Canon R5 & R6 Auto Focus Menu Explained and Best Settings

[@zibitappert]

holy moly! You are one of my favorite youtubers, no kidding. You had me click that subscribe button when I heard you comparing a zoom lens to a turtle :))))) Super good tutorial, thanks a lot man!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Haha! zoom lens to a turtle? I don't even know what comes out of my mouth sometimes. Thank you for your comment!

[@chriskay3058]

As a Nikon shooter with 45 years of experience (currently using a D810) who has never picked up a Canon camera of any type, I am making the switch and have an R5 on order. Setting up a camera is an arduous task to begin with ~ and switching to a completely new system exacerbates the process. I feel this tutorial can be a definitive reference for me when mine finally arrives. I've watched this section three times now and I feel I have a better understanding of the R5 without even having it in my hands. Thank you for taking the time to detail the AF in depth.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Wow! Thank you for writing this! Messages like this make all the hard work of putting the these camera tutorials with it.

[@jonkers2007]

THANK YOU! Just bought the R6 and so many settings to master. You made its so clear...

[@RobertoValenzuela]

So great to hear this! Enjoy your new R6! Amazing camera!

[@TwoTracksOutdoors]

What a relief to watch your videos, Roberto, including this 2nd one covering the Canon EOS R5/R6 features, showing real world use of camera settings, instead of the normal boring videos showing a brick wall or focusing charts. Outstanding explanation of various menu settings and what they actually do for you while photographing, as well as why you might want any given feature enabled or disabled. Very nice to see someone that has not only perfected their craft but is willing to share his experience with his You Tube audience. Immediately subscribed and can't wait to see your other videos.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you so much Mike!

[@michellelaw1125]

Canon needs to hire you. All of the R6 videos are very informative.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you so much Michelle!

[@jeffreyhill4705]

Thank you, you corrected one of my misconceptions, taught me something new, and confirmed that continuous AF is a nightmare. When I got my first R, I thought it was servo AF.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Yes it is! Turn that feature off immediately. It's the worse. Glad you enjoyed the videos.

[@monztermovies]

Just picked up my r6. This is like a master class in the camera. Thank you!!!!!

[@AndiHardman]

I recently purchased the R6, and it so different to the 5D IV. Great information from Roberto about the menu system and explaining why he has changed some of the default setting. There are many videos about this out there, but this is a no-brainer. I have followed Roberto for years, he is a great photographer, educator and inspiration.

[@pal54321]

Thanks for this video Roberto.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you so much Andi!

[@LiaM-cb3kj]

I do t understand why there’re only 6k followers. This is def underrated! Great stuff

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you so much!! 🙏

[@philiproddis2334]

Agreed

[@tomweishaar]

I'm a sports shooter here and just want to thank you for your effort & instructive video the R5 AF. I use my 1Dx mk ii and a 1Dx for sports photography but as you can imagine with the pandemic... I'm not shooting sports. So when I picked up the R5 for use with more corporate and event work... I was "doubly" blown away with new button layout ( to be expected) as well as new features. YOUR very helpful breakdown of the Auto Focus system within the R5 is ideal for quickly coming up to speed on my new camera. A very kind THANK YOU, sir. Stay safe & wear a mask.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you so much Tom! I'm so glad you enjoyed the videos!

[@tjle4900]

Wow, this one of the best video tutorials I’ve ever seen. Please post more videos like this. Thank you very much for sharing!!!

[@Atsf1976]

I'm going to rent this camera next weekend and I just wanted to thank you for this tutorial. It's awesome and I appreciate that you took time out of your day to do this.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you and I'm glad you found it useful!

[@mossgatherer_]

I've had this camera for years and I learned so many new things. Fantastic video Roberto!

[@tashmohring9756]

Thank you! After days of trying to work out the focus settings you've just totally blown my mind with the awsome detail you've supplied.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Hi Tash, that's so great to hear! Thank you so much!

