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Archive 2012 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!

  
 
Siddhu
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p.6 #1 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


I've reserved a rental this weekend. I'll report back


Apr 04, 2012 at 03:28 PM
pdmphoto
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p.6 #2 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


I haven't seen anything substantial, that shows the 5DIII is a "game changer" for manual focus. "People that owns it, say it is as least as good...". It seems like the AF confirmation work better, but the optical focus screen isn't interchangeable. A 5DII user who relies on AF confirmation may benefit from the new 5DIII, but likely not a user who successfully uses the Eg-S screen. Unless Canon have magically developed a new screen that is both bright and has minimal DOF(the standard screen 5DII screen is brighter, but has ~ f/4 DOF), or have redesigned the mirror/prism box (not likely looking at the form factor), there is no reason to believe that the new 5DIII can focus fast lenses even as good as a 5DII with an Eg-S screen.

I can MF my Rollei/Zeiss 35/1.4 fairly well with the Eg-S screen installed. I can even get some good results with the stock screen, but the keeper rate goes down compared to the Eg-S. I don't bother with an AF confirm chip on the lens. I normally use it at fairly close distances, where the DOF is razor thin. Any movement by me or the subject throws the focus out. I prefer to see the focus, then press the shutter. Waiting, or looking for, the AF confirm only gets in the way.

Canon did it users a big disservice by making the 5DIII focus screen non-interchangeable - lets not sugar coat that



Apr 04, 2012 at 08:20 PM
Lars Johnsson
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p.6 #3 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


pdmphoto wrote:
I haven't seen anything substantial, that shows the 5DIII is a "game changer" for manual focus. "People that owns it, say it is as least as good...". It seems like the AF confirmation work better, but the optical focus screen isn't interchangeable. A 5DII user who relies on AF confirmation may benefit from the new 5DIII, but likely not a user who successfully uses the Eg-S screen. Unless Canon have magically developed a new screen that is both bright and has minimal DOF(the standard screen 5DII screen is brighter, but has ~ f/4 DOF), or have redesigned the mirror/prism box
...Show more

How much MF have you done with the new 5D3



Apr 05, 2012 at 02:08 AM
magiclight
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p.6 #4 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


pdmphoto wrote:
Canon did it users a big disservice by making the 5DIII focus screen non-interchangeable - lets not sugar coat that


Really ?

Im sure the number of Canon users who use other focusing screens would be way less than 1%.

Similar to the number to who will be using the new rate button





Apr 05, 2012 at 02:39 AM
carstenw
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p.6 #5 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


Sure, but in this forum the number is WAY above 1%. Maybe even over 50%.


Apr 05, 2012 at 02:43 AM
Marco
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p.6 #6 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


And 1% is probably way more than real users of 12800 ISO, let alone 25600... yet on many sites there are endless comments on how much improvement (full stop or less..?) the 5DIII has over the 5DII at those ISOs.


Apr 05, 2012 at 03:12 AM
Lars Johnsson
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p.6 #7 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


But you have to balance the minus of a non S screen with the improved features it has for MF. For people that MUST have an S screen. And belive it's the most important feature. There are many other Canon bodies that have it. And in all prices, from high to rather low. And both FF and crop also.
I agree with Marco about the high ISO



Apr 05, 2012 at 03:18 AM
Siddhu
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p.6 #8 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


Does anybody have suggestions for setting up the AF on the 5D3 for use with manual focus lenses? I'm picking up my rental 5D3 tomorrow to see how MF is with my Zeiss glass so any tips would be super appreciated!


Apr 05, 2012 at 04:57 PM
magiclight
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p.6 #9 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


I would start off by using the centre point as it is the most sensitive.

Make sure you calibrate the AF system first for each lens using the micro adjust.



Apr 06, 2012 at 01:55 AM
AhamB
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p.6 #10 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


Lars Johnsson wrote:
But you have to balance the minus of a non S screen with the improved features it has for MF. For people that MUST have an S screen. And belive it's the most important feature. There are many other Canon bodies that have it.


Which ones have it that are in production? 1DX and 1Dmk4? 1Dsmk3 if that one is still in production? I 60D is the only crop body that supports the S-type screen AFAIK. The 5Dmk3 would be the only one I'm interested in, but doesn't have it...



Apr 06, 2012 at 06:04 AM
Lars Johnsson
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p.6 #11 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


AhamB wrote:
Which ones have it that are in production? 1DX and 1Dmk4? 1Dsmk3 if that one is still in production? I 60D is the only crop body that supports the S-type screen AFAIK. The 5Dmk3 would be the only one I'm interested in, but doesn't have it...


