Changing the Camera's Default Settings to Use Live View Shooting (Still Photos and Movies) (EOS-1D X Mark II)

You can shoot while viewing the image on the camera's LCD monitor. This is called "Live View shooting".

This article explains how to change the focus mode during Live View shooting.For details on how to use Live View shooting with the default settings, refer to the related information.

Note that the shooting procedure is slightly different for still photos and movies. To shoot still photos, see "Still Photo Shooting". To shoot movies, see "Movie Shooting".

Part I Preparing for Live View Shooting

1. Set the camera's power switch to ⋖ON⋗.

2. To shoot still photos, set the Live View shooting/Movie shooting switch to ⋖ ⋗. To shoot a movie, set the switch to ⋖ ⋗.

・Still Photo Shooting

・Movie Shooting

　When shooting a movie, the image will appear on the LCD monitor.

3. During still photo shooting, press the ⋖ ⋗ button to display the Live View image on the LCD monitor.

Caution

4. Select the image-recording quality for still photos or the recording size for movies.

When shooting still photos, select [Img type/size] under the [ ] tab, then press ⋖ ⋗ and select an image size on the screen shown.

When shooting movies, select [Movie rec quality] [Movie rec. size] under the [ ] tab, then press ⋖ ⋗ and select a recording size on the screen shown.

For details about image-recording quality for still photos and recording size for movies, refer to the Instruction Manual included with the camera.

5. Press the ⋖MENU⋗ button to clear the menu screen.

6. Set the lens's focus mode switch to ⋖AF⋗.

Part II Selecting the Shooting Mode

7. Press the ⋖MODE⋗ button and then turn the ⋖ ⋗ or ⋖ ⋗ dial to select the shooting mode.

Caution

To focus on the subject using AF, see Part III-1 to III-2. To focus on the subject using MF, go to Part III-3.

The procedures in Part III apply to both still photo shooting and movie shooting.

Part III-1 Focusing with AF (FlexiZone - Single)

With "FlexiZone - Single", the camera focuses with a single AF point. This is effective when you want to focus on a particular subject.

8. Press the ⋖DRIVE・AF⋗ button.

9. Turn the ⋖ ⋗ dial to select the AF method, then press ⋖ ⋗.

10. The Live View image and AF points will be displayed on the LCD monitor.

Use ⋖ ⋗ (the Multi-controller) to move the AF point to where you want to focus. (It cannot be moved to the edge of the screen.)

Using ⋖ ⋗, ⋖ ⋗, or the ⋖ ⋗ button will return the AF point to the screen's center.

: AF point

11. Aim the AF point over the subject and press the shutter button halfway.

Go to Part IV.

Part III-2 Focusing with AF (Face+Tracking)

With " (face)+Tracking ", the camera detects and focuses on human faces. If a face moves, the AF point [ ] also moves to track the face.

8. Press the ⋖DRIVE・AF⋗ button.

9. Turn the ⋖ ⋗ dial to select the AF method, then press ⋖ ⋗.

10. The image will appear on the LCD monitor.

When a face is detected, [ ] will appear over the face to be focused on.

If multiple faces are detected, [ ] will be displayed. Use ⋖ ⋗ (the Multi-controller) to move [ ] over the face you want to focus on.

11. Press the shutter button halfway to focus.

Caution

Go to Part IV.

Part III-3 Focusing with MF (Manual Focus)

You can magnify the image and focus precisely with manual focus.

6. After procedures 1 through 5 in Part I, set the lens's focus mode switch to ⋖MF⋗.

7. Turn the lens focusing ring to focus roughly.

8. Press the ⋖ ⋗ button or tap on [ ] on the screen's lower right to make the magnifying frame appear.

: Magnifying frame

9. Either operate ⋖ ⋗ or tap on the spot you want to magnify to move the magnifying frame to where you want to focus.

Using ⋖ ⋗, ⋖ ⋗, or the ⋖ ⋗ button will return the AF point to the screen center.

10. Press the ⋖ ⋗ (Magnify) button or tap on [ ] on the screen's lower right to magnify the image.

Each time you press the ⋖ ⋗ button or tap on [ ] on the screen's lower right, the display will change in the following sequence:

Normal view -⋗ 1x -⋗ 5x -⋗ 10x -⋗ Normal view

11. While looking at the magnified image on the LCD monitor, turn the lens's focusing ring to focus manually.

: AE lock

: Magnified area position

: Magnification (Approx.)

12. After achieving focus, press the ⋖ ⋗ button to return to the normal view and check the composition.

Go to Part IV.

Part IV Taking the Picture

After achieving focus in Part II and Part III, take a picture.

To shoot a still photo, press the shutter button completely.

Press the ⋖ ⋗ button to exit Live View shooting.

During movie shooting, press the ⋖ ⋗ button.

To stop shooting the movie, press the ⋖ ⋗ button again.

While the movie is being shot, the " " mark will be displayed on the upper right of the screen.

Caution

General Live View Shooting Cautions

Be sure to observe the following cautions during Live View shooting.

Caution

Live View Shooting in General

Under low- or bright-light conditions, the Live View image may not reflect the brightness of the captured image.

Even if a low ISO speed is set, noise may be noticeable in the displayed Live View image under low light. However, when you shoot, the image recorded will have less noise. (The image quality of the Live View image is different from that of the recorded image.)

If the light source (illumination) within the image changes, the screen may flicker. If this happens, exit Live View shooting and resume Live View shooting under the actual light source.

If you point the camera in a different direction, it may throw off the Live View image's correct brightness momentarily. Wait until the brightness level stabilizes before shooting.

White [ ] and Red [ ] Internal Temperature Warning Icons

If the camera's internal temperature increases due to prolonged Live View shooting or under a high ambient temperature, a white [ ] or red [ ] icon will appear.

The white [ ] icon indicates that the image quality of still photos will deteriorate. It is recommended that you temporarily exit Live View shooting and allow the camera to cool down before shooting again.

The red [ ] icon indicates that the Live View shooting will soon stop automatically. If this happens, you will not be able to shoot again until the camera's internal temperature decreases. Exit the Live View shooting or turn off the power and let the camera rest for a while.

Using Live View shooting at a high temperature for a prolonged period will cause the [ ] or [ ] icon to appear earlier. When you are not shooting, always turn off the camera.

If the camera's internal temperature is high, the quality of images shot with high ISO speed or long exposure may deteriorate even before the white [ ] icon is displayed.

About "FlexiZone - Single" and " (face)+Tracking "

Even when focus is achieved, pressing the shutter button halfway will focus again.

The image brightness may change during and after the AF operation.

If the light source (illumination) changes while the Live View image is displayed, the screen may flicker and focusing may be difficult. If this happens, exit Live View shooting and perform AF under the actual light source under which you are shooting.