[@tonylaudin3777]

You asked for a reason not to use the Touch & Drag AF setting: Here's one. My left eye is my prime eye and that's the one I always bring up to the viewfinder. I didn't even realize it was my normal behavior until I tried to set up touch and drag with the right zone. My nose kept changing the autofocus point! I've tried training myself to use my left eye in the viewfinder, but it just seems awkward.

[@annbeane761]

This is great! I've been watch a number of KZbin videos about the R6 - most of them rush through it too fast. Your pace was great and had lots of detail. Thank you.

[@jabaricain]

These videos are Soooooooook helpful! Thank you so much Roberto! Love all your books by the way!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Jabari, thank you so much my friend!

[@RickLincoln]

I'm evaluating the R6 as my next camera. This was very, very helpful. Thank for all of your work!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you Rick! You will love the R6.

[@cancy22]

The Best video on setting up the Canon R 6 - I have watched that video multiple times - When I first purchased the camera and a few times after I've used the camera. - Thanks Roberto!!!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Wow, thank you so much Cancy22! Really appreciate you saying that.

[@tomoconnor7674]

Hi Roberto, it is so great to find you on KZbin. Back in the late 2000's you spoke at a NCPP meeting in Walnut Creek, CA and you were great. We all really enjoyed and learned from you. NCPP is now defunct but we gained so much while it was active. I am now following you on KZbin. You are doing a great job and thank you for your videos. I just received my R5 a few days ago so learning all I can. I shoot mostly landscape, birds, Indy cars and Air shows. Cannot wait to get out and use it.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Hi Tom! Wow that was a long long time ago. But I remember that talk like it was yesterday. I even remember what I was wearing. Thx for reaching out!

[@lauralemus9370]

This info is incredible and so easy to understand! Thank you so much!

[@markchamberlin8378]

I just got the R6 about a month ago. You tutorial really opened up a lot of options I didn't know about. THANKS!!!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you for letting me know! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

[@photographyandthecreativeyou]

Back again because I just realized I could use the feature, orientation af point setting. Thanks and all the best from Newfoundland.

[@BrianWorley]

Hi Roberto, it's a great walk through the AF settings, however I think you might have a slight error in what you mention about the Initial AF pt set for fece detection (around 31 minutes). This setting only applies when face detection AF area is used with servo AF. The first entry Initial AF pt set for face detection, means you can nominate a starting point for face tracking to look at. You see a square in the EVF / LCD that can be moved around, but it's position is only used / remembered for face detection AF area. The second entry is similar to the first, but here the initial Af point is the same as the one used for other AF area methods. Say you switch between 1 point AF and face detection, then the AF point in face detection method is placed in the same location as it was for 1-point AF. The default auto setting means the camera will try to determine the AF point by finding the face / eye for you, if the camera finds multiple faces you can use a button to switch faces. In practice I've found that for people / model photos the auto selection is working great. The few times it fails are when the model turns away from the camera so it can only see one eye. In this case there's no clear face features, 2x eyes, nose, mouth so the camera can't see it as a face. I find that in that case I switch to 1-point AF. then using either of the top 2 menu options helps since you can narrow down where the camera looks initially, and once the camera know what subject you want keep half pressure on the shutter and recompose in servo AF, it's like cheating.

[@LucianComanphotography]

wahahaha he did plenty mistakes and he is like trying to impose his personal style to people like , this are the God Send settings........when he frequently uses" only if you are crazy or something" always made me laugh,,,in some cases he does not have a slightest clue what he is taking about.

[@MrRobercik72]

So much better than reading the instructions. Canon should hire you :-) I just got my R5 and I was watching your video and changing all the settings along with your explanations. Super helpful. Thank you. 1 recommendation - Add links to other parts of the video to your description.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Hey Robert, that's a good idea! Thank you and I'll do that.

[@joejunemusic1988]

Great video definitely laughed out loud when you said bird tracker or whatever you call them

[@RobertoValenzuela]

haha! I don't know these things. : )

[@normameyers4904]

Best tutorial for setting up a canon R6.

[@7racecar7]

Thank you for all you R5 videos, awesome, in-depth work, helped a ton!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you Erik!