I would guess that more than 10 bodies have S screen. But yes only maybe 3 are in production today. And if your only interest is in the 5D3 body. Then you have to live without the S screen. But then the S screen feature isn't really that important to you



Apr 06, 2012 at 09:52 AM
Siddhu
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p.6 #12 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


Well I just shot my first batch of photos with the 5D3 and the 35mm f/1.4 Distagon and I had maybe about 50% - 60% in focus. For this batch of testing I was focusing as I do with the 5D2 and just using the focusing screen. On the 5D2 Im able to have more than 90% in focus shooting wide open.

Tomorrow I'm going to test using the AF system for focus confirmation all day, but in my limited testing today, I find it kind of slower to have to "tell" the AF, which points I want it to use. I find it much faster to compose, focus and shoot in one fell swoop old school style.

Using the AF it's more like compose, then fiddle to set the AF point, then focus until confirmation, then shoot.



Apr 06, 2012 at 04:48 PM
kiddik
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p.6 #13 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


Just two add another two cents, I used Eg-S screen with my old 5DII with manual focus lenses, having a fairly high keeper rate even though I use glasses and sometimes question my eyesight. I got the 5D3 some 10 days ago and since then my keeper rate has almost doubled - I'm relying on the focus points (9-point cluster, haven't been able to activate all of them for MF assistance, probably not possible?). Sure I wish the 5D3 had interchangeable screens, but for me, the 5D3 truly is a gamechanger with my manual focus lenses, let alone autofocus lenses. When I use 5D3 + 70-200L II, I am practically unable to take misfocused pictures, regardless of circumstance. The 5D3's focusing system is so unbelievable I've started added autofocus lenses to my wishlist again.


Apr 06, 2012 at 04:59 PM
Siddhu
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p.6 #14 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


@Kiddik - Can you give me any tips on setting up the AF? Are your manual focus lenses fast i.e f/1.4 - f/2?


Apr 06, 2012 at 05:25 PM
kiddik
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p.6 #15 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


I've used Zeiss 21, 35/2, 50/1.4, 85/1.4 & 100/2 with great results on the 5D3. I use the "Zone AF" mode, illustrated here to the lower right:

http://blog.martinbaileyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/5D_MarkIII_AF_Area_Selection_Modes1-590x341.jpg
(Page 73 on the manual)




Apr 06, 2012 at 07:16 PM
Siddhu
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p.6 #16 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


Do you find this works better than using a single point spot AF?


Apr 06, 2012 at 07:17 PM
kiddik
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p.6 #17 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


Definitely, it helps me single out proper focus, sort of like the Windows game Minesweeper :-) With one point activated, it feels more like "you just had it but you just lost it". But of course it's just my opinion, others may vary But I noticed the 1 single focus point is much, much more reliable than it was on the 5D2.


Apr 06, 2012 at 07:23 PM
philber
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p.6 #18 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


Sorry for not answering this thread, which I initiatied, but I am in the middle of a trip to Patagonia with Boris, where Internet connections are as rare as the hair on top of my head.
By now I have hundreds more shots with 5Diii, and in comparison with 5Dii, which I brought along as backup. I stand by what I wrote. So far, the specter of missed focus due to the lack of EG-S has not reared its ugly head, but then I have mostly shot stopped down. Tomorrow I will use 35 and 25 wide open or close, and report when I can. That is, if weather lets up, because, right now, the word "rainforest" takes on its fullest meaning.
Furthermore, on camera-LCD inspection, IQ on the new cam seems substantially better.
Siddhu, I use centre point only, then focus and recompose, back from my 5Dii days, when it was the best option for me.



Apr 06, 2012 at 08:03 PM
mco_970
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p.6 #19 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


kiddik wrote:
Definitely, it helps me single out proper focus, sort of like the Windows game Minesweeper :-) With one point activated, it feels more like "you just had it but you just lost it". But of course it's just my opinion, others may vary But I noticed the 1 single focus point is much, much more reliable than it was on the 5D2.


That's an interesting way to set it up. I'm going to try a couple of my alts on my 7D with this config.

ETA: Tried it with my 50 OM, nope, no go on 7D. Small point AF works well, though.



Apr 07, 2012 at 08:29 AM
Lars Johnsson
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p.6 #20 · 5D III for alt and MF lenses: a game changer!


mco_970 wrote:
That's an interesting way to set it up. I'm going to try a couple of my alts on my 7D with this config.

ETA: Tried it with my 50 OM, nope, no go on 7D. Small point AF works well, though.


Try a chipped lens like he did. I don't know if the 7D works like the 5D3 ? But I belive there is a difference if using chipped and non chipped lenses for MF



Apr 07, 2012 at 08:41 AM
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