Editing Canon EOS (section)

===Multi-point autofocus system===
Currently, top-line EOS cameras have either 61 or 65 user-selectable autofocus (AF) points. Autofocus is a camera's ability to focus a lens automatically on an object by pressing down on the shutter button. Autofocus most often chooses the closest image in the field of view to focus on.<ref name=":0" /> The following EOS cameras feature such a system, with 61 points unless otherwise indicated:
* The [[Canon EOS 5D Mark III|EOS 5D Mark III]], introduced in March 2012.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2012/20120302_eos5dmarkiii_pressreleasedata/20120302_eos5dmarkiii_pressreleasedata |title=Canon U.S.A. Announces the Highly Anticipated EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera |publisher=Canon U.S.A. |date=2 March 2012 |access-date=12 May 2017}}</ref>
* The [[Canon EOS-1D X|EOS-1D X]], announced in October 2011 and originally scheduled for sale in April 2012,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/about_canon?pageKeyCode=pressreldetail&docId=0901e024803b812e |title=Canon U.S.A. Introduces The New Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera, Re-Designed From The Inside Out |publisher=Canon U.S.A. |date=18 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020045002/http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/about_canon?pageKeyCode=pressreldetail&docId=0901e024803b812e |archive-date=20 October 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref> but delayed until June 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=2234 |title=Canon Announces Delay of EOS 1D X and EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens |first=Bryan |last=Carnathan |work=The-Digital-Picture.com |date=12 April 2012 |access-date=12 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120175958/http://the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=2234 |archive-date=20 November 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Since replaced by a Mark II version.
* The [[Canon EOS 7D Mark II|EOS 7D Mark II]], on sale since November 2014. This APS-C body has Canon's first (and so far only) 65-point AF system.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2014/20140915_eos7d_pressreleasedata/20140915_eos7d_pressreleasedata |title=Fuel Your Creative Passion With The Highly Anticipated Canon EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLR Camera |publisher=Canon U.S.A. |date=15 September 2014 |access-date=12 May 2017}}</ref>
* The [[Canon EOS 5Ds|EOS 5Ds and 5Ds R]], two closely related higher-resolution full-frame bodies otherwise similar to the 5D MkIII, announced in February 2015 with sales beginning in June of that year.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2015/20150205_eos5dsr_pressreleasedata/20150205_eos5dsr_pressreleasedata |title=Canon U.S.A. Introduces The World's Highest Resolution Full-Frame DSLR Cameras: EOS 5DS And EOS 5DS R |publisher=Canon U.S.A. |date=5 February 2015 |access-date=12 May 2017}}</ref>
* The [[Canon EOS-1D X Mark II|EOS-1D X Mark II]], the replacement for the original 1D X, announced in February 2016 with sales expected to begin in April of that year.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/20160201-camera-eos1dx-markii/20160201-camera-eos1dx-markii/ |title=Fast, Formidable, And 4K, All-In-One Camera Canon U.S.A. Introduces The EOS-1D X Mark II Professional Digital Camera |publisher=Canon U.S.A. |date=1 February 2016 |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017175459/https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/20160201-camera-eos1dx-markii/20160201-camera-eos1dx-markii |archive-date=17 October 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
* The [[Canon EOS 5D Mark IV|EOS 5D Mark IV]], announced in August 2016 as the replacement for the 5D Mk III.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/20160825-EOS-b/20160825-EOS-b |title=It's Finally Here: Canon U.S.A. Announces The Highly Anticipated EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera And New L-Series Lenses |publisher=Canon U.S.A. |date=15 August 2016 |access-date=25 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916070810/https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/20160825-EOS-b/20160825-EOS-b |archive-date=16 September 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
The release of the 5D Mark III gave Canon the lead once again in this category; previously, its top-line cameras had 45 AF points,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=19584#ModelTechSpecsAct |title=Canon 1D Mark IV |publisher=Usa.canon.com |date=25 May 2006 |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624221303/http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=19584#ModelTechSpecsAct |archive-date=24 June 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> which led the industry until Nikon released its D3 and D300 DSLRs with 51-point AF systems.