[@JJBfilm]

This is one of the funniest and informative video's I have ever seen....Outstanding work..

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[@rattlhed1]

Just received my R5. This is a fantastic video and is helping me a ton. I came from a 60D which was much simpler. The menu options in this camera are crazy so this video is really showing me the settings I need for what i want to shoot. Looking forward to some of your other videos.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

I'm so glad it helped you!

[@timelesscreations777]

What an upgrade...my first camera was an M50 and then the 80D. Then I bought the EOS R...but it wasn't good with fast subjects...it's a great portrait camera...but the R5 is my jack of all trades!!

[@i_am_chandra]

Great tutorial with clear a explanation; appreciate your time man!

[@Killeric]

Excellent. By far the best video for setting up R6. Simple and spot on explanations, good job! BTW, love the R6, it`s a huge upgrade from my 5D MarkIII. Especially the AF and ISO

[@RobertoValenzuela]

That's great to hear! And yes, The R6 would be a huge upgrade from a mark III.

[@hervegodbout1183]

Thank you! Coming from a cropping sensor to a full frame with all this technology on the R5 has been a real learning curve for me. Your video really helped!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you for your comment Herve! It's nice to read these after so much effort went into making these videos.

[@MarceloFernandez1967]

The best video about focus settings 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@RogierChang]

Thank you so much. I got an R5 as a rental and you brought me up to speed.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Glad I could help! Thx for the comment!

[@marcgambardella5681]

Hi Roberto! Excellent job on this video. It clarified a LOT for me, as I was setting up my new R6. I did find one mistake in your explanations however, which is at 30:40. (The Initial Servo AF point menu item). Those options actually tell the camera to either start looking for faces at a previously selected AF point from the last time the camera was in Eye AF mode, or start looking for faces at previously selected AF point from the last time the camera was in a NON-eye AF mode. AUTO will start fresh by looking for a face anywhere in the frame. This appears to be opposite of what you stated, as the AUTO mode here is actually likely the PREFERRED option. Hope that helps.!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you! I’ll look j to that and ask Canon exactly what that is. Much appreciate the heads up.

[@skyimages7685]

Roberto id like to say thank you. Looking at your video's I have been able to pick up my camera and set it up the way that i would like rather than just looking at it with no understanding of my r5 menus

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you for taking the time to write the Allan. I'm so glad the videos helped!

[@grjlynch]

I learnt so much today by watching your video, thank you!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you for saying that Gary!

[@hollydlynch]

just bought the r6.. this video was super helpful!! Thanks from LA

[@suryadigital6707]

one & only THE BEST Tutorial this. Lots of thanks.

[@melvyngreenstein2145]

Thanks for the best and clearest video with. Solved a lot of problems for me and will .Now i understand the AF WOW!

[@territhomas331]

Wow, I just learned so much. Really great tutorial. Thank you!

[@udonpraguypanya2992]

excellent with the big screen showing detail of what you are taking....

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you my friend!

[@thomasleiblein5001]

I have my active touch area on the left cause I use my left eye. The demo with the screen is nice!!!

[@vedig]

This is very useful. Canon should make it the official video

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Awww. thank you Vedran!

[@TheJewellian]

possibly the best video regarding all this! Thank you.

[@ivafoxy7]

Thank you Roberto, this tutorial clarified a lot for me in a simple way :)

[@dark3nough]

Thanks man.. I love the details the extra extra explanations. I watched it twice and feel like i know my camera so much better. 👍🏾👍🏾💥💥

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thx Andrea! So happy to hear this!

[@ausdoug974]

I enjoyed watching this very much. The information is very helpful. Thanks for creating it for us!

[@skydivejw]

Roberto, you make things so easy for us. Thank you for taking the time to create this. Soo much better than reading the owner's manual...😜

[@RobertoValenzuela]

I'm glad it's helping man! It's important to understand the capabilities of the cameras we buy.

[@skydivejw]

@@RobertoValenzuela no doubt. This format (ur video) is so much better!

