I have had my share of frustrations with the 5D2 outer focus points. I've also had issue with my 50mm 1.2L, in which they had to replace parts in order to restore the integrity of the auto focus system on that lens. You might want to send your lens in for calibration.
I got the 50mm L for full-body shots with an emphasis on head to toe sharpness for the commercial work I do, but edge sharpness has been less than spectacular on the 5D2. It's a little better since they repaired the lens. Hopefully, the next camera will have an upgraded autofocus system...
Jim Levitt wrote: On a $2700 camera, in 2009, there's no excuse for that. How much could it have cost to make all the AF sensors cross-type?
Canon is exceedingly skillful at prying thousands of dollars from you for $100 of better AF components. "What sir, the 5DII AF is not good enough for you? Then step up to our $5000 1D4".
Chococat wrote: the impression I have increasingly gotten is that Canon does not have much respect for the customer's pocketbook.
Canon has a great deal of respect for Canon's pocketbook. On a slightly different topic, why couldn't Canon have placed say a 16MP APS-H sensor in the 7D, and charged $150 more, at $1850? Whoops, that's because I am describing a mini 1D4. Canon would rather sell the $5000 1D4.
BTW, Canon is not alone in trying to pry more of your money . I don't know whether you keep up with development on the other side or not. "N" introduced a new 300mm f/2.8 with an improved VR for a paltry additional amount of almost $2K, I believe, over the existing one, which is already a stellar performer. Of course, that sparked an outrage.
Chococat wrote:
I agree with Mr. Levitt here--there is no excuse for this shoddy of an AF system on a $2700 camera. Yes, of course, cross sensors can miss wildly also. For those of you who are not having problems with the AF system, I give you my whole-hearted congratulations. Unfortunately the rest of us who would like a slightly better success rate are left to wonder why such a ballyhooed camera did not warrant at least a slightly better system, especially since Canon has the technology at its disposal, and had already installed it on other cameras. As I stated previously, the output from the 5dii can be sensational, but had I known I was spending $2700 for a camera that would turn out to have a limited application for me (i.e., not reliable for active situations when AF is necessary), I would have certainly bought another manufacturer's product. Honestly, the impression I have increasingly gotten is that Canon does not have much respect for the customer's pocketbook.
I have the microadjustment on my 35L at plus 20, and it still isn't exactly right, but I can't adjust it any further. It's not the lens, it focuses dead on with my film body, it's the 5dii which just doesn't want to focus it....Show more →
Why not sell your 5DMK2 and Canon gear and move on? Others have done this and found there is only a small financial penalty.
Chococat wrote:
Honestly, the impression I have increasingly gotten is that Canon does not have much respect for the customer's pocketbook.
On the contrary, Canon does have respect for the customer's pocketbook... that's why they offer such a wide range of products, at very competitive prices, so there's something to meet everyone's needs.
It's the customers who stubbornly (or stupidly) keep buying more and more expensive gear, and expecting it to be something it's not, who have no respect for their own pocketbooks.
Hello again--well, regarding the suggestion that I sell the Canon gear and move on, I have definitely considered that, and I consider still. Ironically, the reason I have stuck with Canon digital is because I like my Canon film body--since I travel with both film and digital, I don't want to carry two sets of lenses So the specific answer to your question as to why I don't sell it all is that I don't want to get rid of my Canon film body. Again, somewhat ironic that the "archaic" technology has kept me using the newer technology with which I am dissatisfied.
Mr. Molson, indeed I agree--I did expect the 5dii to be something it is not. I expected it to be a camera which I could use for a vast variety of applications. I do not think that it was necessarily my stupidity or stubbornness which resulted in this mistake, however, as I think Canon's intimated that the camera was in a higher class operationally than it truly is. I do not think I am the only person who shares that opinion, and hence I think we get to the root of a certain amount of resentment which seems to surface against the company--they do such a stellar job of marketing that people are led to believe the equipment is something more than it perhaps is.
But please let me state again that I feel the output of the 5dii is simply stellar--the quality of the pictures which I have gotten from it is superb. My issue, like others who have posted in this topic, is with the focusing system, which in the case of my camera is rankly amateurish.
May I, however, please state that I believe quite the contrary regarding Mr. Molson's comment that Canon's respect for the customer's pocektbook is evidenced in their wide range of products--I personally do not believe that they keep pumping out different camera models and accessories as some kind of sign of respect--I certainly believe their catalog is based more on a capitalist principle than an egalitarian one, no?