A higher number of AF points increases the chances of a sharply focused photograph in situations where the subject travels across the frame at high speeds (e.g. sports, wildlife).

Having so many AF points also helps relieve the photographer from having to use the 'lock focus and recompose' method of framing a photograph that can introduce focusing inaccuracy. The camera generally focuses on the closest object or on human faces, which may not be what the photographer wants, so EOS cameras equipped with a multi-point AF system still allow the photographer to manually select an AF point.

The EOS-3, [[Canon EOS-1V|EOS-1V]], all EOS-1D models prior to the EOS-1D X, [[Canon EOS 80D|EOS 80D]], [[Canon EOS 77D|EOS 77D]], and [[Canon EOS 800D|EOS 800D/Rebel T7i]] feature a 45-point AF system. Most Canon DSLRs introduced since late 2005, starting from the [[Canon EOS 20D|EOS 20D]] and the [[Canon EOS 400D|Rebel XTi (400D)]], feature a nine-point AF system in a diamond-shape formation. The [[Canon EOS 5D|EOS 5D]], released in 2005, takes this 9-point AF system a step further by introducing six more 'invisible' AF points (i.e., not user selectable) in helping the camera acquire focus faster during subject tracking. There have been several exceptions to Canon's recent rule of a 9-point AF system. The EOS 1000D (Rebel XS) has the 7-point AF system of most older Canon DSLRs.  The EOS 7D, released in 2009, has a 19-point AF layout, fitting essentially within the same diamond-shaped area of the frame as the nine-point layout. The [[Canon EOS 70D|EOS 70D]], released in August 2013, inherited the 7D's 19-point layout, but with fewer AF control options. The 70D system was in turn handed down to the [[Canon EOS 750D|EOS 750D]] (Rebel T6i) and [[Canon EOS 760D|760D]] (Rebel T6s), announced in February 2015. As mentioned above, the EOS 5D Mark III, EOS-1D X, EOS 5DS/5DS R, and EOS-1D X Mark II have 61-point AF layouts. The [[Canon EOS 6D|EOS 6D]], released in October 2012, has an 11-point layout. The EOS 80D, announced in 2016, marked the return of 45-point AF systems to the Canon EOS line, as well as the first appearance of a 45-point system in a non-professional body. This system was brought downmarket in 2017 with its inclusion in the upper-entry-level EOS 77D and mid-entry-level EOS 800D/Rebel T7i.

For the earlier generation of 45-point AF system, the central column of 1 or 2 sensors (7 in all up to [[Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II|EOS-1Ds Mk II]], [[Canon EOS-1D Mark II|EOS-1D Mk II N]]) are cross-type sensors, which are sensitive to both vertical and horizontal lines to offer a high degree of accuracy. The [[Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III|EOS-1Ds Mk III]], replaced by the EOS-1D X, has 19 cross-type sensors for higher accuracy, as well as placing the cross-type sensors to complement the [[Rule of thirds|Rule of Thirds]]. The other Canon professional SLR replaced by the EOS-1D X, the APS-H [[Canon EOS-1D Mark IV|EOS-1D Mk IV]], has 39 cross-type sensors, a major increase from the 19 of the [[Canon EOS-1D Mark III|Mk III]]. Of the 61 AF points of the EOS-1D X and 5D MkIII, 21 central points and 20 outer points are cross-type, and five central points are dual-cross-type (sensitive to diagonal lines in addition to horizontal and vertical). All 65 points of the 7D MkII are cross-type, but only the center point is dual-cross-type.

Similarly, {{as of|2017|lc=on}}, all AF points on later generations of the X0D series (beginning with the 40D and continuing through the current 80D) are cross-type sensors for higher accuracy, and the center sensor is dual-cross-type for even greater accuracy and sensitivity. In June 2012, the [[Canon EOS 650D|EOS 650D]] (Rebel T4i) became the first consumer-level Canon to receive this AF system.