[@mrjiggawatt]

Clear, concise, and entertaining. Thanks!

[@timelesscreations777]

I'm left-handed so when the Canon EOS R came out and it didn't have a toggle switch. I used the touch and drag on the bottom left the whole time. So as I'm gripping the camera with my right hand-on toggling with my left thumb and then it freeze up my right index finger to push the shutter and take pictures! We shoot using our left eye...so there is NO ROOM if we used the right side. I think a lot of people forget that there are 30% of the population that is left handed and we get left out on the designs of just about everything. Canon didn't forget us with this camera!! That's why it has both sides if you were 🤔 wondering...That was one of the first features that I set up and absolutely loved. The thing about it is these cameras are so customizable for personal preferences you just have to find out what works best for you

[@ForrestWest]

Such a great and informative video thank you! Shooting birds and wildlife using the auto initial servo initial AF point works very well for finding a bird and its eye anywhere in the frame sometimes even before I see it. Often I want it to grab the bird and compose the shot without having to center the bird in the frame and that auto setting works really well. It's like wide eye AF. I just now realized with that middle setting "AF point set" you can move the starting point around with the multi selector while you're looking through the view finder and then start tracking from there instead of the center. I like that also!

[@westr70]

Great video. Your explanations were great and solved my focusing problems. Thanks.

[@vikinggrl2116]

Very helpful information! I search for help with the AF system for a while, and found it easely i your vido.

[@patrycjaskwarczynska2809]

Thank You for all work! I set up everything and understand new menu more :)

[@colebennett4405]

Duuuude. This video was so helpful. Thanks for putting in the time!

[@armandoguerreiro8861]

Hi Robert, thanks very much for professional help.

[@pinakiray2005]

superb video Roberto , for some reason I had not subscribed ...have done it now .. thank you for sharing ur immense knowledge of canon cameras

[@patricemiller19340ft]

This is the best explanation I have seen. Thank you

[@clairewood7314]

Very helpful thank you Roberto. I'm hiring the R5 for the weekend to see if I like it and this video is super useful.

[@jackbaratta5722]

This is a fantastic explanation!!!! THANK YOU!🎉

[@dcdooley1]

Great job, Roberto. Much better than the pdf manual! Thanks. Now, I'm a subscriber!

[@BrianCarey]

Got my R5 today and this is a great help. Thank You!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Enjoy that beautiful camera! You are going to love it!

[@Geekistaan]

Very informative and well explained! Thanks for the effort!

[@patrickgildard173]

That was helpful. Thanks for going in depth. Just got my canon R6 and having a great time with it.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

That's awesome Patrick! I absolutely love the R6!

[@noafurfaro8966]

Roberto! Awesome video! Question... at 29:18 you're showing that the camera is 'recording' your AF point... mine isn't going red.. Am I missing a step? Thanks you so much!

[@qsdghbkstrhgFSDGW]

Just got the R6 and this helped me a lot coming from the 6D II.

[@jayemery]

25:39 “... but if you want to have all of these on, because you’re crazy or something ...” 🤣 I shut them all off too!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Haha! Sometimes I don't even know what comes out of my mouth until I watch later. 😂

[@antonioartisian2013]

I was laughing so hard when you said that. Great video by the way. Thank you

[@markrigg6623]

Yeah some people will have the need to have more than the 2 AF zones that you use accessible.

[@YonnBurgos]

Thanks for the tutorial! Very much appreciated!

[@alexdraht4007]

This was a fantastic guide. Thanks sooo much

[@Methodical2]

We wildlife photographers like all AF point selection options and Servo AF (have to get used to not saying AI Servo) and we are not crazy, haha! Nice video.

[@markrigg6623]

You said it.

[@hannybasso7047]

Touch & drag - now I get it, thanks! The only thing, for my small hands, the left works, can barely get to the right area while trying to push the shutter button.

