Does EOS RP support recomposing with servo AF?

Question

My EOS RP has two AF modes: one shot AF and servo AF. With one shot AF, the camera focuses once and allows recomposing the picture. With servo AF, the camera keeps looking at the selected AF point, and refocusing continuously. So, when I aim the camera at a near subject, half-press the shutter, and recompose so that the AF point is at a far subject, the camera automatically refocuses to the far subject.

However, I would like to have a mode where the camera keeps tracking the subject that was initially at the AF point, and not tracking the AF point. So, when recomposing, the focus point would move along with the subject / camera movement.

I know the camera has touch & drag AF point selection and a huge number of AF points, so it's not hard to select the AF point. However, I would find it easier to just first aim the camera at the subject to be focused at, and then recompose, which works with one shot AF but not with servo AF.

Is this recomposing with servo AF possible on this camera? Since the camera is mirrorless, this kind of tracking should be easy for the camera manufacturer to implement.

Answer 1

Yes, this is possible.

First, select the servo AF mode.

Then, select AF point to face detect + tracking.

Now with the previous settings, you won't see the AF point anymore in the viewfinder or the LCD because it's doing face detect.

Then, set custom functions II-7: initial servo AF point for face detect + tracking to the setting value 2 (AF point set for other modes).

Now the AF point became visible again.

This way, the subject at the autofocus point will be selected for tracking AF. I think the face detection will probably be disabled in this custom functions setting value.

When recomposing the picture, the camera will use sophisticated algorithms to track the subject, even if the position of the subject within the frame changes.

The only drawback with these particular settings is that the level indicator is not visible anymore, so you may end up with a shot that is not perfectly level.