Canon 80D, Setup for Wildlife Photography

INTRODUCTION

Canon’s EOS 80D is the most recent release, in a very popular series of cameras that began with the EOS 10D.  It represents Canon’s latest model in the middle of their camera range. Historically this series of cameras has provided many of the features of more expensive Canon full-frame bodies, but with a smaller APS-C sensor.  In the Canon range, the 7D Mark 2 has mostly higher specifications, in a more robust package, but shares the APS -C sensor size.  However, as the 80D is a newer camera than the 7D Mark 2, it benefits from some of the latest technology and it outperforms the more expensive 7D Mark 2 in some metrics.  The 80D is by far the most highly specified XXD Canon body to date, and one of the biggest upgrades is a powerful, new 45 point autofocus system which is highly configurable.  It also has a fair degree of customisation built into it, and the powerful Dual Pixel AF system for shooting in Live View or movie mode. With these improvements comes a higher degree of complexity.  In this post I will share my own default setup of the 80D, with my settings chosen with the kind of wildlife photography that I do as the main priority.

Watch the video

 

 

Pressing the Q-button displays the main camera settings.  I use M-mode, but only when I can combine it with Auto Iso (or I also use AV mode and TV mode with manual iso).  From this screen you can see that the camera is set for Ai Servo (moving subject) focus, Single AF point, Evaluative metering and High Speed continuous drive mode selected.

With those settings in place, I press the Menu button and then work through each menu tab.

Red Menu “Shoot”

 

 

Starting with the first tab in the first Red menu, Shoot 1, I make sure to select RAW only and not jpg.  As I prefer processing my own raw images, using Adobe Lightroom, I don’t need the camera to make jpegs.  Keeping both RAW and jpeg selected will fill up the buffer very quickly and slow down continuous shooting capability.

 

 

I set “Release shutter without card” to OFF, which means that the camera will not trigger the shutter if there is no card inside.

 

 

The “Lens aberration correction” gives access to a number of image enhancing, behind-the-scenes processing steps that make jpeg images look better.  As I shoot raw only and carry out these processes myself in Lightroom, I have no need of them for the camera jpegs.  Even if the 80D is set to RAW only, it will carry out these processing steps on each thumbnail jpeg it creates for the rear screen, using up processor power and impacting buffer and continuous shooting performance.  It will also use up more battery power.

 

 

After going into that menu option, I make sure to Disable all three processes.

 

 

Disable Red-eye reduction, as it is not needed for wildlife.

 

 

In the second tab, now Shoot 2 menu, I will access ‘Iso speed settings”

 

 

‘Range for stills” allows me to set a lower and upper limit for manual control of iso, via the iso button or the rear LCD touch screen.

 

 

I set the maximum iso to 6400 for my kind of wildlife shooting, though I prefer to not go over iso 3200 with the 80D if I can help it.  I make sure to press the Set button after making my selections and the OK field to lock them in.

 

 

I do the same for my Auto iso range, remembering that I will still keep a close watch on what iso settings the camera is selecting whilst I am taking images, by looking in the viewfinder.  I use Auto iso on the 80D in conjuction with M-mode.  The iso setting is then adjusted by the camera, in response to the shutter speed and aperture which are chosen by me.  The actual iso setting for each exposure shows in the right side of the viewfinder whenever I half-press the shutter or on the back screen which enables me to keep track easily.

 

 

Auto Lighting Optimizer is another image enhancing process that I prefer doing (Shadow slider) when processing my own raw images.  Switching it to OFF maximizes buffer performance and battery life.

 

 

I leave my 80D in Auto White Balance, AWB.  However, the camera offers users two choices for auto white balance, aside from the regular presets.

 

 

Accessed by pressing Set whilst White Balance is selected (from Shoot 2 menu) then pressing the Info button, left of the viewfinder.  AWB gives a more yellow or orange tone to images whereas AWB W (the new option) produces images with the cleaner whites.  Personal preference will dictate your choice.  I prefer the AWB tones for the wildlife shooting I do.