[@tolickal]

Hi Roberto, finally I have received my R5 and trying to set up and be able to set up pretty much the way you have explained in you multiple videos. Thank you so much for uploading these videos and these are much appreciable help. I could not replicate what you did in the videos at 8:35, changing the Eye AF from one eye to another eye or to a different person's eye, even I have enabled the Eye detection and the muti-controller. I'm not getting this double box or double box with arrows when I press the muti-controller or when I tab in the touch screen (touch screen is also activated). Back button focus activated in my case and as you have mentioned, I have limited the AF to two, face tracking and single spot. Thank you, Till UPDATE: What i figured out is on AF menu 5, when you change the "initial servo AF pt for face+tracking" from "Auto" to the first option, you loose the functionality of changing the eye AF b/w eyes or selecting the points (appearing the dotted orange) by touch screen. But I'm not sure how you were able to achieve even when you have de-seleted the "Auto" function.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Hi Till, Change the AF method from AF Operation (AF 1) to ONE SHOT AF instead of Servo AF. Once you do that, all three options for Initial AF Pt. Set for Face Tracking will display the little triangles to choose which eye you want to track. Hope this helps.

[@tolickal]

@@RobertoValenzuela thank you, I will try with “one shot” option instead of servo, even though almost 99% of time I’m using “servo” mode. But my question is with kids photography, the sevo mode is ideal, right. So it doesn’t make any sense of using the one shot mode to achieve this functionality

[@RobertoValenzuela]

@@tolickal if you want to stay in AF Servo, just choose the AUTO option for the initial point. And you will see the little triangles to select the eye.

[@tolickal]

@@RobertoValenzuela thank you so much for helping me, really appreciate it.

[@onlysublime]

Love your videos and am a subscriber too. But one point. I shoot with my left eye on the evf. So when I had the eos r (it was stolen when someone broke into my car), I had to set the touch and drag to the left side if the screen bc otherwise my face would touch and move the focus. I finally have the eos r5 ordered! So excited!

[@hhw311]

That was very helpful ! Thank You!!

[@bwhip9585]

Great job, very helpful. Thanks Roberto!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thanks for watching!

[@Hightphoto]

So informative and well explained. I've been fighting with the autofocus since I got my R6, now I can actually navigate it to get the full potential. Thanks!

[@Jaktgbabu]

Nice 🙏🏻 I love the way you have informed 🙏🏻❤️👍🏻

[@TanSimBe]

Very helpful. I really wish someone would do a video on how to set up off camera flash using canon flashes.

[@stillsandvideo]

Thanks Roberto for a great overview of the new version of Canon's focus. Agree, definitely a big improvement over the earlier versions - can't imagine not having it once you get used to it. Love these topic focused videos your making on the R5... please keep them coming, great job.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Completely agree! The technology is pretty wild!

[@tomcwik4898]

Best video of seen on this topic. Fantastic

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you so much Tom!

[@stephaniegreen871]

Such a helpful video!! Explained thoroughly so I understand so much better now. I was feeling down after trying to shoot my first wedding with R6. It seems I’m not quite ready for face detection because I felt when trying to get my single point autofocus to one subject it would jump to another part of screen! Maybe I’m not doing something right but when I disable it I at least feel I have control again?

[@jasonwilbur8161]

Great tutorial! How can you switch from one person eye to the other eye while it's tracking? Or how can you switch to another person's face if two people are in from and it locks on the wrong face?

[@AMomentInTimeProductions]

