Canon 7D Mark II: "AF Configuration Tool?"

[Ppmax]

Hi--

I'm trying to do a statistical study on the effectiveness of different focus modes. To do so I need 3 bits of info:
filename (check)
AFAreaMode (check)
What "case" was used (Canon calls this "AF Configuration Tool" and can have values of "Case 1," "Case 2," (Case 1-6), etc)

I didn't see this listed in the Canon tags reference. Is there any chance of adding this if possible?

thx
PP

[Phil Harvey]

What Canon utility reports this? (and what version?)  I'll see what I can do to decode this.

It would help if you could send some samples (small JPG is best) at the different possible settings for this.  My email is philharvey66 at gmail.com

- Phil

[Ppmax]

Hello Phil--

Thanks for your reply and your interest. I just sent you an email with several files.

Thanks again
PP

[Ppmax]

Hello Phil--

Did you receive the files I sent you? Do you require a Canon CR2 file as well?

thanks and happy new year
PP

[Phil Harvey]

Yes, thanks.  I got your mail but won't be able to download the files until I am back at work on Jan 5th.  I'll let you know how things go then.

- Phil

[Ppmax]

Great--have a happy new year and enjoy the rest of the break.

PP

[Ppmax]

Hello Phil--

Thanks again for adding support for the AFConfigTool to the library.

I am trying to set some keywords using these properties like so:
exiftool '-keywords+<Canon:AFAreaMode' '-keywords+<Canon:AFConfigTool' /path/to/image

However, only one keyword is being set. When I try:
exiftool -Canon:AFAreaMode /path/to/file
and
exiftool -Canon:AFConfigTool /path/to/file

I get:
AF Area Mode                    : Unknown (10)
and
AF Config Tool                  : Case 5

...respectively.

Running
exiftool '-keywords+<Canon:AFAreaMode' /path/to/image
and
exiftool '-keywords+<Canon:AFConfigTool' /path/to/image

...consecutively gets me what I want...but I'm wondering why I can't set these keywords in one command?

thx
PP

[Ppmax]

[bump] (respectfully) 

thx
PP

[Phil Harvey]

Sorry, I've been away on vacation.

You need to use -addTagsFromFile to do what you want:

exiftool -addtagsfromfile @ '-keywords+<Canon:AFAreaMode' '-keywords+<Canon:AFConfigTool' /path/to/image

Read the application documentation for details.

- Phil

[Ppmax]

Thank you for your reply Phil, I hope you enjoyed your vacation.

You need to use -addTagsFromFile to do what you want:

Whoops, user error! I misread that part...I thought that option was only for copying data between two distinct files.

FYI, you might be interested to see a graph I created with your tool. This graph shows the "keeper rate" ("batting average") using different focus modes and different focus areas for some close and fast moving cross-country skiers. I manually graded each photo I took (in focus, slightly out of focus, total miss). I then created a table with the intent to show the relative effectiveness of each mode and focus area using the new 7D Mark II. Most of the shots combined "back to front" motion as they approached...and lateral motion as they skated by. Due to the skating motion of each skier the focal length of my lens (200mm) I believe that this presented a challenging focusing scenario. The relative height of each bar represents the total number of shots taken in that mode...even though the vertical axis shows percent.



Best wishes,
Paul

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Paul,

This looks very interesting.  Please include a link if you publish this study in a more complete form.  I would like to read more about your findings and conclusions.

- Phil

[Ppmax]

Hello Phil--

I have a related question about the ExifTool_config file.

In the canon.pm file, line 5667 contains a lookup table for the various types of AF Area Modes that are available. How can I use the ExifTool_config file to override these values?

The reason I ask is that on the 5DMk3, AF Point Expansion (surround) is functionally equivalent to the 7DMk2 AF Point Expansion (8pt). When I process my files, I'd like to use a common tag name. Also, there appear to be two undefined AF Area Modes, so some of my files end up with "Unknown(10)" and "Unknown(14)." I'd like to map these to values I choose.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks much
PP

[Phil Harvey]

If you discover the meaning of any unknown modes, please let me know so I can add them to ExifTool.

But to override ExifTool's definition, the easiest thing to do is to copy the appropriate definition from Canon.pm into your config file, then edit it from there.  You just have to be sure to put it under the same table name in the UserDefined tags.

If you make any changes that you think would be useful for others, please share them.  This is the way open source works.

- Phil

[Ppmax]

If you make any changes that you think would be useful for others, please share them.  This is the way open source works.

Honestly, I'm such a hack the thought of sharing and giving back never occurred to me. But I will gladly 

On the 5DMk3, there are 6 distinct AF Area select modes. Although these are referred to in slightly different terms in the manual, the modes below are presented as seen in Canon's DPP software. I have also included the terms from the manual in parens.

Canon 5D Mark III AF Area Modes
Spot AF (Single-point Spot AF)
Manual selection (Single-Point AF)
AF Point expansion:top/bottom/left/right (AF point expansion (four surrounding points))
AF Point expansion:surround (AF point expansion (eight surrounding points))
Zone AF
Automatic selection (61-point automatic selection AF)

In Live View, there is only one AF mode, which is referred to as "Manual election."

The 7DMk2 offers 7 distinct AF Area select modes, along with 65 AF points. Here is the nomenclature as seen in DPP along with the terminology used in the manual (in parens).
Canon 7D Mark II AF Area Modes
Spot AF (Single-point Spot AF)
Manual selection (Single-point AF)
AF Point expansion:top/bottom/left/right (AF point expansion)
AF Point expansion:surround (AF point expansion (eight surrounding points))
Zone AF
Manual select: Large Zone AF (Large Zone AF)
Automatic selection (65-point automatic selection AF)

In Live View, the 7D Mark II offers 3 distinct AF Area select modes:
Face detection + Tracking AF
Flexizone - Single
Flexizone - Multi


Here are my suggestions for mapping these to the AFAreaMode block in the Canon.pm file. I have not tested this in my own ExifTool_config file yet....For clarity I have deleted your comments in this block and added mine instead. I also deleted the mappings that are currently mapped out

Code Select Expand


        Name => 'AFAreaMode',
        PrintConv => {
            0 => 'Off (Manual Focus)',
            1 => 'AF Point Expansion (surround)', # don't see this in 5D3 or 7D2
            2 => 'Single-point AF',
            4 => 'All Points AF', # sufficiently vague to cover any number of AF points
            5 => 'Face Detect AF', # don't see this in 5D3 or 7D2
            6 => 'Live View Face + Tracking', # 7D2 "live view" AF Area mode
            7 => 'Zone AF',
            8 => 'AF Point Expansion (4pt)',
            9 => 'Spot AF',
            10 => 'AF Point Expansion (8pt)', #Assuming when I see "Unknown(10)" it maps to this conversion
            11 => 'Live View Flexizone Multi', # 7D2 "live view" AF Area mode
            13 => 'Live View Flexizone Single', # 7D2 "live view" AF Area mode
            14 => 'Large Zone AF',
        },


I have also attached PDF file that was created by dumping the image name, camera model, AFAreaMode to csv. I then added additional columns for Suggestions and Notes.

Thanks again, have a good day
PP

[Phil Harvey]

This is great, thanks for your feedback!

Nice.  You added an unknown value.  I think I like your "AF Area Expansion" changes (with the exception that I prefer "4 point" and "8 point"), but have to read more to see what Canon calls these and the "All Points AF" mode in various models.  Also, I have to think about adding "Live View" to the other modes.

- Phil