Canon 1dx Owners Manual

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Lenses and Usable AF Points
Only 33 of the 61 AF points can be used for autofocusing. All of the AF 
area selection modes are selectabl e. During automatic AF point 
selection, the outer frame marking the AF area (Area AF frame) will be 
different from 61-point automatic selection AF.
: Cross-type AF point. Subject tracking is superior and high-
precision focusing is achieved.
: AF points sensitive to horizontal 
lines.
: Disabled AF points (not displayed).
Only the AF point at the center  of the viewfinder can be used for 
autofocusing. Only the following AF area selection modes are 
selectable: Single-point AF (Manual selection) and Single-point Spot AF 
(Manual selection).
: Cross-type AF point. Subject tracking is superior and high-
precision focusing is achieved.
: Disabled AF points (not displayed).
Group G
EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM 
+ Extender EF1.4xEF1200mm f/5.6L USM
Group H
EF35-105mm f/4.5-5.6 EF35-105mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
With lenses whose maximum aperture 
is smaller than f/5.6, AF is not 
possible during viewfinder  shooting. Also, AF with f is not possible 
during Live View shooti ng and movie shooting.
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You can easily fine-tune AI Servo AF to suit a particular subject or 
scene just by selecting a case from 1  to 6. This feature is called the “AF 
Configuration Tool”.
1Select the [21] tab.
2Select a case.
 Turn the < 5> dial to select a case 
icon, then press .
X The selected case will be set. The 
selected case is indicated in blue.
As explained on pages 87 to 89, cases 1 to 6 are six combinations of 
subject-tracking sensitivity, accele ration/deceleration tracking, and AF 
point auto switching settings. Refer to the table below to select the case 
applicable to the subject or scene.
3 Selecting AI Servo AF Characteristics (For a Subject)
About Cases 1 to 6
CaseIconDescriptionApplicable SubjectsPage
Case 1 Versatile multi purpose 
setting For any moving subject. 83
Case 2 Continue to track the 
subjects, ignori
ng possible 
obstacles Tennis players, butterfly 
swimmers, freestyle skiers, 
etc.
83
Case 3 Instantly focus on subjects 
suddenly entering AF 
points Starting line of a bicycle 
race, alpine downhill skiers, 
etc.
84
Case 4
For subjects that accelerate 
or decelerate quicklySoccer, motor sports, 
basketball, etc. 84
Case 5 For erratic subjects moving 
quickly in any direction Figure skaters, etc. 85
Case 6 For subjects that change 
speed and move erratically  Rhythm gymnastics, etc. 86
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3 Selecting AI Servo AF Characteristics (For a Subject)
Standard setting suited for any moving 
subject. Works with many subjects and 
scenes.
Select [Case 2 ] to [Case 6 ] in the 
following cases: when obstacles enter 
AF points, when the subject tends to 
stray from AF points, when you want to 
focus a subject that suddenly appears, or 
when the subject moves dramatically up, 
down, left, or right.
The camera will try to continue focusing 
the subject even if an obstacle enters the 
AF points or if the subject strays from the 
AF points. Effective when there may be 
an obstacle blocking the subject or when 
you do not want to focus the 
background.
Case 1: Versatile multi purpose setting
Default settings
• Tracking sensitivity: [ 0]
• Accel./decel. tracking: [ 0]
• AF pt auto switching: [ 0]
Case 2: Continue to track subjects,  ignoring possible obstacles
Default settings
• Tracking sensitivity: 
[Locked on: -1 ]
• Accel./decel. tracking: [ 0]
• AF pt auto switching: [ 0]
If an obstacle gets in  the way or if the subject  moves away from the AF 
points for a prolonged period and the focus on the target subj ect is lost with 
the default setting, setting [ Tracking sensitivity] to [Locked on: -2 ] may 
give better res ults (p.87).
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							3 Selecting AI Servo AF Characteristics (For a Subject)
84
Once an AF point starts tracking the 
subject, this setting  enables the camera 
to focus consecutive subjects at different 
distances. If a new subject appears in 
front of the target su bject, the camera will 
start focusing the new subject. Also 
effective when you want to always focus 
on the closest subject.
Geared for tracking moving subjects 
prone to sudden, dramatic changes in 
speed.
Effective for subjects with sudden 
movements, sudden acceleration/
deceleration, or sudden stops.
Case 3: Instantly focus on subjects suddenly entering AF points
Default settings
• Tracking sensitivity: 
[Responsive: +1 ]
• Accel./decel. tracking: [ +1]
• AF pt auto switching: [ 0]
Case 4: For subjects that ac celerate or decelerate quickly
If you want to quickly focus a su bject appearing suddenly, setting [ Tracking 
sensitivity ] to [+2] may give better results (p.87).
Default settings
• Tracking sensitivity: [ 0]
• Accel./decel. tracking: [ +1]
• AF pt auto switching: [ 0]
If the subject is in motion, and prone  to sudden, dramatic changes in speed, 
setting [ Accel./decel. tracking ] to [+2] may give better results (p.88).
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3 Selecting AI Servo AF Characteristics (For a Subject)
Even if the target subject moves 
dramatically up, down, left, or right, the 
AF point will switch automatically to 
focus-track the subject. Effective for 
shooting subjects that move dramatically 
up, down, left, or right. This setting takes 
effect when the following AF area 
selection modes are set: AF point 
expansion (Manual selection  ), AF 
point expansion (Manual selection, 
surrounding points), Zone AF (Manual 
selection), 61-point automatic selection 
AF.