this is a great focus tutorial i was watching it, i just got the R6 and i really love it it's amazing, i was using a Fuji X-T3 which was not bad but i was getting fed up with the moire anti aliasing thing Because of Funi's X-trans sensor, it's terrible with Moire, also Fuji has a vignetting correction system on the camera when you zoom in or out with your lens, it Quickly adjust vignetting when you zoom in or out, the problem with that is if your shooting video, you can see the adjusments happening in your video as you zoom in or out, the screen flashes looks like it's changing exposures as you zoom in or out. Basically what Fuji is trying to do is instead of building better lenses that does not produce a high amount of vignetting is use the firmware (software) within the camera to correct it so people don't complain about the vignetting, this is great for still photography, because it doesn't really effect anything just makes your picture better, how ever bad for Video.. This is very unprofessional especially if you want to do something creative and focus pull in or out for a creative shot, the screen flashing ruins it, and there is no way in the Fuji menu to turn off the vignetting auto correction your stuck with it, i created a video on that and complained to Fuji about 2 years ago they never address the problem... Here is the video that shows what i'm talking about, kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHLLnmV4oJyfiLs if you wish to move past my rambling in the video go to timeline 2:20 area to move forward to where i show what it's doing. and here is a follow up video that explains how i found out what was going on.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3e6nGyIqL6intE So any way this is one of the major reasons Why, i ditched the Fuji X-T3 and switched to Canon instead, in my opinion, The Canon R6 Is much better for both still pictures and video, better color tones, better quality video, and even better focusing system, and after all it's a Full Frame camera which is also a great upgrade from APSC Sensor. Donny

[@rossmcleavy453]

Awesome tutorial Roberto, helped me heaps👌

[@AnthonyBonillaPR]

These videos are really helpful. Thanks. Have you done any videos on your settings and how you have programmed all the button on your R5 and the reason for you selection?

[@paulsophocleous2544]

13:16 As someone who tried the touch and drag and didn't like it, here's why. I'm left eyed, so my nose was on the right side of the screen. This meant that not only was my nose getting in the way of my thumb when I tried to use it, but I also had a high risk of changing the focus point accidently if I bumped the screen with my nose. And I have my left hand underneath the lens, so using the touch & drag on the left side of the screen isn't an option for me. I think the touch & drag will be very good for right eyed users though.

[@nubscrub]

Sony introduced eye AF technology and always had the ability to select between left/right eye. Familiarizing oneself with the AF menu system is important on any camera system for sure. Cheers

[@MjYogesh29]

Hey yoo !! really amazing video You explained it well Thank you so much 👍

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@JohnDoe-uy3es]

ur a great teacher!!! Amazing explanation

[@erictaylor459]

A very great video Mr. Valenzuela. I do have a question about setting the focus points and the red recording box at 29:18 How do you get your camera to display the red record box. I am just a little bit confused.

[@nataliem8954]

Hey there. I’m wondering this too. Did you ever find an answer? I just can’t replicate what he’s doing here. I get no red box

[@erictaylor459]

@@nataliem8954 No Ms. Natalie and he never replied it seem like a one and done for Mr. Valenzuela

[@fallguy6558]

If there is a song for this guy, it will be DESPACITO especially during the last half of the video,,, great tutorial and explanation.. I will watch his other videos. Thank you.

[@giandaoliveira]

It’s was amazing. Thank you for your helping ☺️

[@andjustysaid.]

So incredibly helpful and you are so funny! SUBSCRIBED & HIT THAT BELL!

[@RobertoValenzuela]

Yay! Thank you! HIT that bell... Yes!!!! : )

[@kevinclelland8017]

Some great info and used some of these settings for my EOS R

[@amirintl1]

Very very well explained , thank You.

[@RobertoValenzuela]

You are welcome!

[@jesusconde4317]

Buenas Roberto , gracias por el video! una duda que me tiene loco si dejo uno de mis back button focus en mi R6 en AF puntual y dejo el otro para detección de ojo. la detección de ojo hará tracking??? es muy importante porque veo que en muchísimas ocasiones, casi siempre con animales, necesito obligar a la cámara a fijar el foco en el ojo mediante, AF puntual, peeeero luego quiero que lo siga un saludo

[@douglasliebig5625]

Thank you for this video. Appreciate the work done to make it. I have a question regarding the part that starts around 8:10 in, the part where you choose which eyeball is tracked. What is the multi-controller on the back of the R6? I cannot get the arrows/ability to change which eye is chosen to work. Do you need to have an RF lens to do this? I have an EF lens on the R6 using the adapter with the ring. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you again.

[@LuBrown]

Great video. At 8:50 you mention right/left eye. How did you toggle from left to right eye?