amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I bought a pair of 7DII early this year to replace a pair of 7D that I'd been using for five years. After about 50,000 shots with the 7DII, never had a problem with the camera... only had problems with me making incorrect settings with the camera! I agree with the suggestion to do a factory reset (in the menu). That's your best bet. With older models we'd do a complete reboot by removing the batteries, but AFAIK that's not possible with 7DII because they have a permanently built-in time/date battery.

Based on my own experiences.... Check the "silly stuff" such as the AF/MF switch on the lens is set correctly (I have them covered with gaffer tape on some lenses, to keep them from accidentally being turned off... it happens!). Has someone else used the camera and set it differently? Did you forget you've set it to Back Button Focus? Is it actually set to AI Focus instead of AI Servo? (AI Focus is slower on a lot of cameras.) .
Have you set "Orientation Linked AF Point"? If so, there are three "orientations" and all three need to be set up or you will have problems with focus. When using this feature you need to set up both the focus pattern (All, Single, Spot, Zone, Expansion) and choose your AF point with the camera in 1. horizontal/landscape orientation, 2. vertical/portrait orientation with the camera's shutter release button at the top, and 3. vertical/portrait orientation with the shutter release button at the bottom. Personally, I just leave Orientation Linked AF turned off most of the time. It can be helpful at times, allowing different AF points and different AF patterns to activate when the camera is rotatedbut has to be set up properly.

Remove the lens and clean the electronic contacts on the rear... I recommend using a clean, lint free cloth slightly dampened with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. While the lens is off, also inspect the corresponding row of pins located just inside the bayonet mount of the camera. Those are spring loaded to make good connection with the contacts on the lens. You might gently press each pin to make sure it moves freely and isn't stuck, look for any that are pressed inward and haven't sprung out properly. Also double check that the lens is fully rotated and locked in place (I haven't done that myself, but have seen others have problems when their lens wasn't fully installed... usually the aperture control won't work too, though).

If you have a second lens, try it.... maybe there's a fault with the lens on the camera and not any problem with the camera itself. Low batteries, as mentioned in another response, are another possibility.

If you don't have a second lens, you may be able to test the one you've got by switching to Live View and focusing with DPAF, which I think is a different AF system than the viewfinder-based array. If the lens works in Live View, but not in normal mode... then there's a problem with the camera's AF. If it doesn't work in either, then I'd suspect a problem with the lens. (I wouldn't suspect a problem with the lens if it's working in One Shot, just not in AI Servo.)

If it's still working, One Shot can be used with moving subjects. It's just a bit tricky because you have to anticipate movement and pre-focus, then wait for the subject to come to that point and release the shutter when they do.

Worst case, focus manually.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

I've read all the post on this thread, and you have not mentioned how long this condition has gone on. Also, what were you doing when you made adjustments to the A1 Focus system of the camera. Look on page 81, of the full 7D Mark II manual. The focus light will not light up, if you are trying to shoot a moving object, but a sharp photo can be taken. The focus lock will not work when the camera is trying to focus on a moving subject. If the camera is set to auto+ mode, the auto focus operation and AF area selection will be set automatically. You may want to check the mode switch on the to of the camera to either P, Tv, Av, M, or B mode. Then press the "Drive AF" button on the top right of the camera. Turn the small dial beside the shutter button, and cycle through the AF modes, while looking at the LCD panel (lower right side) to see the current mode selected. Good Luck.

B

Ronsh Loc: Floresville,Tx.

Maybe turn auto focus on the lens on. If you have it are you using the back button to focus.

PaulR01 Loc: West Texas

Mine went back to Canon the week I bought it. They did a firmware update and that took care of it. On a side note my 70-200 2.4 IS ii went back twice that I bought with the 7Dii. They wont give me the full story on the lens. I sent them both in with the 7Dii the first week I bought them so they could check them together. I just wouldn't hit focus on AL servo using the single point or single with 4 surrounding points.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

That's odd, if it needed Canon service only a week in, why didn't you just return it and get a new one?

PaulR01 Loc: West Texas

From the research I did at the time. I found it was an on going problem with the 7Dii with the early runs. Their was no guarantee another one right out of the box wouldn't have the same problem. The thought of sending in both together and having them calibrated as a pair was intriguing. And I can tell you now after a year and a half's use, the 70-200 is sharper on the 7Dii than it is on my 5Diii. I believe I made the right decision.