This setting is not available with the 
Single-point Spot AF (Manual 
selection) and Single-point AF 
(Manual selection) modes.
Case 5: For erratic subjects mo ving quickly in any direction
Default settings
• Tracking sensitivity: [0]
• Accel./decel. tracking: [ 0]
• AF pt auto switching: [ +1]
If the subject is prone to sudden, erratic movements up, do wn, left or right, 
setting [ AF pt auto switching ] to [+2] may give better results (p.89).
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86
Geared for tracking moving subjects 
whose speed can change dramatically 
and suddenly. Also, if the target subject 
moves dramatically up, down, left or right 
and it is difficult to focus, the AF point 
switches automatically to track the 
subject.
This setting takes effect when the 
following AF area selection modes are 
set: AF point expansion (Manual 
selection  ), AF point expansion 
(Manual selection, surrounding points), 
Zone AF (Manual selection), 61-point 
automatic selection AF.
This setting is not available with the 
Single-point Spot AF (Manual 
selection) and Single-point AF 
(Manual selection) modes.
Case 6: For subjects that change speed and move erratically
Default settings
• Tracking sensitivity: [ 0]
• Accel./decel. tracking: [ +1]
• AF pt auto switching: [ +1]
  If the speed of the moving subject  suddenly changes greatly, setting 
[ Accel./decel. tracking ] to [+2] may give better results (p.88).
  If the subject moves suddenly and er ratically up, down, left, or right, 
setting [ AF pt auto switching ] to [+2] may give better results (p.89).
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3 Selecting AI Servo AF Characteristics (For a Subject)
 Tracking sensitivity
Sets the subject-tracking sensitivity 
during AI Servo AF when an obstacle 
enters the AF points or when the AF 
points stray from the subject. 
[0] Standard setting suited for most moving subjects.
[Locked on: -2 / Locked on: -1 ]
The camera will try to continue focusing the subject even if an 
obstacle enters the AF points or if the subject strays from the AF 
points. The -2 setting makes the ca mera track the target subject 
longer than with the -1 setting.
However, if the camera focuses the wrong subject, it may take slightly 
longer to switch subjects and refocus the target subject.
[Responsive: +2 / Responsive:+1 ]
Once an AF point tracks a subject,  the camera can focus consecutive 
subjects at different distances.  Also effective when you want to 
always focus on the closest subjec t. The +2 setting makes it quicker 
to focus the next consecutive subject than with +1.
However, the camera will be more prone to focus on the wrong 
subject.
About the Parameters
[ Tracking sensitivity ] is the parameter named [ AI Servo tracking 
sensitivity ] in the EOS-1D Ma rk III/IV, EOS-1Ds Ma rk III, and EOS 7D.
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88
 Acceleration/deceleration tracking
This sets the tracking sensitivity for 
moving subjects whose speed can 
suddenly change dramatically by starting 
or stopping suddenly, etc.
[0] Suited for subjects that move at a fixed speed.
[+2 / +1 ]
Effective for subjects having sudden movements, sudden 
acceleration/deceleration, or sudden stops. Even if the moving 
subject’s speed suddenly changes  dramatically, the camera 
continues to focus the target  subject. For example, for an 
approaching subject, the camera  becomes less prone to focus 
behind it, which would result in  a blurred subject. For a subject 
stopping suddenly, the camera beco mes less prone to focus in front 
of it. Setting +2 can track dramat ic changes in the moving subject’s 
speed better than with +1.
However, since the camera will  be sensitive to even slight 
movements of the subject, the focusing may be unstable 
momentarily.
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3 Selecting AI Servo AF Characteristics (For a Subject)
 AF point auto switching
This sets the switching sensitivity of the 
AF points as they track a subject that 
moves dramatically up, down, left, or 
right.
This setting takes effect in the following 
AF area selection modes: AF point 
expansion (Manual selection  ), AF 
point expansion (Manual selection, 
surrounding points), Zone AF (Manual 
selection), 61-point automatic selection 
AF.
[0] Standard setting for gradual AF point switching.
[+2 / +1 ]
Even if the target subject moves dr amatically up, down, left, or right 
and moves away from the AF point,  the AF point switches to another 
one to continue focusing the subjec t. The camera switches to the AF 
point deemed most likely to focus the subject based on the subject’s 
continual movement, contrast, etc. Setting +2 makes the camera 
more prone to switch the AF point than with +1. 
However, with a wide-angle lens having  a wide depth of field or if the 
subject is too small in the frame, the camera may focus with the 
wrong AF point.
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You can adjust each case’s three parame ters (1. Tracking sensitivity, 2. 
Accel./decel. tracking, and 3. AF  pt auto switching) as desired.
1Select a case.
 Turn the < 5> dial to select the icon 
of the case you want to adjust.
2Press the < J/K> button.
 The selected parameter will have a 
purple frame.
3Select the desired item.
 Turn the < 5> dial to select a 
parameter, then press < 0>.
  When Tracking sensitivity is selected, 
the setting screen will appear.
4Make the adjustment.
 Turn the < 5> dial to adjust the 
parameter as desired, then press 
< 0 >.
X The adjustment is saved.
  The default setting is indicated by the 
light gray [ C] mark.
5Exit the setting.
 To return to the screen in step 1, 
press the  button.
Changing Cases’ Parameter Settings
 In step 2, pressing the < L> button will reset the re spective case’s three 
parameters to their default settings.
  You can also register ea ch of the three parameter settings to My Menu 
(p.346). Doing so w ill change the selected  case’s settings.
  When shooting with a ca se whose parameters you adjusted, select the 
adjusted case and then take the picture.
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