 

 

I find that all my Canon cameras tend to give too much of a magenta (purple) tinge to some of my subject matter like grey elephants.  This is most noticeable to me when shooting in twilight conditions which I do a lot.  As a personal preference, I shift my cameras white balance away from Magenta and toward Green.

 

 

I do this by selecting WB Shift/Bkt from the Shoot 2 menu, and moving the slider one click upwards, locking in my choice with the Set button.  This saves me a little time in processing. If I find that I am shooting in different situations where my images become too greenish then I just change it back.

 

 

Default colour space is sRGB.  This is good for a workflow where you are shooting images that will be displayed on the internet or on a screen.

 

 

I prefer changing my cameras colour space to Adobe RGB which is a preferred colour space for print.  During my raw processing, I will change the colour-space tag to sRGB for web images when I create them.

 

 

In the third tab, Shoot 3 menu, I turn “Long exposure noise reduction” to OFF.  This maximizes buffer performance and extends battery life.

 

 

Similarly, I set “High Iso speed Noise Reduction” to OFF.  I do the same for “Highlight tone priority”.  All noise reduction and image enhancing processes I prefer doing myself with my raw images, and they consume battery power and impact buffer and continuous shooting when run in-camera.

 

 

For the Shoot 4 menu, I just Disable ‘Interval timer”,  as well as “Bulb timer” and Anti-flicker shoot. As I shoot outdoors, I have no need of the Anti-flicker capability normally.

 

 

The Shoot 5 menu (Lv func) deals with Live View shooting for stills (rotating the Live View/Video switch will change this menu to Shoot 5: Movie to access Movie settings).

 

 

For Live View AF method I choose FlexiZone AF which is represented by one Live View AF point that I can move by rocking the direction pad that surrounds the Set button or by using a fingertip to touch the back LCD.  For wildlife photography I prefer having the accuracy that comes with the smaller, single focus square in this option.

 

 

For “Touch Shutter”, Disable.  Choosing Disable means that when in Live View, if I touch the rear LCD touch screen, the shutter will not trigger.

 

 

I don’t make any changes to default Shoot 6 menu settings.

 

Blue Menu “Play”

 

 

The blue menu tabs all deal mostly with playback options, as well as some in camera jpeg editing.  I make no changes to any Play 1, 2 or 3 menu tabs.

 

Yellow Menu “Set Up”

 

 

Minimal changes to Set Up 1 menu tab, although I disable ‘Wireless communication settings” unless I intend to control the camera with another device.

 

 

In Set Up 2 menu, I leave “Auto power off” set at 1 min.

 

 

I go into the ‘LCD brightness” screen and move it from 4 to 5, making it brighter.  This makes it easier to see for me, specially as I mostly work outdoors.  I am aware that it does also use up more battery power.

 

 

The next setting that I go into is ‘Viewfinder display”

 

 

I set ‘Electronic level” to Show, and “Grid Display” to Show.  Both the level and the grid are very helpful to me when looking through the viewfinder, in helping me get my images level in-camera.

 

 

For ‘Flicker detection” I choose Hide, because I shoot outdoors. For indoor shooting, keep it on.

 

 

In the Set Up 3 menu tab, I leave “Touch control” at the Standard setting.

 

 

If, for some reason, you really don’t want the touchscreen function at all on the 80D, this is where it can be set to Disable.  But I keep mine on Standard and use the touchscreen.

 

 

The “Info button display options” is where I can choose what information comes up when I press the Info button (left of viewfinder)

 

 

There are three different screens that cycle, one after another, each time you press the Info button.  You can uncheck the box if you have no need of seeing this screen.

 

 

The middle screen is the Electronic level.  Uncheck the box if you don’t need quick access to the level.

 

 

The third Info screen option cannot be unchecked and it shows shooting functions.

I keep all three of these boxes checked and am used to cycling through them quickly when I need to.

