I recently used an evaluation 1D Mk IV from the Canon CPS program and of course loved it. I shoot some low light action stuff and it was amazing.
I decided to purchase a used model, and I am struggling a little on the autofocus. What I didn't do is mark down all the evaluation copy custom settings to insure I was configured the same. It seems to me that I am having problems in low light, low contrast situations that are similar to the shots I had with the eval copy. An example would be indoor shots of someone wearing black clothing where I am focusing on the black clothing.
Is it possible for one copy of a camera to be better at low contrast autofocus than another? Or is it a possible autofocus issue? The camera was recently through a Canon clean and check.
I've read a number of very useful articles on the custom functions, just wondering if there is any other input.
Could you select a different AF point to get a dark/light boundary in the AF zone? I've done a lot of low light shooting in zendos, and it's pretty much all black clothes... I try to focus on something else*. Focus and recompose with the centre AF point works in a lot of situations, but not all.
Yeah, one of things I'm thinking of is selecting a higher autofocus point and cover a face. Day 1 it might be hard but hopefully would get easier. Just easier to track a body than a face.
I just got a set of flash triggers that have a focus assist that projects a grid, I find it incredibly useful. a single trigger would cost under $50 bucks (has ett-l pass through). I asked someone how they felt about it pointed right at their face at about 15 feet, she just said she could see a red dot light up from the trigger and it was no bother. of course it adds cost and bulk, but I just thought I'd mention it.
