Are the peripheral AF points so poor as to be unusable in low-light?

skibum5 wrote:
Daan B wrote:
Ok, besides missing light shield plates and broken LCD's...

Are there any other problems / issues (minor or big) that I should watch out for when buying a new 5D2?

I am fully recovered from my previous 5D2 experiences (bad ones ) and am ready to try it one more time

Seriously...

Watch they don't turn on you boy.....
These 5DmkII.
Why they appear innocent at first.
You wouldn't even think to give them a second look really.
Few do.
But they are scheming.
And plotting.
And just as you least expect it.
You'd as much wish you'd never been born....
They rise up and rise up fast.
They can think.
These machines.
But not like people.
Not like anyone or anything you've ever known....
You ever looked into the black soulless eye of a great white?
That ain't half as dark.... that ain't half as dark.
What was once your town, well not sure what you'd call it after.
Certainly not a town.
Maybe not even a place.
So yeah, boy, I'd watch your step and keep your distance form these 5DMkII.
There are issues yet to be resolved.
Issued yet to be resolved.


umm yeah so stop worrying and get one again, they are great. the new firmware is awesome too.

(although it sounds like your first tries were more like my crazy script there but hopefully, and almsot certainly, this one should be entirely fine)



Skibum, is that a modified version of Queeg's speech in Jaws or are you a poet. I'm still laughing as I type this.

Daan B.

The 5D MKII is all about results, the picture. I experienced issues similar to what you have. mine were with the other well known body Canon sold and forgot to inform the buyers it was in beta form. Drove me over to the Dark side, really wasn't that dark on upon arrival. I had pre-ordered my 5DMKII from a new vendor because B&H doesn't accept pre-orders. I was 'Upset', (really ticked) with three bodies from Canon, ( not really that bad after 20 years w/Canon) but I had all three bad experiences with in 90 days.

D700 arrives w/ 2 lens, SB900, and I was a Happy Camper! After 2 weeks I call and cancel my order for the 5DMKII. Going to dump all my 'L' lens, mucho $$ was probably going to be lost but the change must be made. Two weeks later a box arrives with a 5DMKII in it, they were scarce back then. I could send it back unopened or......................
like any respectable photo nut I make the mistake of placing the box close to the rest of my Canon gear.

Well you might have guessed it, somehow the 5DMKII hooked up with the 70/200 over night. When I found them in the morning they were physically joined, shameful! I'm suspect all my 'L's had their way over night. I was going to have all of this annulled however when I viewed what they had created, it was magic. Ah, the results were stunning,
she's not the fastest, she appears to have a joint ailment as she creaks, not nearly as solid as the D700, but she's a Lady, and should be treated as such. She has kept all of my Canon gear at home as a family, with her in my bag the 'L's are safe. She even compliments the D700.

The only downside? Tough keeping up in these times with both families, expensive, but what's a guy to do?

Good luck with your new addition!

R. Eisenberg wrote:
Are the peripheral AF points so poor as to be unusable in low-light?

nonsense! it's not as accurate as the center AF point but they're usable, certainly not any worst than the xxD. unless you are shooting in pitch black environment otherwise they are alright.

yauyi wrote:
R. Eisenberg wrote:
Are the peripheral AF points so poor as to be unusable in low-light?

nonsense! it's not as accurate as the center AF point but they're usable, certainly not any worst than the xxD. unless you are shooting in pitch black environment otherwise they are alright.

This is true. In terms of inherent accuracy, they are as sensitive and as accurate as the center point with any lens slower than f/2.8.

This is the thing: They are only sensitive to subject linear contrasts that run perpendicular to the orientation of the rectangle marks--they are blind to linear contrasts that run parallel to the rectangles.

If you turn the camera so that the marks are perpendicular to any lines in the subject, they can focus accurately on any line you can see, until it's so dark you can't even see the line in the viewfinder.

5D2 flaws?

Flaws? We don't need no stinkin' flaws!

As far as the ongoing rags about the off center AF points, consider this: Medium Format cameras have only 1~3 AF points, and not nearly as responsive.

jjlphoto wrote:
...Medium Format cameras have only 1~3 AF points, and not nearly as responsive.

But they have a huge VF

Mike1.6 wrote:


Skibum, is that a modified version of Queeg's speech in Jaws or are you a poet. I'm still laughing as I type this.


haha the black soulless great white eye line was inspired by vague recollections of Queeg's speech

i think i've maybe watched a few too many hollywood movies and wacky TV shows over the years (and have been around too many characters, half the time we go around acting on purpose like we are part of some wacked out sitcom just for the fun of it), seeing how i was able to spontaneously type that out in realtime haha

RDKirk wrote:
yauyi wrote:
R. Eisenberg wrote:
Are the peripheral AF points so poor as to be unusable in low-light?

nonsense! it's not as accurate as the center AF point but they're usable, certainly not any worst than the xxD. unless you are shooting in pitch black environment otherwise they are alright.

