question regarding autofocus and canon 30D

wheresdavid

I have a question, i was looking at a used 30D and i could not get the autofocus points to light up or the lens to focus in P, AV,TV or M mode, but it focuses when in the auto, or portrait ... modes. the lens is set to AF and not manual. I can not figured out why the AF works with the auto and portrait mode and not AV,TV M and P modes. is there a setting that i need to change or is there something wrong with camera.

ivar

wheresdavid wrote:

I have a question, i was looking at a used 30D and i could not get the autofocus points to light up or the lens to focus in P, AV,TV or M mode, but it focuses when in the auto, or portrait ... modes. the lens is set to AF and not manual. I can not figured out why the AF works with the auto and portrait mode and not AV,TV M and P modes. is there a setting that i need to change or is there something wrong with camera.

There is a custom setting that has to do with this, I'm not sure what the number is and I don't have my camera handy, sorry. But if you look at the custom settings, you should be able to find it.

digismile

I'm wondering if it's just the focus mode you're in. Check on the display and see which AF mode is being used. Should be one of the following:

One Shot
AI Focus
AI Servo

In AI Servo mode, you don't get any focus confirmations.

To change it, hit the button and rotate the dial near the shutter release and change it to One Shot.

You should now get focus confirmation.

ivar

digismile wrote:

I'm wondering if it's just the focus mode you're in. Check on the display and see which AF mode is being used. Should be one of the following:

One Shot
AI Focus
AI Servo

In AI Servo mode, you don't get any focus confirmations.

To change it, hit the <AF/WB> button and rotate the dial near the shutter release and change it to One Shot.

You should now get focus confirmation.

oh yeah, <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/15524779-Ti.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

claudermilk

Yeah, that change in AI Servo has confused me a few times--especially since I don't use it much.

rwells

Sounds like C.Fn #4 is being used which will change the focus to the back * button. Using this mode (which I do), you will only get the focus to work by pushing the * button on the back, or via the shutter button in the program modes as you describe.

Check C.Fn #4, and/or use the * button on the back for focus.

Hope that helps...

Zanotti

rwells wrote:

Sounds like C.Fn #4 is being used which will change the focus to the back * button. Using this mode (which I do), you will only get the focus to work by pushing the * button on the back, or via the shutter button in the program modes as you describe.

Check C.Fn #4, and/or use the * button on the back for focus.

Hope that helps...

I understand how to make the * do focus, but never the reason why you would want that. does it make the shutter fire quicker? Obviously its a sports thing, but I never really understood the reasoning.......

Z

rwells

Zanotti wrote:

I understand how to make the * do focus, but never the reason why you would want that. does it make the shutter fire quicker? Obviously its a sports thing, but I never really understood the reasoning.......

Z

I've not read anyone posting the "why's", so I'll give it a shot.

This falls into one of those "preference" things...

I shoot sports, and like it set for the back button MUCH better.

It seems to allow me better movement with my camera in hand than with my finger perched half-depressed on the shutter button to track focus. (AI Servo) It also allows me to release focus, then refocus when tracking was lost. I understand that you can do the same with the shutter button, but it's just easier for me with the back button.

I guess shooting sports I have "happy finger" cause using the shutter button to focus while all the other stuff is going on (moving away from bulls in the arena while still shooting, etc.), I found out quick that I would inadvertently push the shutter. With the focus on the back, that just doesn't happen, well, not often anyway.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. C.Fn #4 allows for different configurations also. Meaning, you can set the back button focus to "Lock AE" to "Not Lock AE". I can't remember all the selections there, but it allows you to set it for what you are doing at the time. EX: You want to set focus, then recompose. You can set it so that when you focus it locks the exposure down. Or, you can lock the focus, then recompose and have it set so that it will still actively meter the scene when you recompose the shot.

So, using the back button allows more customization for your needs.

Hey, try it! You may or may not like it.

wheresdavid

issue solved
thanks everyone, it was the cf 04 button that fixed the problem

LiquidAir

Zanotti wrote:

I understand how to make the * do focus, but never the reason why you would want that. does it make the shutter fire quicker? Obviously its a sports thing, but I never really understood the reasoning.......

Z

My camera is almost always set for * button focus and to use only the center focus point. The reason I shifted was because I prefer the * button when I focus and recompose, but I have discovered several situations where I capture the focus point once and then take several shots before refocusing. Portrait shooting and bracketing for landcape shots are two examples of when I find the * button focusing to be particularly handy.