Triple Button Autofocusing for the Canon EOS R8 for Birding: Let Me Show You How To Set This Up.

In this video, I will show you how to set up triple button autofocusing for bird photography on your Canon EOS R8! As always, we will start by doing a semi-factory reset, so we are all on the same page (you don't have to do this, of course).
1) We will first set up the front shutter button (all needed dials, buttons, and menu settings) with subject tracking and subject detection on. To enhance this front button system, we will set up the MFn button to toggle between the autofocus points.
2) Next we will set up the AF-On button to bring up the spot focus autofocus point, but without the subject tracking and subject detection on.
3) Finally we will set up the AE-Lock button ( better known as the "star" button) to use the entire screen as the autofocus box.
Link to Deep Dive into Setting up the R8 for Birding: • Setup the Canon EOS R8...
Follow me on Facebook: profile.php?...
TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Coming Soon)

[@jolakedra2998]

Thank you so much for this. This by far is the best birding set up. It works for me like a charm. Love you man!

[@lets_go_birding9096]

So glad the video was helpful:-)

[@InvincibleViolinist]

This is by far the best explanation I've found of the modern Canon AF system. Thank you so much for making the video!

[@davidclaine2402]

this vid is immaculate, thank you!

[@lets_go_birding9096]

Glad you liked it!

[@mikehowlettfogs]

Great Vid helped me a lot to set up my other R bodies as well THANKS

[@bryanandryszak925]

Hi, Doug. I got my R8 a few days ago. I chose it over the R7, primarily because of the more advanced sensor (same as in the R6II) for improved imaging for $1000 less. In addition, the fact that I traded in my RP for the R8, which share the same body size and battery requirements, spared me the need to buy different batteries, had I chosen the R7. Finally; I was already familiar with the layout of the buttons from the RP, which minimized my learning curve. I also watched a KZbin video on “Wild Alaska” that described a Vello 2-battery grip that was originally designed for the RP, but also worked on the R8, thereby doubling continuous use between battery changes. I am primarily a bird, wildlife, and landscape photography hobbyist. I found your two videos on detailed R8 set-up and 3-button focus for bird photography EXTREMELY logical and helpful!! Yesterday; I took my new R8 for its initial shake-down test session at a local wildlife park. I primarily shot photographs with a few short videos mixed in. It was bright, sunny, and 93-degrees. The R8, used with your recommended settings, performed very well for me. The images I took were absolutely beautiful. And; as long as I was careful with providing shade and intermittently giving the R8 an opportunity to ‘rest a bit’ from time-to-time, overheating was never a problem (I reached 3-4 bars on occasion, but never shut down due to overheating) and the camera recovered pretty quickly when shaded in the breeze. I managed 445 shots plus a number of brief videos, and still had 2-bars battery life remaining when using my 2-battery Vello extension grip, which worked perfectly. THANK YOU, DOUG, FOR PRODUCING SUCH A WORTHWHILE TANDEM OF VIDEOS FOR THE R8!! These 2 videos have been the best, for me at least, in quickly and easily getting me prepared to make the best use of my R8. Your thorough explanations also prepared me to confidently refine my R8 settings as I may wish to in the future. Regards

[@lets_go_birding9096]

I'm glad my videos helped:-)

[@foro1]

Great explanation. Thank you 😊

[@barryfrost4399]

Great video. I learnt a lot.

[@keithwiebe1787]

Wow, so many things to set up on the R8. I couldn't figure out why my eye detect wasn't capturing correct focus on small birds. Finally set up back button focus and I believe it will help me. What's weird is that it will track eyes but that doesn't mean it's in focus until I command it to and have to wait until box turns color. Your video was well explained. I don't know why Canon doesn't do more to help people set up their camera. Don't even get a printed manual that's worth anything. I just have the camera set up so the afon activates servo eye tracking and asterick button activates spot focus. Coming from a 5dm3 and I only used spot focus for servo mode too. I like to keep it simple. May set up shutter button for half way down focusing in future if I get tired of pushing rear button. I like the touch screen to change focus point too. I had no idea that the trash button would relocate focus point.