 

 

In Set Up 4 menu, the “Multi function lock” can be configured in multiple ways.  The lock control lever is located below the large rear command dial, on the back bottom right of the camera body.  Options are there to use the Lock to act on any one of the following: The main dial (next to the shutter release), or the quick control dial, or the multi-controller pad (around the Set button) or it can lock out use of the Touch screen.  Personal preference will dictate your choice. I don’t lock anything on the 80D with it.

Orange “Custom Function C. FN”

 

In the orange C.Fn (Custom Function) menu, I make one change in the Exposure group of settings.

 

 

Within the C.Fn I Exposure menu, I leave the first 5 options at 0 settings, but make sure to engage Safety Shift, by selecting “1: Shutter speed/aperture”.  What this does is temporarily move my camera into the equivalent of Program mode, allowing the shutter speed or aperture to “float”, if I should unintentionally present the camera with a very bright scene (that would otherwise have caused an overexposure to happen).  Doesn’t happen often and less so when I am using Auto Iso, but there are times when it can save a mistake.

 

 

The 80D has its autofocus settings all under the C.Fn II: Autofocus heading.  Unlike the higher end models like the 7D Mark 2, and the 5D and 1DX series, the 80D does not have a dedicated Autofocus menu under its own tab.  More important though, is that it has almost all of the essential adjustable parameters that are found in those cameras, just presented slightly differently and without the AF Cases.  The 80D has by some margin the best autofocus system both in terms of its specification and configuration options, that Canon have ever put into a camera in this range. The section of this post dealing with why or how I set up my own autofocus is in-depth.  If you prefer to not delve into the more technical elements of the system, be assured that the Default Autofocus settings work very well for a wide range of subjects.

 

 

Going into the C.Fn II: Autofocus menu option opens up this set of 16 different adjustment screens, with a numbered tab right on the bottom.  The first parameter is a very important one, called Tracking Sensitivity.

Tracking Sensitivity

This setting controls how long the camera will ‘wait’ before refocusing, when a new subject/object moves between the camera and the original subject, or if the active focus point is moved off of the subject unintentionally.  An example of this is when you are tracking a bird, and the bird passes behind a branch, momentarily.  With this setting on Responsive (+2), it is more likely that the AF will quickly lock onto the branch.  If this setting is on the opposite, Locked-On (-2), it is likely that the camera will hold the focus for longer, without attempting to re-focus for long enough that the bird can once again be located once the obstruction has passed by and out of the line of sight.

Another example of how this parameter can be of use, is for those times when you are tracking a moving subject with an active AF point on that subject, and you accidentally move the camera so that the active AF point drops off of the subject.  With Tracking sensitivity set to -1 or -2, there will be more time available for you to re-locate the subject, without the lens having focused on the background.  The image above is an example of such an instance.  My Single AF point was right in the middle of the frame, with blue sky behind it which was my mistake, but the camera did not immediately try to focus on the blue sky background, rather remaining focused on the African skimmer, and allowing me to capture the focused image sharply.

 

 

Canon do mention that with Tracking Sensitivity set to the Locked-On side of the slider, it may take the AF a little longer to re-aquire focus if focus is lost. Canon also state that initial AF acquisition is not affected by setting Tracking sensitivity to Locked-On (-1 or -2).  Despite what Canon have stated, it is my feeling that having the camera set toward Locked-On, either -1 or -2, may result in slightly slower AF response if a subject is coming directly toward the camera at high speed.  If I expect to be shooting oncoming subjects a lot, I may keep the Tracking Sensitivity on 0 or +1.

 

 

Tracking sensitivity is definitely one of the  the most important of the adjustment parameters described here in that it can make a noticeable difference to how stable Ai Servo AF tracking is if you move it towards the negative settings, or Locked-On side of the slider.  It can also speed up the AF systems responsiveness if you move it toward the plus or Responsive side of the slider.

