Focusing

One of the biggest challenges of shooting video on any DSLR, including the 6D, is adjusting focus. This is because you can’t look through the viewfinder to set focus, and continuous focusing of a moving subject is not possible when shooting video. The 6D has three autofocus modes:

• FlexiZone – Single: The image sensor is used to focus.

• Face-Detection Live mode: This is the same as FlexiZone – Single, but it focuses on the human face.

• Quick mode: With this setting, the dedicated AF sensor is used to set the focus, but Live View monitoring is momentarily interrupted. This is the fastest method of focusing.

To use these focusing modes, point the camera at your subject, use the Multi-Controller to select your focus point, and press the shutter button halfway. The focus point will flash green, and you’ll hear a beep when the camera finds focus. The focus point will flash red if the camera is not able to achieve focus.

While the autofocus modes work well when you’re setting up to shoot video, they are not the most elegant option to use in the middle of shooting a video. And if you are using the built-in microphone, you might even pick up the sound of the AF motor in action, which no filmmaker wants. To truly take your videos to the next level, focus manually using your lens’s focus ring.