Mine 5D2 is dead on, no MFA, with all of my Canon lenses. However, it's a completely different story with my Sigma 50mm f/1.4... 'nuff said about that snafu!!
molson wrote:
On the contrary, Canon does have respect for the customer's pocketbook... that's why they offer such a wide range of products, at very competitive prices, so there's something to meet everyone's needs.
It's the customers who stubbornly (or stupidly) keep buying more and more expensive gear, and expecting it to be something it's not, who have no respect for their own pocketbooks.
Sorry: Canon has a big hole in the camera lineup. There is no reasonably affordable full-frame camera to compete with the Nikon D700. You want a full frame camera with an AF system that serves for both static and moving subjects well? Something that works beyond just the center point? That will cost you $7000, for a 1DsMkIII. Even the 1D4, at $5000, is a compromise if you need to use wide angles very much. I didn't buy the 16-35/2.8L II to use it as a 21-46mm lens.
As Nikon fills out its lens lineup - which may happen over the next year, with the release of some fast wide primes and revisions of some older lenses - the temptation to switch systems will be very strong. I've tried a D700 in the exact same venue where my 5D2 failed to focus almost as often as it succeeded. The D700 was a better tool for the job. Once some of the missing lenses hit the market, I will have no reason to continue fighting to make the best Canon low-light camera perform as it should. Canon needs a 5D2-type camera with seriously improved AF, in the sub-$3000 price range.
Jim Levitt wrote:
Sorry: Canon has a big hole in the camera lineup. There is no reasonably affordable full-frame camera to compete with the Nikon D700. You want a full frame camera with an AF system that serves for both static and moving subjects well? Something that works beyond just the center point? That will cost you $7000, for a 1DsMkIII. Even the 1D4, at $5000, is a compromise if you need to use wide angles very much. I didn't buy the 16-35/2.8L II to use it as a 21-46mm lens.
As Nikon fills out its lens lineup - which may happen over the next year, with the release of some fast wide primes and revisions of some older lenses - the temptation to switch systems will be very strong. I've tried a D700 in the exact same venue where my 5D2 failed to focus almost as often as it succeeded. The D700 was a better tool for the job. Once some of the missing lenses hit the market, I will have no reason to continue fighting to make the best Canon low-light camera perform as it should. Canon needs a 5D2-type camera with seriously improved AF, in the sub-$3000 price range....Show more →
So, Jim, what will happen first, you think? Canon will come up with a FF camera with features and AF just like those of the 7D or Nikon with fast wide angle primes? As you know Nikon just introduced an 85mm f/3.5 Micro to meet the "popular demand" of Nikon users . I am not being sarcastic here, but I am just curious where you will put your money on? Canon or Nikon?
Jim Levitt wrote:
Canon needs a 5D2-type camera with seriously improved AF, in the sub-$3000 price range.
+1000, yes and yes, 3D maybe
100% Viewfinder, 5 fps, 24mp 16-bit RAW FF
Real ISO 25-12,800 & extended to whatever hi number
14 stops DR ISO 25-3200
Old & Cheap 1D(s)(2) series or 7D AF plus all 5D2/7D video/lcd/RF enhance stuffs
AGeoJO wrote:
So, Jim, what will happen first, you think? Canon will come up with a FF camera with features and AF just like those of the 7D or Nikon with fast wide angle primes? As you know Nikon just introduced an 85mm f/3.5 Micro to meet the "popular demand" of Nikon users . I am not being sarcastic here, but I am just curious where you will put your money on? Canon or Nikon?
Were I a gambling man, I'd put money on Nikon releasing the lenses before Canon offers a "3D" body. Unfortunately. One does have to wonder who makes the decisions at either of these companies. Nikon has been missing fast wide primes for ages. They already have 60mm and 105micro lenses, the latter with VR. So who in blazes thought it necessary to put scarce development funds toward an 85mm f/3.5 micro for the crop camera format Bizarre...
All I want is a good all-around full frame body from Canon, a 24-70/2.8L IS, and an updated 70-200/2.8L IS. Maybe a better wide zoom, or something like the Nikon 14-24/2.8. Those lenses are likely to appear in the reasonably near future. Won't help much if the bodies to which they attach still cost $5000 or more, or don't have competitive AF systems.
