Canon R7 R7...very inconsistent auto focus

[JimLeslie]

I have an R7 and the 100-500L lens that are used for aviation photography. When it's on, the results are beautiful.

However, my experience with this combination is that the auto focus results are very inconsistent and highly annoying to say the least. In the same stream of 5 or 6 shots, at least one third to one half will be out of focus. The frame rate is 8 fps, EFCS is selected as is spot AF.

This is not my experience at the same settings with my T7i and Canon 7D II using the EF 100-400 L II. The focus is always spot on and consistent.

Both the R7 and the 100-500 are at the latest firmware versions.

Have others experienced similar results?

 

[PKM-UK]

Hi Jim,

In the absence of any other responses to date, I'll give you my thoughts. My wife (Karen) had a 7D II/ EF 100-400 L II and now has an R7/ RF 100-500 L, but - speculative punts at an aircraft passing overhead aside - we don't do in flight aviation photography, so please make of this what you will.

Though I've seen some users report inconsistent AF performance with their R7's, Karen has good experiences/ outcomes with her set-up/ subjects.

When we moved across from DSLR's to mirrorless we did have to change the way we thought about our set up - particularly with regards to AF. The thing about your post which caught my eye was 'spot AF'. My understanding is this is for honing in on specific points on static objects (e.g. macro).

There are many YouTube articles on R System AF set-up, but you may find AF explained by Randy Winston of interest. (Chapter Markers are your best friend). I believe there are other AF Area options (plus AI Servo and Tracking optimisations) which should yield better/ more consistent results.


Hopefully, other forum users who shoot aviation will be able to provide more specific advice on AF set up and techniques.



Phil

• Join to view EXIF data.

 

[ACEkin]

Several years ago, the R7 series cameras that my wife and I had showed similar problems. Eventually, my local dealer, where I purchased both of them, came to our help and swapped them with new ones. Since then, the erratic focus problems have stopped. My take was, and still is, that the quality control at Canon was probably letting some units hit the market despite some flaws. I shared my thoughts on my website, with a full set of sample files, and I posted that here as well. Of course, my observations and conclusions were intuitive and experience-based. Another R7 user was able to swap his camera based on my article, a while later. Here is the link to the original article on my site:

The shaky saga of Canon R7 Kits - Kept Light Photography

I have been using Canon brand cameras since 1971 when Jan got me one at the PX of the Incirlik Airforce Base. Started with an FTb, I have used well over a

www.keptlight.com

 

[JimLeslie]

Hi Jim,

In the absence of any other responses to date, I'll give you my thoughts. My wife (Karen) had a 7D II/ EF 100-400 L II and now has an R7/ RF 100-500 L, but - speculative punts at an aircraft passing overhead aside - we don't do in flight aviation photography, so please make of this what you will.

Though I've seen some users report inconsistent AF performance with their R7's, Karen has good experiences/ outcomes with her set-up/ subjects.

When we moved across from DSLR's to mirrorless we did have to change the way we thought about our set up - particularly with regards to AF. The thing about your post which caught my eye was 'spot AF'. My understanding is this is for honing in on specific points on static objects (e.g. macro).

There are many YouTube articles on R System AF set-up, but you may find AF explained by Randy Winston of interest. (Chapter Markers are your best friend). I believe there are other AF Area options (plus AI Servo and Tracking optimisations) which should yield better/ more consistent results.


Hopefully, other forum users who shoot aviation will be able to provide more specific advice on AF set up and techniques.



Phil


View attachment 44344

 

[AntonLargiader]

It might not be your problem, but I don't see the advantage in using Spot AF for aircraft. It's not like anything else is competing for focus, and I doubt you care which part of the aircraft gets selected. It has taken me a while, but I've been moving to larger AF areas as time goes on. Cameras generally focus on the closest object in the AF area, so Spot is good for picking one athlete out of a pack, but if there's only one closest object in view, then you may as well give the camera the freedom to find what it wants in that larger area. Seems reasonable to me that it would hunt less that way.

EDIT: are you using tracking?

 

[JimLeslie]

It might not be your problem, but I don't see the advantage in using Spot AF for aircraft. It's not like anything else is competing for focus, and I doubt you care which part of the aircraft gets selected. It has taken me a while, but I've been moving to larger AF areas as time goes on. Cameras generally focus on the closest object in the AF area, so Spot is good for picking one athlete out of a pack, but if there's only one closest object in view, then you may as well give the camera the freedom to find what it wants in that larger area. Seems reasonable to me that it would hunt less that way.

EDIT: are you using tracking?

Anton:

Your suggestion is a good one. I did expand the focus area and it helped a bit but my miss rate is still too high. I sent the camera in to Canon for evaluation and should have it or a replacement back in 10 more days or so.


Specific to tracking, I don't use it. Thanks for your response.

 

[AntonLargiader]

I would try tracking. As with the AF area, there are no other things that the tracking can jump to, so if it helps the R7 stay on target why not?

There are definitely times when tracking is not helpful, though. If it's tracking an athlete's face, and the athlete turns away, it can jump to a nearby face (an official, or maybe a spectator) if the AF area allows it.

 

[JimOfOakCreek]

I have not had any focusing issues with my R7. I bought it recently (March, 2026) directly from Canon’s Web site as a refurbished camera. I shoot birds with an RF 800 f/11, which is much more challenging than shooting aircraft. It may be that some examples of R7s have focusing issues. It could be only some older examples may be flawed. Can you contact Canon Support to see if they will repair or replace? Canon has a reputation for supporting their customers.

My technique for shooting birds is to disable the autofocus in the shutter release button. I use the ‘AF-on’ button on the back of the camera. Once I get the bird in focus I release that button so the camera doesn’t keep hunting for focus.

 

[JimLeslie]

I have not had any focusing issues with my R7. I bought it recently (March, 2026) directly from Canon’s Web site as a refurbished camera. I shoot birds with an RF 800 f/11, which is much more challenging than shooting aircraft. It may be that some examples of R7s have focusing issues. It could be only some older examples may be flawed. Can you contact Canon Support to see if they will repair or replace? Canon has a reputation for supporting their customers.

My technique for shooting birds is to disable the autofocus in the shutter release button. I use the ‘AF-on’ button on the back of the camera. Once I get the bird in focus I release that button so the camera doesn’t keep hunting for focus.

Thanks for your reply. The autofocus issues are definitely real with the R7 but they can, for the most part, be overcome. The trick is getting the settings squared away. That's been done but the journey wasn't a pleasant one. When shooting aircraft with my 7D II/EF 100-400L II, the settings were VERY straightforward and rather simplistic...Auto ISO, TV mode, set the shutter speed in TV mode for either props or jets, single point focus, and let the camera set the f stop. It worked like a charm and my results were outstanding.

The R7/RF 100-500L were purchased for the additional reach as well as being lighter in weight. Initially, I set the camera up using basically the same settings as used with the 7D II/EF 100-400L II. There is NO reason why it should have to be more complicated than that but it was...and needlessly so. That said, the settings have been tweeked and the results are now quite good. The only area that the new kit can't quite consistently match the previous one is at the slower shutter speeds (i.e. less than 1/500).

Lastly, I fully agree with you that Canon does support its customers. The R7 was sent back to Canon support under warranty and the result was that the imaging sensor assembly was out of position causing the focusing issues and this was rectified. At this point, all seems to be sunny. Honestly, I'm waiting for the R7 II to be introduced and see if the autofocus issues and overall performance is a reasonable improvement to consider upgrading. Time will tell.

Again, I appreciate your response.