Canon EOS 7D Instruction Manual

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As default setting, the following three AF area selection modes can be 
selected. See the next page for the selection procedure.
Single-point AF (Manual selection) (p.93)
Select one AF point to focus.
Zone AF (Manual selection of a zone) (p.94)
The 19 AF points are divided into five zones for 
focusing.
Auto select 19-point AF (p.94)
All the AF points are used to focus. Set in fully-
automatic modes ( 1/C ).
With [ 8C.Fn III -6: Select AF area selec. mode ] (p.228), the following 
two AF area selection modes can be added.
Spot AF (Manual selection) (p.93)
For pinpoint focusing.
AF point expansion (Manual selection) (p.93)
The manually-selected AF point < S> and adjacent 
AF points < w> are used to focus.
S Selecting the AF Area N
Default AF Area Selection Modes
AF Area Selection Modes Ad ded with Custom Functions 
						

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S Selecting the AF Area N
Select the AF area selection 
mode.
Press the < S> button. ( 9)
 Look through the viewfinder and 
press the < B> button.
 Press the < B> button to change 
the AF area selection mode.
By default, the button changes the 
mode to single-point AF, Zone AF, 
and 19-point AF.
1Press the  button. ( 9 )
 The 19 AF points will be displayed in 
the viewfinder.
 If Zone AF has been set, the selected 
zone will also be displayed.
2Select the AF point.
The AF point selection will change in 
the direction you tilt the < 9>. If you 
press < 9> straight down, the center 
AF point (or zone) will be selected.
 You can also use the < 6> and 
< 5 > dials to select the AF point. The 
< 6 > dial selects an AF point in the 
horizontal direction, and the < 5> 
dial selects an AF point in the vertical 
direction.
Selecting the AF Area Selection Mode
Selecting the AF Point Manually
With [ 8C.Fn III -7: Manual AF pt. selec. pattern ], you can set either [0: 
Stops at AF area edges ] or [1: Continuous ] (p.228). 
						

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The AF areas are explained starting with the smallest one.Although this is the same as single-point AF, the 
selected AF point  covers a smaller pinpoint 
area to focus. Effective for pinpoint focusing 
overlapping subjects such as an animal in a cage.
Since Spot AF covers a very small area, focusing 
might be difficult during hand-held shooting or for a 
moving subject. 
Select one AF point  to be used to focus.
The manually-selected AF point < S> and adjacent AF points  are 
used to focus. Effective when it is di fficult to track a moving subject with 
just one AF point. 
With AI Servo AF, the m anually-selected AF point < S> must focus-
track the subject first. However, it is easier to focus the target subject 
than with Zone AF.
With One-Shot AF, when focus is achieved with the expanded AF point, 
the expanded AF point < S> will also be displayed along with the 
manually-selected AF point < S>.
AF Area Selection Modes
(1) Spot AF (M anual selection)C.Fn III -6
(2) Single-point AF  (Manual selection)
(3) AF point expansion (Manual selection)C.Fn III -6 
						

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AF Area Selection Modes
The 19 AF points are divided into five zones for focusing. All the AF 
points in the selected zone are used for the automatic selection of the 
AF point. It makes achieving focus easier than with single-point AF or 
AF point expansion and it is effect ive for moving subjects. However, 
since it is inclined to focus the nearest subject, focusing a specific target 
is harder than with single-point AF or AF point expansion.
With One-Shot AF, the AF point < S> which achieved focus will be 
displayed.
All the AF points are used to focus. Automatically set in fully-automatic 
modes (1 /C).
With One-Shot AF, pressing the shutter button 
halfway will display the AF point(s) < S> which 
achieved focus. If multiple AF points are displayed, 
it means they all have ac hieved focus. This mode 
tends to focus the nearest subject.
With AI Servo AF, the manually-selected (p.92) AF 
point < S> is used first to achieve focus. This 
cannot be set in fully-automatic modes ( 1/C ).
(4) Zone AF (Manual  selection of zone)
(5) 19-point AF auto selection
With 19-point AF and Zone AF, the active AF point will keep switching to 
track the subject in AI Servo AF mode. However, under certain shooting 
conditions (such as when th e subject is small), it might not be able to track 
the subject. Also, in low temperatures, the tracking response is slower. 
						

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AF Area Selection Modes
With lenses whose maximum aperture is larger than f/5.6
With all AF points, cross-type AF sensitive to both vertical and horizontal lines 
is possible. With the following lenses, the peripheral AF points will be vertical-
line or horizontal-line sensitive only. (They will not work as cross-type points.)
With lenses whose maximum aperture is larger than f/2.8*
With the center AF point, high-precision, cross-type AF sensitive to both vertical 
and horizontal lines is possible. The center AF point’s sensitivity to vertical and 
horizontal lines is about twice as sensitive as the other AF points.
The remaining 18 AF points will work as cross-type points with lenses 
brighter than f/5.6.
* Except with the EF 28-80mm f/2.8-4L USM and EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro lenses.
Lens’ Maximum Aperture and AF Sensitivity
 If [8 C.Fn III -12: Orientation linked AF point ] is set to [1: Select 
different AF points ], you can set the AF area selection mode and 
manually-selected AF point (or zone in the case of Zone AF) separately 
for vertical and horizontal shooting (p.230).
 If [8 C.Fn III -10: Focus display in AI SERVO/MF ] is set to [Disable], 
the active AF points < S> during AI Servo AF will not be displayed.
List of the lenses with which peripheral AF points will become 
vertical-line or horizontal-line sensitive
Cross-type AF
Vertical-line sensitive AF
Horizontal-line sensitive AF
With the lenses listed below, cross-type AF is not possible with < > and 
< > AF points.
EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6, EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 II, EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 III, EF 35-
80mm f/4-5.6 USM, EF 35-105mm f/4.5-5.6, EF 35-105mm f/4.5-5.6 USM, 
EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II, EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 USM 
						

