Canon EOS-1D/DS - Manual

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The Canon EOS-1D/Ds-series offers the broadest

and most sophisticated autofocus capabilities of all

EOS DSLRs. For example, the EOS-1D Mark IV

alone offers 16 different AF custom functions. Many of

these functions are unfamiliar to new users, yet even

users who are familiar with them may have trouble

remembering the full range of options.

This QuickGuide will therefore provide a

summary of the most popular and useful functions

related to AF point management, how they work,

and the photographic problems they’re designed to

solve. We encourage you to experiment with various

settings so you can become familiar with how they

operate and confirm which are most useful and when.
EOS-1D/Ds cameras allow you to control:

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Whether AF points are selected automatically or

manually

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How many manual AF points are available for

selection

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Which manual AF point you select to be active

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Whether the manual AF point can expand if

necessary to achieve focus

Automatic AF Point Selection

This is the default mode. All 45 AF points are active.

Whenever you’re set to Automatic AF point selection

mode, the camera will automatically choose which of

the 45 available points to use to achieve and maintain

focus on your subject. This makes automatic AF point

selection mode ideal for rapid shooting situations

where the camera can focus more quickly than you

can. How the AF points are selected and displayed

in the viewfinder will depend on which AF mode the

camera is set to.

One-Shot AF Mode:

The camera will select the

AF point(s) that cover the nearest subject with

recognizable detail. The point(s) it selects will

light up red in the viewfinder.

AI Servo AF Mode:

The camera will first use

the

center

AF point to focus and begin tracking

the subject. If the subject moves away from the

center, the camera will automatically transfer

focus to the outer AF points to continue tracking

the subject. When Automatic AF point selection is

combined with AI Servo AF, the active AF points

will

not

light up red in the viewfinder.

Manual AF Point Selection

This mode allows you to manually select any of

the available AF points to use for focusing on your

subject. With any “Mark III” model you can manually

select 19 of the 45 points, one at a time. With “Mark

IV” models you can manually select any one of the 45

points.

Regardless of whether the camera is set for One-

Shot AF or AI Servo AF, the AF point you manually

select will be the only one available. It should ideally

be the one closest to the area of your subject you

want tack-sharp and that will require the least amount

of re-framing. To manually select an AF point:

1. Press the rear AF Point Select Button. You

will then have six seconds to turn whatever

dial you prefer to use to select AF points.

2. Use either the rear Quick Control Dial, the

top Main Dial, or the Multi-controller to

navigate from one AF point to another.

Whenever you’re selecting an AF point, the one that

is active will appear red in the finder. If a “ring” of

outer points lights-up red, you’re in Automatic AF point

selection mode. Either way, you can stop selecting

when the point (or points) you want light red in the

finder.

Manual vs. Automatic AF Point Selection

As a rule, professional photographers prefer to

manually select the AF point closest to the area of

the subject where they wish to focus. This minimizes

the need to reframe as well as the risk of focus

shift caused by reframing. When shooting moving

subjects, you should set the camera to AI Servo AF.

As long as you keep the AF point centered on the

subject the camera will maintain focus.

There may be occasions when the area you’ve

picked doesn’t have enough detail or it’s difficult to

keep the AF point centered on the subject. The EOS

1D and Ds therefore have custom functions that can

be set to automatically adjust for such situations and

thereby increase the percentage of sharply focused

images. Custom Functions allow you to refine the

AF controls on your camera to suit specific needs,

preferences, and circumstances.

QuickGuide to EOS-1D/Ds

AF Point Management