upgraded her 7d to the 7d mkii and this series of tutorials is all we needed to get started. Do you have any suggestions for either the Sigma 150-600 or the Canon 500 f4 in relation to the 7d mkii, and possible use of a 1.4 tc. Cheers!

[@ralvarezpa]

Awesome video, I'm shooting a pretty piece of canon... I'm also admiring your tripod. is it a special wildlife one??

[@askg4563]

This video is GREAT ,i have the 1DX mark 2 now love it

[@grantatkinson8108]

+Shawn Griffith (ASKG) what a camera, and luckily the AF Cases are not too different than the 7D Mark 2!

[@Beanjamin7]

Thankyou for your series. Very helpful!

[@justmewo]

Hi Grant Happy new year bud thanks for this very helpful as I acquired my mkii yesterday and dying to try it out in the field this weekend Best regards Nobby

[@grantatkinson8108]

I expect you will be producing even more great images then Nobby :-)

[@justmewo]

Grant Atkinson the speed of focus is unreal

[@nalinfernando8184]

i have done through all 5 Part of your focusing on 7d mk ii great videos, can you please do a video about custom functions (C.Fn)settings too thank you, and wish you all the best

[@SuperSatyamshivam]

Great Info thanks for sharing...

[@grantatkinson8108]

Appreciate your feedback!

[@sandymahendra]

thanks for good AF info, Grant.

[@chengb824]

Super helpful video. Thank you Grant !

[@bkg1tube]

great tips, I do underwater photography and your focus tips already made a difference, on another note, what is the brand/model of your camera gimble?

[@theopincemin7597]

Thanks so much for explaining it so well!

[@hosseinziadkhan]

This video is GREAT, thank you Grant

[@AGag47]

I don't know how much Canon invests in their useless tiny font user manuals, but seems to me they'd be better to invest in paying you to do their instructional videos. I've watched several after making the jump from another brand and you have made it so easy.

[@DalsPhotography-Daniela]

A very useful video indeed. But how do you change the focus priority quickly while photographing a flock of herons for example? you know that there are always beautiful situations arising between birds behaviour, so suddenly you were just registering new species but alas! They begun to fight for food and there you need focus speed priority, so... how do you change the controls quick as not to loose the situation? Thank you for all the videos .They are all so, useful, Also they are clean, tidy, very well filmed! A must to see for Mark ii users!

[@grantatkinson8108]

Hi Daniela, I usually find that if the camera is set up for the faster action, that it is not going to miss when those subjects slow down, or stand still. That camera is fast enough, and has a powerful enough AF system that even if you are on Focus Priority, it will shoot many frames in a second, if the subject matter is not moving very fast at that time, or is in an easy place to focus on. It may only slow down a lot if the subjects are moving very fast or are moving against a background that is similar to the subject, which means that the AF decision-making takes longer. Hope that helps?

[@DalsPhotography-Daniela]

Oh yeah it helped a lot, now I understand why when I have a contrasted bird I can follow him with the burst, but when agains trees, some photos are such a disaster! Excellent reviews, I asked you if you already tried any night shoots with it? And if so, which were the results and experience.... ? Just wondering how much we can push the mark ii limits!