p.1 #1 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
I'd like to know if the original 5D's off-center focus points (particularly the "corner" ones, such as they are) actually work--or are they like the ones on the 20D that might as well not be there at all?
F2.5 taken with the focus point all the way to the left in the viewfinder. Since I got my 5D back from Canon I find the outer ones work very good and are acurate. Are they as good or responsive as my 1DMKIII? Heck no but I find them as usable or more so then the ones on the 40D I had.
p.1 #7 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
I assume 5D has the same peripheral AF points as the 20/30D. If I am right, then this might be useful to you.
The 20/30D outer AF points are inaccurate and imprecise. I have forced myself long and hard to avoid recomposing with large apertures, however, the 20/30D AF has been less than supportive there. Therefore with those cameras I am better off using the center AF and recomposing.
The 40D AF has been improved no doubt. So much so I can finally have some confidence in its peripheral AF points. They latch on faster and more reliably. I am (almost) happy now.
p.1 #9 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
To read some of the comments on this forum (particularly since the 5D II was announced), one would get the impression the outer focus points on the 5D were completely useless. That impression would be wrong.
They work, and I have made plenty of use of them over the past couple years. They are accurate on most contrasty subjects, but don't do well with less contrasty targets. If you experiment with them a bit you will learn their limitations, and will be able to make effective use of them.
The center focus point is simply outstanding, though, and I think a lot of people who complain about the outer points are doing so because they don't work as well as the center point does. The center point is fast and accurate even in low light and with non-contrasty subjects. The outer points aren't.
p.1 #10 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
When I still had mine, I actually had it perminantly set on the edge focal points (outer most) used in portaiture mostly. They certainly did the job... To be honest, I never had anything to complain about them.
p.1 #11 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
I've used a 5D for several weddings. The outer points work well in very well lit areas, like outdoor ceremony. However for the reception they are pretty much useless since the camera will just keep hunting and hunting and if you are lucky may eventually lock focus.
p.1 #12 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
I never had an problem with the outer focus points. But, my subjects are usually either static, or pretty big in the view finder (people on the street, bride, etc).
p.1 #13 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
They work. You need to understand that some are only sensitive to horizontal contrast and some are only sensitive to vertical contrast and adjust your usage accordingly.
p.1 #15 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
What I know for sure is I can't rely on them. But I use them over and over again as I just don't want to believe they are useless. Probably haven't mastered their logic yet.
p.1 #16 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
Thanks for the replies. That's an interesting mix of yes and no.
For what it's worth, the ones on my 20D are just about useless to me, whereas I can set my 1D2 to any focus point I want and it nails it instantly. It certainly sounds like I can't expect the latter from a 5D, though it's not clear whether it would be exactly the same as the former. Maybe the 20D would do better with subjects other than what I shoot.
p.1 #17 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
thedigitalbean wrote:
I've used a 5D for several weddings. The outer points work well in very well lit areas, like outdoor ceremony. However for the reception they are pretty much useless since the camera will just keep hunting and hunting and if you are lucky may eventually lock focus.
Exactly. When you ask a question like this, you have to set the context. Outside or in a well lit church: solid. Shooting in a studio: great. Landscapes after dawn and before twilight: super. After twilight or in darker rooms, forget about it. And yes, the 5d's AF is modeled on the 20/30d's, with the hidden ai servo sensors added.
What it comes down to, is that when you are at less than good conditions the 5's are single AF point cameras.
p.1 #18 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
When photographing kites or large birds against a clear blue sky using auto focus points and AI focus, yes they work well on my 5D. With ANY background clutter at all (or even clouds), I use center focus point, "*", and recompose.
p.1 #20 · 5D off-center focus points: Do they work?
I've found the outer AF points of my 5D work great and certainly much better than the ones on my EOS 10D, 20D and Elan 7NE. Sure they miss once in a while but usually nail it in any light I can hand hold.
