I saw this interesting piece of detective work at dpreview by someone named hpjfromdk.

It appears as though the EOS 6D may have up to 8 invisible assist points surrounding the center AF point. The AF points aren't mentioned in any of Canon's marketing literature. However, a close inspection of the 6D AF sensor chip seems to reveal their presence:

Interesting. But wich are the three?

Ralph Conway wrote:
Interesting. But wich are the three?


Center AF point, and the two assist points directly above & below it. Just like the 5D2.

Canon cripples it .

kewlcanon wrote:
Canon cripples it .

Yes! Again and again ... !

hmm i think i better get my 5D2 sold fast

The 5D and 5D II had 6 assist points for AI Servo use ....

see the 5D II manual; page 80, 83,

page 198 -- custom function III-7 enables the 6 assist points

so actually 15 focus points total
-- 9 focus points plus 6 hidden assist points around the center point

abqnmusa wrote:
The 5D and 5D II had 6 assist points for AI Servo use ....

see the 5D II manual; page 80, 83,

page 198 -- custom function III-7 enables the 6 assist points

so actually 15 focus points total
-- 9 focus points plus 6 hidden assist points around the center point



Yeah they do but the thought had been that the 6D had gotten rid of them, now it seems perhaps not.

Doesn't matter, you still have to focus and recompose.

n0b0 wrote:
Doesn't matter, you still have to focus and recompose.


If you're talking about all the peripheral AF points being non-cross type... then you can make the same complaint about every single Nikon DSLR out there. Including the D4 and D800.

stargazer78 wrote:
So there is a possibility that the EOS 6D may have a 19-point AF system after all. 11 selectable, 8 non-selectable, and 3 high precision with f2.8 lenses.

Note that this is a possible AF point mapping. It's not been confirmed by Canon.

The AF sensor, though, shows that the center AF point has been beefed up quite a bit.
So, auto focus with only the center AF point should be an improvement over the 5Dc/5DII.
Maybe more so if those hidden AF points are active all the time.

Honestly I would rather have the 11 point AF system of the 6D with -3 EV center point over the 19 focus point, -1 EV of the 7D.

Good to know

stargazer78 wrote:
If you're talking about all the peripheral AF points being non-cross type... then you can make the same complaint about every single Nikon DSLR out there. Including the D4 and D800.

Precisely. The D600 is probably the most offensive because all the cross AF sensors are tightly clustered around the middle.

stargazer78 wrote:
n0b0 wrote:
Doesn't matter, you still have to focus and recompose.


If you're talking about all the peripheral AF points being non-cross type... then you can make the same complaint about every single Nikon DSLR out there. Including the D4 and D800.

Why would I? I don't use Nikon system.

I'd rather have the 60D or even better, the 7D AF in the 6D. I could focus fine inside dark caves with the 7D so I can't see any real world advantage of that -3EV focus capability.

Lordy Lordy look who's 40.

What is the center point sensitivity of the 5DIII? I think I remember reading that it was -2EV?

Will the 6D's added sensitivity really translate to performance you can feel in dim lighting? My understanding is that the 5DIII is already very snappy.

ardvorak wrote:
What is the center point sensitivity of the 5DIII? I think I remember reading that it was -2EV?

Will the 6D's added sensitivity really translate to performance you can feel in dim lighting? My understanding is that the 5DIII is already very snappy.

It is -2.

stargazer78 wrote:
I saw this interesting piece of detective work at dpreview by someone named hpjfromdk.

It appears as though the EOS 6D may have up to 8 invisible assist points surrounding the center AF point. The AF points aren't mentioned in any of Canon's marketing literature. However, a close inspection of the 6D AF sensor chip seems to reveal their presence:


So there is a possibility that the EOS 6D may have a 19-point AF system after all. 11 selectable, 8 non-selectable, and 3 high precision with f2.8 lenses.



extra AF points are good, even if they are invisible

here's my question...

It's a fact the 6D can go up to -3V... it's a given. The -3V is this for all AF points or just the center?

Just the center - all other points are specified to work from +0.5 to 18 EV.