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Autofocus can fail to achieve focus (the focus confirmation light < o> 
blinks) with certain subjec ts such as the following:
Subjects difficult to focus
Very low-contrast subjects
(Example: Blue sky, solid-color walls, etc.)
 Subjects in very low light
 Extremely backlit or reflective subjects
(Example: Car with a highly reflective body, etc.)
 Near and far subjects covered by an AF point 
(Example: Animal in a cage, etc.)
 Repetitive patterns
(Example: Skyscraper windows, computer keyboards, etc.)
In such cases, do one of the following:
(1) With One-Shot AF, focus an object at the same distance as the  subject and lock the focus before recomposing (p.54).
(2) Set the lens focus mode switch to < MF> and focus manually.
1Set the lens focus  mode switch to 
.
2Focus the subject.
 Focus by turning the lens focusing 
ring until the subject looks sharp in 
the viewfinder.
When Autofocus Fails
MF: Manual Focusing
If you press the shutter button halfway during manual focusing, the AF point 
which achieved focus will be display ed and the focus confirmation light 
< o > will light in the viewfinder.
Focusing ring 
						

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Single and continuous drive modes are provided. In the  (Full Auto) mode, single shooting is set automatically.
1Press the  button. (9 )
2Select the drive mode.
While looking at the LCD panel, turn 
the < 5> dial.
u : Single shooting
When you press the shutter button completely, one shot will be 
taken.
o :High-speed continuous shooting  (Max. 8 shots per sec.)
i :Low-speed continuous shooting
 (Max. 3 shots per sec.)
While you hold down the shutter button completely, shots will be 
taken continuously.
Q :10-sec. self-timer/Remote control
k :2-sec. self-timer/Remote control
For self-timer shooting, see t he next page. For remote control 
shooting, see page 114.
i  Selecting the Drive Mode N
When the battery level is low, the continuous shooting speed will be 
slightly slower.
 In the AI Servo AF mode, the continuous shooting speed may become 
slightly slower depending on the  subject and the lens used.
 In low-light areas or indoors, the continuous shooting speed may 
become slower even if a fast shutter speed is set. 
						

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Use the self-timer when you want to be in the picture. The  (10 sec. timer) can be used in all shooting modes.
1Press the  button. (9 )
2Select the self-timer.
Look at the LCD panel and turn the 
 dial to select the self-timer.
Q : 10-sec. self-timer
k : 2-sec. self-timer N
3Take the picture.
Look through the viewfinder, focus 
the subject, then press the shutter 
button completely.
 You can check the self-timer 
operation with the self-timer lamp, 
beeper, and countdown display (in 
seconds) on the LCD panel.
 Two seconds before the picture is 
taken, the self-timer lamp will stay on 
and the beeper will sound faster.
j Using the Self-timer
 The < k> 2-sec. self-timer enables you to shoot while not touching the 
camera mounted on a tripod. This prevents camera shake while you 
shoot still lifes or bulb exposures.
 After taking self-timer shots, you should check the image for proper focus 
and exposure (p.166).
 If you will not look through the viewfinder when you press the shutter 
button, attach the eyepiece cover (p.112). If stray light enters the 
viewfinder when the picture is taken, it may throw off the exposure.
 When using the self-timer to shoot only yourself, use focus lock (p.54) for 
an object at about the same distance as where you will be.
 To cancel the self-timer after it starts, press the < o> button. 
						

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5
Advanced Operations
In the d/s /f /a /F  
shooting modes, you can select 
the shutter speed, aperture, and 
other camera settings to change 
the exposure and obtain the 
desired result.
 The  M icon on the right of the page title indicates that the 
function can be used when the Mode Dial is set to < d/s /
f /a/F >.
 After you press the shutter button halfway and let go, the 
LCD panel and viewfinder information will remain displayed 
for about 4 sec. ( 0).
 Functions which can be set in the  d/s /f /a/F  
shooting modes are listed in  “Function Availability Table” 
(p.254).
Be sure to first set the Quick Control Dial switch to < J>. 
						

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The camera automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture to suit 
the subject’s brightness. This is called Program AE.
*  stands for Program.* AE stands for Auto Exposure.
1Set the Mode Dial to < d>.
2Focus the subject.
 Look through the viewfinder and aim 
the selected AF point over the 
subject. Then press the shutter button 
halfway.
 When focus is achieved, the focus 
confirmation light < o> on the 
viewfinder’s bottom right will light 
(One-Shot AF mode).
 The shutter speed and aperture will 
be set automatically and displayed in 
the viewfinder and on the LCD panel.
3Check the shutter speed and 
aperture display.
 A correct exposure will be obtained 
as long as the shutter speed and 
aperture display do not blink.
4Take the picture.
Compose the shot and press the 
shutter button completely.
d: Program AE