In my experience, I find myself more likely to slow down Tracking Sensitivity (-1 or -2) when I am using focal lengths of around 400mm and upward, and only if I feel that I am dropping focus off the subject too often.  When I am working with lenses with shorter focal lengths, 400mm or less, I may leave Tracking Sensitivity on 0 or even +1 if I am expecting really fast, approaching subjects.  With shorter focal lengths, it is much easier to keep the focus point/points on the subject, and also easy enough to relocate the subject even if I do move the point away momentarily.

Accelerate/Decelerate Tracking

 

 

This setting allows the AF to be optimized to capture fast-moving subjects that might suddenly stop, or move in a random direction, or rapidly speed up or slow down.  The 0 setting for this parameter is suited for tracking subjects that move at a steady speed.  Most of the subjects that I shoot accelerate or decelerate whilst I am tracking them.  Also, if I have a subject coming towards me, even if that subject is staying at a steady speed, I have to allow for the relative increase in speed the closer to me that subject gets.  Think of trying to track a bird flying towards and right by you…your panning motion has to speed up dramatically as the subject gets closer to you and actually passes by.  As I like to try and shoot fast moving subjects whenever possible, I either leave this setting on (0)  or on (+1) with good results.  According to Canon, setting it to (+2) will make it very responsive but also a bit less stable.  At the time of writing I have not found need yet of using this setting on (+2).

 

AF Point Auto Switching

 

 

If you are a photographer that prefers to always use the camera in Single AF point mode, then you can disregard this parameter.  It’s function only applies when shooting with those AF mode options that utilize more than one AF point, so that would be Zone AF, Large Zone AF and 45 Point AF on the 80D.

When you are shooting any one of those AF modes, there may be situations where the AF point that held initial focus is no longer on the subject, due to subject movement or camera movement. In such instances the camera then hands focus over to the next adjacent AF point which detects the subject and takes over tracking.  This parameter, AF Point Auto Switching, determines how quickly or slowly that handover from one AF point to the next, takes place.  On the 80D I have not had need to move this setting beyond (0) which is the default setting.

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 4

Ai Servo 1st image priority

 

 

This parameter controls how much time is allowed for focus to take place in Ai Servo before the shutter fires, but applies only to the very first image in a burst.  It is an important adjustment slider.  The options on the slider go from Release on the left, to Focus on the right.  Moving the slider left, to the Release position, will reduce and limit how much time the camera will allow for focus to take place before the image is taken.  The amount of time allowed will only be that which is needed for the camera to fire at its selected frame rate which is 7 frames per second at the maximum.  With the slider in the Release position, focus tracking will only take place for a limited time,  but it will take place (there seems to be some confusion amongst photographers whether focus takes place, but it always does).  However, once the allocated time is up, the camera will fire the shutter regardless of whether focus was confirmed or not.

Moving the slider all the way to the right, to the Focus position, will mean that in Ai Servo, the camera will allow as much time as needed for focus tracking to confirm BEFORE it allows the shutter to fire.  In reality, what this can mean is that in difficult focus conditions, such as subjects and backgrounds that are similar, or very high speed movement, or very low light, the frame rate of the camera may slow down significantly to allow the extra time for focusing.

Simply stated, focus tracking takes place for both the Release option or the Focus option, but with Focus, more time is allowed when needed.  Again, it should be remembered that the setting you choose on this screen applies to the first image in a burst only.  Your own preferences may differ according to your choice of subject matter and your own shooting style.  I always choose Release on any of my Canon dslr bodies, for the “Ai Servo 1st image priority”.  I know with Release enabled, that I am able to get off my first shot quickly, and with little hesitation.   Whilst setting the option to Focus priority is likely to increase the percentage of in-focus first images, it can also increase the amount of time that it takes to get the first shot off.  Canon recommend the use of the Focus priority setting in very low light situations.

 

 

Ai Servo 2nd Image Priority

C.Fn II: Autofocus 5 is the control parameter for Ai Servo 2nd image priority.  It allows you to biase your AF timing, either toward speed or focus priority for the second image and every subsequent one in a burst.  Once you lift your finger up off the shutter button, it signals the end of that burst, (and 2nd Image setting), and the next image taken will then be the first image in what the camera sees as a new burst.  This is another important slider for fine-tuning the 80D focus system.

