Dumb Question Subject Detect

[Photofarmer]

If im doing equine i got to animals.
People go to people etc etc
Never tried auto is it pretty good or better than that fail proof?

 

[Jake Shoots Birds]

Nothing is fool proof, and a lot depends on the body. At the moment I would say the R3 and R6ii are the closest to "fool proof". The R7 would be next with regard to identification but has issues with continual focus lock on high frame rates. R5 is fine but currently still has the first generation focus system. I don't shoot automotive much, but I did some testing when the option first came out and didn't have any issues.

My understanding is that what we'll see on the R1 and R5ii is a cut above the best they have now, which is saying something. The first shot I took with an R7 was of a bluebird in the shadows of a tree and it immediately locked on the eye - and it was only a small portion of the viewfinder and that's a $1500 body.

 

[JoeTheSnowPlowGuy]

R6 Mark 2 user and I leave subject detection on auto and it seems to work very well.

 

[miuzi]

The R8 has the same subject detection as the R6 MkII, and I generally leave mine in auto as well, unless I'm exclusively shooting one type of subject, like I'm at an event shooting people, or an airshow shooting aircraft. It works great. Any problems I encounter are typically my fault. The R8 doesn't have an AF nub on the back of the camera, but you can use the screen as a touchpad to manipulate the autofocus point, which is really handy. However, sometimes I'll move the focus point around with my nose or my cheek or something, so I've been experimenting with the different settings for this feature, and considering just turning it off entirely. As long as my nose isn't getting in the way, the subject recognition in auto works wonderfully.

 

[Photofarmer]

Guess im always worried in situations like this auto might select person rather than horse

 

[JackC]

R6 Mark 2 user and I leave subject detection on auto and it seems to work very well.

Just curious, what do you mean when you use “auto” subject detection? I have the R7 and do not see that option. Does the R6 II have different options?

 

[Kamoshika]

Just curious, what do you mean when you use “auto” subject detection? I have the R7 and do not see that option. Does the R6 II have different options?

I've set a customized button that allows me to cycle through all the options quickly. I mostly leave it on "animals." This also makes it easy to choose the "none" option, which I find very useful.

 

[MrSparks999]

I can't find it now but i'm sure i read somewhere that in auto, it prioritises people, if no people, then animals.

 

[JackC]

I've set a customized button that allows me to cycle through all the options quickly. I mostly leave it on "animals." This also makes it easy to choose the "none" option, which I find very useful.

View attachment 28460

OK. I have the answer. The R6 MkII has the Auto option but my R7 does not.

 

[Aershoz]

The R8 has the same subject detection as the R6 MkII, and I generally leave mine in auto as well, unless I'm exclusively shooting one type of subject, like I'm at an event shooting people, or an airshow shooting aircraft. It works great. Any problems I encounter are typically my fault. The R8 doesn't have an AF nub on the back of the camera, but you can use the screen as a touchpad to manipulate the autofocus point, which is really handy. However, sometimes I'll move the focus point around with my nose or my cheek or something, so I've been experimenting with the different settings for this feature, and considering just turning it off entirely. As long as my nose isn't getting in the way, the subject recognition in auto works wonderfully.

Do you use Vehicles for aircraft?

 

[ctitanic]

The R6 Mk I does not have Auto but I can confirm that if you select people in the case of a horse rider, it will stick to the person face or eye.

In the case of Animal, it will detect the horse and if it can't then it will try People.

 

[ctitanic]

Guess im always worried in situations like this auto might select person rather than horse



View attachment 28458

Well, in this situation I would not select Auto, I would pick what is important to me. I would pick person. The main reason is that for example, in this picture the contrast around the eye of the animal is not great so AF will hunt a lot.

 

[miuzi]

Do you use Vehicles for aircraft?

I do, yep. It works for aircraft, cars, and I think motorcycles and trains as well? Not that I've photographed many of those. Typically when I'm shooting an airshow, though, the only other features that might be in frame are the aircraft and then the clouds or smoke trails or something, so I don't feel like it's really necessary. There are times when I'll try to get a shot with more context in frame though, like I'll back up from the rest of the viewers to take a wider shot with a performer in the sky above the crowd or landscape or whatever, so I suppose it could come in handy to prioritize the aircraft over spectators or whatever.