Tried the 7D's Macro AF for the first time

Toby · 08-09-2012, 20:50

I'd actually forgotten about this until recently so never thought to try it. The Canon 7D has a special AF mode for macro photography. When a Canon macro lens is attached and the camera is set to AI Servo focusing, then if the focus distance is close enough, the focusing system effectively goes into some kind of overdrive, tracking the focus far more quickly than normal.

I gave it a try today and it's weird! The lens makes loads of incredibly fast and frequent focus adjustments and sounds like a machine gun in the process. Does a very good job of tracking a moving target though I must say. I'm impressed

Mark · 08-09-2012, 21:02

Nice shot! Didn't know about this particular feature. Don't think I have the lens for it though.

Toby · 08-09-2012, 21:33

From what I understand it'll work with any Canon macro lens, i.e. it doesn't need to be one of the more recent models or anything, but it does need to be a Canon one.

Tysonator · 02-11-2012, 22:29

I have a Canon EF100mm macro lens and I did not know special macro AF feature ! ?

Have got any links on this feature ! ?

Toby · 17-11-2012, 19:21

Not got any links off-hand but basically if you use a Canon macro lens at close distances with AI Servo, it just goes into overdrive, making minor focus corrections far more frequently.

08-09-2012, 20:50	#1
Toby Absinthe Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,023	Tried the 7D's Macro AF for the first time I'd actually forgotten about this until recently so never thought to try it. The Canon 7D has a special AF mode for macro photography. When a Canon macro lens is attached and the camera is set to AI Servo focusing, then if the focus distance is close enough, the focusing system effectively goes into some kind of overdrive, tracking the focus far more quickly than normal. I gave it a try today and it's weird! The lens makes loads of incredibly fast and frequent focus adjustments and sounds like a machine gun in the process. Does a very good job of tracking a moving target though I must say. I'm impressed __________________

08-09-2012, 21:33	#3
Toby Absinthe Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,023	From what I understand it'll work with any Canon macro lens, i.e. it doesn't need to be one of the more recent models or anything, but it does need to be a Canon one. __________________

02-11-2012, 22:29	#4
Tysonator Vodka Martini Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ESSEX Posts: 874	I have a Canon EF100mm macro lens and I did not know special macro AF feature ! ? Have got any links on this feature ! ? __________________ Will think of some witty to say, well when I think of it

17-11-2012, 19:21	#5
Toby Absinthe Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,023	Not got any links off-hand but basically if you use a Canon macro lens at close distances with AI Servo, it just goes into overdrive, making minor focus corrections far more frequently. __________________

08-09-2012, 21:02	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Nice shot! Didn't know about this particular feature. Don't think I have the lens for it though.