With two separate sets of controlling sliders, Canon make it possible for you to configure your camera AF timing exactly to your own liking, and to tailor it to different AF shooting situations. With this slider, you are again choosing how much time is allowed for focus to take place between each frame in a burst, after the first image (the timing of which is controlled by Ai Servo 1st Image Priority setting).

Moving the slider to the left, to the Release position, limits how much time the camera allows for focus to occur before the image is taken.  The time allowed being only what is needed for the camera to fire at its selected frame rate (which may be up to 7 frames per second).  In the Release position, focus tracking will still take place, (as it always does).  The difference is that once the allocated time is up, the camera will fire the shutter regardless of whether focus is confirmed or not.  Moving the slider all the way toward Focus, will result in focus being heavily prioritized with every frame from the second one onwards in an Ai Servo burst.  The camera will delay firing until it confirms focus, or as close to it as it can come.  This should result in more in-focus shots in a burst.  However, choosing this option can also result in the 80D slowing down during a burst, and the frame rate changing.  This may happen in response to difficult conditions where it is difficult for Ai Servo AF to confirm focus and is perfectly normal.  If you are not accustomed to it, it may feel as if the camera is lagging behind the shutter release.  Canon recommend the use of this setting for very low light situations, to improve tracking accuracy.

The middle setting on this slider represents an equal balance  with 0 being an equal balance between release speed and focus priority.

I find that for my own shooting preferences, I tend toward opting for the 0 choice here with the 80D, or I may move the slider left to Speed if I find that the camera’s burst performance is sluggish.  If I I am getting too many shots from bursts that are not properly focused, then I may move it back to 0 (Equal priority) again.

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 7

 

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 7 is an important setting, “Lens drive when AF impossible”.  Setting the camera to “0: Continue focus search” means that if my lens becomes deeply out of focus, the camera will continue to drive the focusing elements back and forth until it can acquire focus.  This setting becomes more important when using long focal lengths, like 500mm and upwards.

 

Autofocus area modes

 

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 8, Select AF area selec mode

The 80D has a 45-point autofocus grid, which extends quite far towards the sides of  the frame.  There are four different autofocus point groupings, as seen through the viewfinder.  These are : Manual Select Single Point AF, AF Zone, Large Zone AF and Auto Select 45-Point AF.

 

 

My own preference with this camera is to use the manually selected, Single Point AF, as shown above, (though the points appear black in the actual viewfinder).

Single Point AF

 

 

With Single Point AF, I get accurate placement of my selected AF point when I need to be precise, and focus on my subjects eye, which is a norm for wildlife photography.  With static subject or slow-moving subject matter, I am confident of the accuracy of even the outermost AF points in the grid, even when using a lens with a 5.6 aperture like the EF 100-400L f4.5-5.6 IS ii.

 

 

However, if I expect a subject to be fast-moving then I usually move just one row in from the outermost autofocus points.  I find that I get a better keeper rate of sharper shots by working like this, when I remember to do it.  Light from the lens typically falls off a little toward the edges of the image circle, which may account for my lower level of success when selecting the outermost points for rapid subjects.

 

 

Zone AF

 

 

 

Large Zone AF

 

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 8 allows you to choose which of the four autofocus groupings to keep available when you cycle through them.  If there are any of these four groupings that you don’t use, unchecking that option here will mean it does not show up when cycling through the different choices, saving you time and limiting the risk of choosing the wrong one.

 

 

On my 80D I usually just keep Single Point AF and AF Zone available.  I disable the other two.  Whilst 45 point autofocus has its advantages, it limits the control I am able to otherwise maintain of where my camera focuses in the frame so I don’t normally use it.  If you photograph slow-moving, large subjects then 45 point AF can be useful.

 

 

 

 

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 9.

 

Keeping this setting on 0 as I do means that I can directly select the different focus groupings (Single Pt AF and AF Zone in my case), using the AF Area button located just to the side of the shutter release.

