40D Live View + Auto Focus?

[sejok]

Hey anyone else having trouble with the autofocus while live view is on? I'm not sure if it's supposed to work, but I've had to use manual focus with live view since day 1!

Has anyone been able to use the autofocus?

[calebk]

Read your manual please.

You have to enable autofocus with live view in your custom functions, then press and hold the AF-ON button in order to perform AF during live view.

[chrisljh]

yes..liveview allows AF

[Russ]

In live view mode, just press the AF-ON button and it will focus but if the subject distance changes you have to do it. Best to do it just before pressing the shutter. Not sure if it allows multiple focus points to be used.

[Russ]

In live view mode, just press the AF-ON button and it will focus but if the subject distance changes you have to do it. Best to do it just before pressing the shutter. Not sure if it allows multiple focus points to be used.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by Russ In live view mode, just press the AF-ON button and it will focus but if the subject distance changes you have to do it. Best to do it just before pressing the shutter. Not sure if it allows multiple focus points to be used.

AFAIK, only the center AF point may be used.

[daggerrr]

Originally Posted by calebk AFAIK, only the center AF point may be used.

Bear in mind that AF focus on the white rectangle and you can move it around with the joystick.

[flipfreak]

Originally Posted by daggerrr Bear in mind that AF focus on the white rectangle and you can move it around with the joystick.

the af is not on the white rectangle. the white frame is for magnifying purpose and for manual focusing.

[zerartul]

Yup af focus is not on the white rect. And you can select your focal point btw. Just select it like normal and when u press af-on it will focus on that point. You can see it in action by looking through the viewfinder while pressing af-on. Its best you on beep alert so you can tell that focus is achieved.

[sejok]

Originally Posted by calebk Read your manual please.

Manual? simi lai eh?

Thanks all!

[ndroo]

Originally Posted by sejok Manual? simi lai eh? Thanks all!

You win liao

[USM]

Originally Posted by sejok Manual? simi lai eh? Thanks all!

He was referring to the 40D's instruction manual.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by sejok Manual? simi lai eh? Thanks all!

Next time you come asking question that is already answered in the manual,

While we try our best to help each other in this forum, don't have the mentality that you will be spoonfed all the time.

[sejok]

Originally Posted by USM He was referring to the 40D's instruction manual.

excuse the sarcasm...

For the benefit of those trying to figure this out :

Go through your custom settings and find the one that allows AF while in Live View.

C.FnIII: Autofocus/Drive
(6) AF during Live View shooting
0: Disable
1: Enable

When you AF, the screen will go black (mirror flipping back down) while the camera auto-focuses, then the mirror will flip back showing you the camera's newly focused view.

(Courtesy of photography-on-the-net forums)

[daggerrr]

Originally Posted by zerartul Yup af focus is not on the white rect. And you can select your focal point btw. Just select it like normal and when u press af-on it will focus on that point. You can see it in action by looking through the viewfinder while pressing af-on. Its best you on beep alert so you can tell that focus is achieved.

Originally Posted by flipfreak the af is not on the white rectangle. the white frame is for magnifying purpose and for manual focusing.

Well if you take take out your 40D to try it out, you will see that the AF does focus on whatever object the white rectangle is on during live view. I will admit it is a bit hit and miss and may take a few tries before it focuses on the exact subject you want given the large size of the rectanlge. Try moving it around and focusing by pressing the auto focus button. We are talking about focusing through live view here, not through the viewfinder btw.

[zerartul]

Nope im 100% sure is not on the white box. Dont believe you can take a ruler out and place it 45 degree like checking backwards focus. Set your focus point in the middle before life view. Then focus with say the white box on the right side of the ruler. The middle will be focus. How the AF works in live view is exactly how it will work in normal mode where the mirror flips down and focus like in the view finder. During life view if u put your eye in the view finder it will black out but when AF-On is pressed, you can see through the view finder and actually see which point its being focused on before the mirror flips back up. I doubled checked it just and is pretty sure thats how focus works on 40D. Also you can set it to focus anywhere in the 9 point grid and regardless where your white box it it will focus on that point you have set before live view.

[flipfreak]

Originally Posted by daggerrr Well if you take take out your 40D to try it out, you will see that the AF does focus on whatever object the white rectangle is on during live view. I will admit it is a bit hit and miss and may take a few tries before it focuses on the exact subject you want given the large size of the rectanlge. Try moving it around and focusing by pressing the auto focus button. We are talking about focusing through live view here, not through the viewfinder btw.

are u using the selected af point or the 9 points? i think it just happens to be focussing on the center point when u use LV so it seems like it is focusing there.

anyway i will try it now.

10 mins later ...

ok. tried it. doesn't work. white rectangle is not an af point.

[sejok]

Originally Posted by flipfreak ok. tried it. doesn't work. white rectangle is not an af point.

I know it may sound redundent, but if u look through the viewfindinder on liveview (while focusing) it will show you what it's focusing on (ie you can select where you want to focus).

Another thing to note, it not to press and release AF-on, you need to press and HOLD.

[flipfreak]

Originally Posted by sejok I know it may sound redundent, but if u look through the viewfindinder on liveview (while focusing) it will show you what it's focusing on (ie you can select where you want to focus). Another thing to note, it not to press and release AF-on, you need to press and HOLD.

yeah. hold it and wait for the confirmation beep. i know.