BubbaJon wrote:
C'mon folks not everyone is being a troll and there have been issues. Putting fingers in ears and singing la la la wont help.
In answer to the OP - yes I had issues and it took two trips to Canon to get them resolved and that only AFTER I sent in JPG photos showing the focus issues. I took a series of shots from tripod showing focus on 10 shots using the AF system. Each shot reset to min focus distance. then 10 shots using Live View and zoomed focus - same drill. the AF shots were all over the map - the LV shots were all dead on. Canon admitted to recalibrating the AF assembly. Now my 5D MkII is dead on and I couldn't be happier - but there were indeed issues and everyone who has brought them up has been shouted down. Jeez - some folks here sound like fan boyz. ...Show more →
KKFung wrote:
I'm very lucky I don't need pro AF but still can shoot pro action photos
You've posted some great photos here, especially of your son. Care to explain how you use the 5DII focus system?
Do you do much work in low light, or in situations where focus with the center point and then recomposing doesn't work so well - because the subject moves a bit in the interim?
Jim, I use the 5D2 in the following way in general:
Still - one shot AF, select one from the 9 AF points. For indoor like wedding that need fast AF acquisition I have the 580EXII flash which have light beam assist so even using one of the outer point it is fast and accurate.
See below photos, the AF is fast enough to catch during marching in
AI servo
- for close moving object like my son head shot, tracking his eye I use one of the 9 AF points, people say the outer cannot track well but I found it is only happen on very low light or low contrast, normally it works accurate.
- for large moving object, I select in between center point + AF expansion and all 9 points auto. I will treat the 8 outer as the assistance points. By the way I always follow the rule that the faster the object, use the longer focal length to decrease the relative velocity of the moving object via the focus ring turning speed.
I also tried the AI servo in the below setting due to the 5D2 doesn't have "zone AF" selection or something like 1 series or Nikon's 51pts AF: So the focus plane always close to his face even the short shooting distance have thin DOF
Setting: (it is a non finder shoot, my right hand for the pointing the camera to my son, left hand driving the bicycle )
AF - center point with AF expansion on, AI servo mode
AF micro adjustment set to -20 (forward), it is due to the camera is title down to the center of the target, it can move the focal plane back to the driver's face.
ISO 50
Aperture F5.6 - 8
Shutter speed - 1/30s to 1/80s
Lens: 24-70 @ 24mm
KKFung: Those look real nice. Great action shots and looks like the panning at 1/25 was pretty spot on and I would expect those results (2nd shot above here). The Frisbee shots at F5 1/2000 look great. Center point + expansion -for sure? What do you mean " I select in between center point + AF expansion and all 9 points auto" are you toggling between these 2 methods for different shots or is there some function I am not aware of?
I am interested in this thread a lot. I have a Christmas present sitting about 10' from me that I can't open until the 25th. This will be upgrade from my 5d1. I am concerned after reading all this in the thread and past performance or our favorite company. My demands on the camera are a concern and not sure how fast AF I really need because I don't shoot a lot of fast moving stuff. I mainly use Center point, AI Servo with the CFn3 set to #3-the * for focus, and the center expansion activated. My thumb is depressing this * button 100% of the time while in shooting sequence to stay in focus with the AI Servo. The 5D1 hits proper focus about 90% of the time. The rest I attribute to my error. I shoot combination with studio lights, 580II, outdoors landscapes-(not worried there) and hardly any sports. I think I have used the outer focus points maybe less than 25 times in 3 years and mostly for landscape/flower work only. However we all know as in instances that arise (like above images) you want the damn thing to work properly. I swear if I have any issues I am telling my wife to exchange it for a D700 (she shoots a D3 and has all the *nice* glass already) and I will start selling off my L glass....... I totally agree that $2700 is a lot of dough for something that only works relatively consistently. I can't tell whether it appears some of the demands in this thread are more than the machine is designed to handle, user concerns or what. I am interested in continued feedback and user experience here.. Thanks for everyone's input, very informative so far.... Sorry if this sounds like a rant
. I don't know whether you keep up with development on the other side or not. "N" introduced a new 300mm f/2.8 with an improved VR for a paltry additional amount of almost $2K, I believe, over the existing one, which is already a stellar performer. Of course, that sparked an outrage.
Bizarre...