This is true. In terms of inherent accuracy, they are as sensitive and as accurate as the center point with any lens slower than f/2.8.

This is the thing: They are only sensitive to subject linear contrasts that run perpendicular to the orientation of the rectangle marks--they are blind to linear contrasts that run parallel to the rectangles.

If you turn the camera so that the marks are perpendicular to any lines in the subject, they can focus accurately on any line you can see, until it's so dark you can't even see the line in the viewfinder.


Thanks for these helpful observations.

Taoguy wrote:
Daan B.

...
The only downside? Tough keeping up in these times with both families, expensive, but what's a guy to do?




Bigamy!

Hmmm, from experience I can say the 5D2 doesn't float or like salt water. Anyone want to buy a "slightly used, waterlogged" camera?

R. Eisenberg wrote:
Are the peripheral AF points so poor as to be unusable in low-light?

not if they have detail in the direction they can sense

i haven't really used them much though so i can't so anything too much

the center point seems to be better than on 20D or 40D/50D for stills or ai servo tracking

skibum5 wrote:
Mike1.6 wrote:


Skibum, is that a modified version of Queeg's speech in Jaws or are you a poet. I'm still laughing as I type this.


haha the black soulless great white eye line was inspired by vague recollections of Queeg's speech

i think i've maybe watched a few too many hollywood movies and wacky TV shows over the years (and have been around too many characters, half the time we go around acting on purpose like we are part of some wacked out sitcom just for the fun of it), seeing how i was able to spontaneously type that out in realtime haha




Well it sure makes you a creative fellow. My apologies to everyone for diverting the thread.

And just so Jaws fans don't jump on us, Skibum and I both know it's Quint, not Queeg, who gives that speech about sharks eyes and maybe camera lenses...

"Sometimes that shark looks right at ya. Right into your eyes. And the thing about a shark is he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn't even seem to be livin'... 'til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then... ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'. The ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin' and your hollerin' those sharks come in and... they rip you to pieces."

R. Eisenberg wrote:
Are the peripheral AF points so poor as to be unusable in low-light?
Yes.

jjlphoto wrote:
5D2 flaws?

Flaws? We don't need no stinkin' flaws!

As far as the ongoing rags about the off center AF points, consider this: Medium Format cameras have only 1~3 AF points, and not nearly as responsive.
Yes- but the 5D II will be used in more situations than an MF body.

orangefirefish wrote:
R. Eisenberg wrote:
Are the peripheral AF points so poor as to be unusable in low-light?
Yes.


Define low light. Indoor light? They are most certainly useable, however you need to point them at something with some degree of contrast. D700 Pitch black dark alleys lit by a lamp post? No. The D700 would focus in those (I sold it for 5d II). D700 would focus in low contrast areas well... 5d II won't... but it depends on whether you shoot in REALLY dark environments IMO.

main flaw: if the pic doesn't turn out its your fault not the camera's

orangefirefish wrote:
jjlphoto wrote:
5D2 flaws?

Flaws? We don't need no stinkin' flaws!

As far as the ongoing rags about the off center AF points, consider this: Medium Format cameras have only 1~3 AF points, and not nearly as responsive.
Yes- but the 5D II will be used in more situations than an MF body.

Well, a heck of a lot of portrait and wedding photographers moved to the 5D and 5D2 from medium format cameras, and compared to a medium format camera, the 5D is amazingly agile, responsive, and tough.

If the 5D does nothing more than take a big bite out of the Mamiya market--which it has certainly done--I suspect that makes Canon very happy.

I find that the outer focusing points are pretty lousy, even in good light.

I'm not sure if it's to do with the sensitivity or the non-cross nature?

Well the 5D II is a BETTER camera than the 5D, and the 5D at the end of the day delivers superb IQ and AF in one shot, even in low light is good to very good. To me the biggest flaw of the 5D is the pathetic lcd screen and AI servo, which is piss poor in all no 1 series anyway. 5D II fixes a few of these weaknesses and adds many new features. I can easily overlook the AF in this camera, but hey add a D700 pro AF system, make it 7fps, inbuilt gps, flash controller, more sealing and you have the perfect camera.

I'll be getting a 5D II for sure, hopefully in the next month or two.

I hate these topics ....

anorphirith wrote:
I hate these topics ....

But like a car wreck you were still strangely drawn into it's evil web.

For me it's really only the focusing system which stops the 5DII from being superb.

I wouldn't be surprised if a "3D" 1-series/5D hybrid is being considered

David

David, I hope you are right, but I doubt you are.
Canon have established this pattern for a long time now.
They really want us to pay $8000 if we want pro AF with a full frame sensor.

Quality control is pretty ordinary also.
Although I think they intentionally send out cameras with slight faults thinking most buyers of this level camera won't notice.

I've sent two bodies back.
Hoping for third time lucky on the 5D MK II.