Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Interesting article:

"Amazing! The Canon EOS R3 Eye AF Works on Butterflies.
When I first tried out the Canon EOS R3, I was blown away by the autofocus performance. With the R3, Canon has not only mastered what mirrorless cameras traditionally struggle with — autofocusing in the dark — but manages to keep up with a 30 fps burst and quickly lock focus on even the eyes of an animal.
If I was a professional wildlife photographer (rather than a wedding photographer), the Canon EOS R3 would be my camera of choice. Yes, there are several cameras with animal eye AF. But, many of them seem to struggle with dark-colored eyes on a dark-colored animal, such as my brown dog with brown eyes. The R3 could impressively focus on dark eyes on dark fur or feathers — even on a tiny animal like a black-capped chickadee, with an eye no larger than a bead.

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I recently had the chance to test out Canon’s new RF 100mm Macro lens — and of course, I wanted it mounted on the R3. But, while testing out this lens, I realized Canon’s eye AF is even better than just focusing on the tiny black eye of a black-capped chickadee when the R3 drew an autofocus box around the eye of a butterfly.

The animal eye AF on the Canon R3 is so insane that it focuses on the eyes of insects. Mind = Blown.

I’ve updated the Canon EOS R3 review with the new experience. Here’s what I added:

The Animal Eye AF is so good, in fact, that it actually sometimes even works on insects. With the RF 100mm macro, the R3 found a butterfly’s eye for me. It also was capable of distinguishing the head of a bumblebee from the rest of its body. This works similar to how the animal eye AF works overall — if you are close enough for the eye to be more than a few pixels, the camera will find the eye. If you are too far away for the eyes to be that big, it will find the animal. It works on larger bugs when close enough but naturally didn’t find the eyes of, say, carpenter ants. While it works best with macro lenses, it even locked onto the eyes of a butterfly with the 70-200mm f4 L lens.

If you have a macro lens and can get close enough, the R3 will sometimes lock right onto the bug’s eye. The R3 was alternating between following the whole body of a flying bumblebee and, once closer, the eye of the insect itself. Macro lenses are naturally a bit tougher to focus with, so I did have a few more autofocus misses with the 100mm, but the R3 was able to find the correct point to focus on — the eye — faster than I could manually. It’s not perfect — it can occasionally be fooled by the pattern of the butterfly’s wings. But, had I waited for my finger to place the AF point, the insect would have moved and I would have missed the shot entirely. That’s a huge advantage when shooting bugs and wildlife.

If the Canon R10 and R7 truly get some of the smarts of the R3 as Canon says, then those cameras are going to be game-changers for beginners shooting wildlife."

kcooke Loc: Alabama

In my opinion, If the focusing system works as well in the R7 or R10, it will be a game changer for everyone using them.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

I have the R5 and I like the eye tracking, but in places like Yellowstone I don’t use it much as it certainly does not work on bears, bison, moose, elk and some times not the birds. Have you used the R5? I would try it, but don’t want to go down in MP. I can crop like crazy with the R5. But I sure would like they eye tracking to work better! I love the button set up on the R5. It is so much better than my 5D. If they would make a crop sensor with the same button set up as the R5 and MP with R3 eye tracking…..

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I also have the R5. I find the animal and people eye tracking to be spot on. I haven't use it in Yellowstone, but I have taken quite a few animal photos without any problem.

tcthome Loc: NJ

I think the R5 is the best bang for the buck right now. (excluding cameras that might have just been released=don't know them) BIF? With something like trees in the background. Does the background show on a slant in the photo?

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

It does depend some on the background, but way too often it goes for the bush or something nearby. If it is a bird in the sky it works well. If the background is clean it works better on animals, but often I get a big box on the whole animal or lots of little boxes as opposed to the spot box on the eye. I use BBF and first use the spot box and focus then go to eye track, sometimes it sticks. I like the R5, but hope they work on the dark eye on dark animal!

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

I too have the Canon R5 and it doesn't have any problem finding/tracking the eyes of animals. In fact, it will find/track the eyes of people in full-length shots on TV (58" screen) from ten feet.
I haven't tried (maybe I just have not noticed) this on insects. The R5 gives you the options of eye focus points for people, animals, or vehicles and none.

Have you checked to see if you have the latest software loaded?
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

PS: Don't forget that, on the Canon R5, instead of changing to a telephoto lens for just a couple of shots you can also set your "Cropping/Aspect Ratio to 1.6
and still, have enough file size to process. Dual Pixel will greatly increase file sizes when shooting RAW or CRAW.
Using "Menu, Camera Icon, 1" you may change from "Full Sensor to 1.6, 1:1, 4:3, or 16:9".
Isn't photography fun!?

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

I do use the crop, just hate it when I forget to put it back to full frame! Don't get me wrong, I do really like the R5, but find I try eye tracking and if it does not lock on, I end up putting the box where I want with spot focus. I have to look to see if there is an update after 1.5.2.

This is the multiple box I get often, seems the eye is rather obvious.

(Download)

This is the big box syndrome! I get it on elk and deer a lot as well.

(Download)

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

One last thing, do you have your R5 (under AF 1) set as follows:
Under
AF Operation (Set to) - Servo AF
AF Method (Set to) - AF/Smile/box-in-a-box
Subject to detect (Set to) - people, animals, vehicles, or none
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

Yes and thank you for all your thoughts!