 

The camera needs to be switched on and active, for the AF Area button to function.  Pressing it once will illuminate the viewfinder as well as the AF points in red.  Pressing it again quickly will select the next AF area in the sequence.

 

C:Fn II: Autofocus 10

I keep this setting on 0 so that I always have control of where my active AF point/s are.  Choosing option 1 or 2 will make the camera automatically choose different, pre-selected AF points and groupings when you switch from shooting horizontal to vertical.

 

 

C:Fn II: Autofocus 11

This menu allows you to choose which AF point the camera will initiate autofocus when you start using 45 Point Automatic AF.  I don’t use 45 Point AF, so I just leave mine on 0: Auto

 

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 12

I disable Color Tracking, which is most useful in 45 Point (and AF Zone) focusing.  Colour information from the cameras meter is used to assist focus tracking.

 

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 13

I keep my 80D set at 0: Stops at AF area edges – which means that if I am moving a focus point all the way to the edge of the 45 point grid, and I keep moving it towards the edge, it will stop when it reaches the outermost ring of points.  Choosing option 1 will allow the point to shift right acroos to the opposite side for the AF grid.

 

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 14

This screen allows the user to choose how the viewfinder will display the autofocusing points.  It really comes down to personal preference, and mine is option 1: All (constant).  This means that when I look through the viewfinder, all 45 of my AF point locations are visible as small black outlined squares.  The selected point/s are shown in a thicker black outline that is superimposed on the smaller squares of the grid.

 

 

 

C.Fn II: Autofocus 15

Choosing option 1: Enable on this screen will allow the 80D AF grid points to light up in red when focus is achieved, if you are in One Shot focus mode.  In Ai Servo, if you cannot see the focus points clearly in low light, pressing the right rear AF button on the camera back will cause the grid to illuminate momentarily which can be helpful.

 

 

 

C.Fn III: Operation/Others

 

 

For C.Fn III: Operation /Others, only tab 4 is of interest to me, which is the Custom Controls screen, where I can configure the 80D to my preferences for buttons and controls.

 

 

Displayed in the image above are my preferred control configurations.  Starting on the top left of the two columns, with the shutter button.  In my configuration, the shutter button actuates focus and metering.  the AF On button and * button on the back of the camera work as AF-Off buttons. When I am in Ai Servo, I can focus with the shutter, but should i need to lock the AF point (as occasionally happens to me when in Ai Servo) I can accomplish this simply by pressing either one of the AF-On button or * button. Focus will be temporarily halted so long as I keep the button depressed.  I keep both buttons configured the same in case I press the wrong one whilst shooting.  This screen is also where you can set up the camera for back button focus if that is your preference.

Beneath the AF-On and * buttons (in the Custom Control screen) are two buttons that I ignore mostly.

 

 

The next important one for me is on top of the second column, the Set button.  The Set button is configured for Exposure compensation whilst in M-mode and Auto Iso (press Set and turn the front command dial).  I set the front command dial here, for changing aperture value (shown as AV) when I am in Manual mode, and the large rear command dial for changing shutter speed  as depicted on the rear screen above, (also when in Manual mode).

The last control enables the circular pad on the back of the camera (around the Set button) to shift the focus points directly without pressing any buttons first, just by tilting it (which is a bit fiddly on the 80D).

 

 

I have illustrated this post with some high-quality wildlife images taken with the EOS 80D by Brendon Jennings, of Kariega game reserve.  Brendon uses his 80D as a second body in the field. He has had his 80D in the field for longer than I have and kindly shared some 80D captures with me.  I have also supplemented the imagery in the post, with images from my own 80D camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 80D is a very capable, and highly featured camera.  For a camera in this range, it has very good autofocus, decent continuous shooting capability, an adequate buffer capacity, as well as excellent resolution for print, and good image quality.  Whilst I set the camera up for my kind of wildlife photography, it can also tackle many other photographic tasks with ease, especially if one spends a few minutes getting to know it’s menus and options screens.