EOS R5 Joystick Doesn't Move AF Point, Plus Event Photography Tips
If you've just invested in a Canon EOS R5 and realized that your joystick doesn't move your AF point than this tutorial video is for you. Don't worry there's nothing wrong with your Canon R5 camera. By default the setting which allows your multi controller to mover your AF point is turned off. It's an easy fix to turn it back on. Plus in this video I'll also show you some camera tips and tricks on how to setup your camera for event photography. If you learned something new lave a comment down below.
Table of Contents
How to Enable the AF Joystick on Canon R5
One of the most frustrating things for new Canon R5 users is realizing the joystick (multi-controller) doesn’t move the autofocus point by default.
👉 Yes, it’s disabled out of the box.
How to fix it:
Go to Custom Controls Menu
Find the Multi-controller (joystick)
Enable Direct AF Point Selection
Once enabled, you can instantly move your AF point with the joystick - just like on older DSLR bodies such as the 5D series.
How Eye Tracking Works with Multiple People
Canon’s Eye Detection AF is incredibly powerful, but it can get confusing in group situations. When multiple people are in frame:
The camera detects all visible eyes
It automatically selects one eye to prioritize
You’ll see a white focus box around the selected eye
In a group of 3 people (6 eyes), the R5 can detect all of them simultaneously.
How to Choose Which Eye to Focus On
Here’s where the joystick becomes essential. Once eye detection is active:
Use the joystick left/right
Cycle through detected eyes
Select exactly who you want in focus
Example:
Shooting a wedding group photo
Camera selects the wrong subject
Use the joystick to switch focus to the bride or groom
This gives you full control without turning off eye tracking.
When to Turn Off Eye Tracking
Eye tracking isn’t always the best choice. In complex scenes, the camera may:
Jump between subjects
Struggle with too many faces
Lock onto the wrong subject repeatedly
That’s your cue to switch modes. You have two options.
You can switch to single point AF you can tell the camera exactly what to focus on. One trick to doing this in a fast paced shooting environment like weddings is to setup dual back button AF. One button is for eye tracking and other button is for single point AF. For more info on how to setup dual button AF check out this post.
The other thing you can do is double tap on the subject you want to track on the LCD screen. Tap to track. The only issue with this method is the camera uses an algorithm to try to understand what you are tracking and doesn’t always maintain focus if your subject moves. 🎯 PRO TIP: Only use Tap to Track for sort bursts. Don’t use if for an entire shoot just moments when you need it.
Hope that helps you out. Subscribe to the YouTube channel for more videos. If you want more camera tips and tricks check out this link.
🤓 Read Next:
How to Save and Load Camera Settings From an SD Card on Canon Cameras (Step-by-Step Guide)
Highlight Tone Priority Explained - Canon Menu
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