[@keithwiebe1787]

Got my camera out. The trash button doesn't re center focus point. Figured it out. Have to hit the other button first. GRRRR!

[@carcassryzu1366]

excellent video and easy to understand. I really like the way you make the camera work for you with these settings. Thank you

[@lets_go_birding9096]

Glad it was helpful!

[@waamamps]

Thank you Sir.

[@318harshit]

Thanks, do the same for group photography

[@K9malinois_dog_love]

Thank you so much.👍🏻🙏💯

[@lets_go_birding9096]

You are very welcome

[@halmendelson6048]

Excellent job. I am looking forward to more videos. I have subscribed. I am new to Canon. I could not resist the features and small size of this camera. I am assuming that this same triple button focusing will work for people. I take a lot of pictures of my grandchildren who play college lacrosse.

[@lets_go_birding9096]

Thanks for subscribing! Yes, triple button autofocusing will work for people just fine, but you will have to set recognition to "people" and NOT "animals.

[@ockertlombard699]

Thank you very much for your very thorough videos, Doug! I use an R7 for bird photography, but now looked at this video for the R8. Am I correct to assume that one can set up the R7 in the same way as this?

[@lets_go_birding9096]

My pleasure. Yes, the R7 and R8 can be setup the same. But, the AF On button on the R8 is in a terrible position and it's very easy to accidently hit. I had to turn it off, for I kept missing birds in flight by accidently hitting it. I will be releasing my assessment of the R8 video in a few hours (already uploaded) and tell all why I'm sending it back.

[@mmomike5334]

Question about focusing then re-composing the shot. Say I want to focus on Pokey then recompose the shot so Pokey isn’t centered under the focus spot? How I setup my R8 was to remove AF start from the shutter button (just meters) and I have the AF button set to start AF and the star button set to the non-tracking spot focus. This way I can use star, focus on what I want, release it, re-compose, then take the shot (without the shutter button press re-focusing). I use the AF button like you’re using the shutter half-press. Thoughts?

[@lets_go_birding9096]

That will certainly work. Or, you could switch over to "one shot autofocus" (Instead of Servo), then lock onto pokey, keep the autofocus button down, recompose and take the picture. Or, if you have tracking on, just lock onto pokey, Keep the autofocus button down, and recompose. It's should stay locked on pokey until you release the autofocus button. There's other ways to do this as well, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head :-)

[@soheilmasoumi3009]

Great video.Which camera's autofocus is better? Sony a6700 or canon r8

[@lets_go_birding9096]

Thank you! I haven't got into the Sony cameras yet, so I can't answer the question. I can't say, however, that the R8 has an amazing autofocus system, which even has adjustable autofocus areas. Watch out for the overheating problem, however, which is why I sent mine back. I don't see a lot of complaints about it anymore, so perhaps they've ironed that out a little bit.

[@soheilmasoumi3009]

@@lets_go_birding9096 Thanks for the replay. I saw a video on KZbin from a user who said that the Canon R8 camera does not heat up at all in 24-25-30 frame rates in 4k mode. You have experience in this matter. thanks.

[@JoelRiveraMD]

So you are not doing back button focus with this setup correct? The shutter button will still trigger the AF ?

[@lets_go_birding9096]

Yes, the shutter button starts the autofocus setup.

[@JoelRiveraMD]

@@lets_go_birding9096 do you have all your canon cameras like this or do you use back button focus on R5 or higher end Canon Cameras ?

[@lets_go_birding9096]

I've really gotten away from back-button focus on all cameras. For me, I don't care if I loose focus when I release the shutter--I've almost always already got the shot(s). If I haven't, its typically no big deal to just half-press and re-grab the focus. Sometimes, those tiny buttons are hard to press down--especially in the heat of the moment. All my cameras are setup like this most of the time, except the R10 which needs to be set up differently because the AF-On button has no registry-recall function. Just did a video on the R10 and showed how to set it up.