Changing the AF Mode to Use the Live View Function to Shoot Still Photos and Movies (EOS 60D / 60Da)

With your camera, you can shoot photos while viewing the image on the camera's LCD monitor. This is called "Live View shooting."

This page describes how to change the focus mode for Live View shooting. For details on how to perform easy Live View shooting in default settings, please refer to the related information.

Please note that some shooting procedures differ between still photos and movies. To shoot still photos, please refer to the instructions for still photos, and to shoot movies, please refer to the instructions for movies.

Part I. Preparing for Live View Shooting

1. Flip out the LCD monitor, and then set the power switch to ⋖ON⋗.

For the details about how to open the LCD monitor, see How to use the vari-angle LCD monitor of the EOS 60D / 60Da.

2. Turn the Mode Dial to set the shooting mode.

To shoot movies, select ⋖ ⋗ (Movie shooting).

3. To shoot still photos, set the [Live View shoot.] menu to [Enable] under the [ ] tab. ([Enable] is set by default.)

To use AF to focus, please proceed to Part II. To focus manually, please proceed to Part III.

Part II, and III describe common procedures for still photos and movies.

Part II. Selecting the AF Mode

4. Set the lens focus mode switch to ⋖AF⋗.

5. Make sure that the camera is ready to take shots, and then press the ⋖MENU⋗ button.

6. To shoot still photos, select the [ ] tab, or to shoot movies, select the [ ] tab, and then press the ⋖Multi-controller⋗ to select [AF mode]. Press the ⋖SET⋗ button.

7. Select the AF mode, and then press the ⋖SET⋗ button.

8. To shoot still photos, press the ⋖ ⋗ (Live View shooting/Movie shooting) button, or to shoot movies, press the ⋖MENU⋗ button, and then close the menu window. An image will appear on the LCD monitor.

Caution

Please proceed to Part II 1 to 3 depending on the AF mode setting.

Part II-1. Using AF (Live Mode) to Focus

When [Live mode] ( ) is set:

The image sensor is used to focus. Although AF is possible with the Live View image displayed, the AF operation will take longer than with Quick mode. Also, achieving focus may be more difficult than with Quick mode.

[Live mode] is set by default.

9. Move the AF point.

To return the AF point to the center, press the ⋖ ⋗ button.

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

Please proceed to Part IV.

Part II-2. Using AF (Face detection Live Mode) to Focus

When [ (Face Detection) Live mode] is set:

With the same AF method as the Live mode, human faces are detected and focused. Have the target person face the camera.

9. Focus the target face.

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

If multiple faces are detected, [ ] will be displayed. Press the ⋖Multi-controller⋗ to move the [ ] frame over the target face.

10. Press the shutter button halfway and the camera will focus the face covered by the [ ] frame.

If a face cannot be detected, the AF point [ ] will be displayed and AF will be executed at the center.

Caution

Notes when shooting in [ (Face detection) Live Mode]

If the focus is way off, face detection will not be possible. If the lens enables manual focusing even while the lens focus mode switch is set to ⋖AF⋗, turn the focusing ring to attain rough focus. The face will then be detected and [ ] will be displayed.

Face detection will not work if the face is very small or large in the picture, too bright or too dark, titled horizontally or diagonally, or partially hidden.

Please proceed to Part IV.

Part II-3. Using AF (Quick Mode) to Focus

When [Quick mode]() is set:

The dedicated AF sensor is used to focus in the same way as with viewfinder shooting. Although you can focus the desired area quickly, the Live View image will be interrupted momentarily during the AF operation.

9. The small boxes on the screen are the AF points, and the larger box is the magnifying frame.

10. When you press the ⋖ ⋗ button, the Quick Control screen will appear. The settable functions will be highlighted in blue. Press the ⋖ ⋗(Multi-controller) to select AF mode (Quick mode), and then press the ⋖ ⋗(Multi-controller) to select [Quick mode].

11. Select the AF point. Press the ⋖ ⋗(Multi-controller) to make the AF point selectable. Turn the ⋖Main Dial⋗ or ⋖Quick Control Dial⋗ to select the AF point.

12. Aim the AF point over the subject and press the shutter button halfway.(Keep the shutter pressed.)

13. The Live View image will turn off, the reflex mirror will go back down, and AF will be executed.

Please proceed to Part IV.

Part III. Focusing Manually

You can magnify the image and focus precisely manually.

3. Once you have proceeded up to Step 2 of Part I, set the lens focus mode switch to ⋖MF⋗.

4. To shoot still photos, make sure that the camera is ready to take shots, and then press the ⋖ ⋗(Live View shooting) button.

To shoot movies, set the Mode Dial to ⋖ ⋗.

5. The Live View image will appear on the LCD monitor.

Turn the lens focusing ring to focus roughly.

6. Press the ⋖Multi-controller⋗ to move the magnifying frame to the position where you want to focus.

To return the AF point to the center, press the ⋖ ⋗ button.

7. Press the ⋖ ⋗ (Magnifying) button to magnify the area within the frame.

Each time you press the ⋖ ⋗ button, the display format will change as follows:

Normal view -⋗ Approx. 5x -⋗ Approx. 10x -⋗ Normal view

8. While looking at the Live View image on the LCD monitor, turn the focusing ring to focus manually.

9. After achieving focus, press the ⋖ ⋗ (Magnifying) button to check the image composition in normal view.

Part IV. Shooting

After focus is achieved by following the instructions in Part II-III, start shooting.

To shoot still photos, press the shutter button completely.

To shoot movies, press ⋖ ⋗.

To stop shooting the movie, press ⋖ ⋗ again.

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

General Note for Live View Shooting

Please be aware of the following notes for Live View shooting.

Caution

Notes About the Live View Image

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

If the light source within the image changes, the screen might flicker. If this happens, stop and resume the Live View shooting under the actual light source to be used.

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

About the [ ] icon

If the camera's internal temperature becomes high, the [ ] icon may appear on the screen. If you then continue with Live View shooting, the image quality might degrade. You should stop Live View shooting and allow the camera to rest.

If Live View shooting continues while the [ ] warning icon is displayed and the camera's internal temperature increases, the Live View shooting will stop automatically. Live View shooting will be disabled until the camera's internal temperature decreases.

Live Mode and (Face Detection) Live Mode Notes

Focusing will take slightly longer.

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

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

If the light source changes while the Live View image is displayed, the screen might flicker and focusing can be difficult. If this happens, stop the Live View shooting and autofocus under the actual light source first.