p.7 #1 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
find a window with rolled down white plastic blinds, shoot from inside pointing out, turn VF illumination on and see if you can notice the black points turning red, they become "cream color" very barely noticeable
p.7 #2 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
SeverianTL wrote:
It's an LCD. You have your choice of basic black or black. And if you don't like that , you can always take black. Technically, you could have shades of grey, but what would be the point of that?
I see .. still trying to get my head around the new VF and what it's capable of and it's limits, etc
p.7 #5 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
pompo wrote:
find a window with rolled down white plastic blinds, shoot from inside pointing out, turn VF illumination on and see if you can notice the black points turning red, they become "cream color" very barely noticeable
I know what you mean. My 5D3 behaves exactly the same. And it is different from the 5D2 which is a bit annoying.
However when in bright light, I don't really need to see the red because I can clearly see the black square focus point. In low light, it will be difficult to see the black square focus point in which case I will need to see the red clearly, which it does. It would be nice if they made it such that the red lit up as bright as the 5D2 whether in bright light or low light so that it would not surprise a lot of people moving from the older 5D2. But I guess this will be the new way going forward.
p.7 #6 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
pompo wrote:
find a window with rolled down white plastic blinds, shoot from inside pointing out, turn VF illumination on and see if you can notice the black points turning red, they become "cream color" very barely noticeable
Aah, I see, you are referring to the illumination of the active AF point when it nails the focus. You kept on saying that you couldn't see the AF point while you meant the illumination of the AF point. But the AF point is still displayed clearly though. To be honest, I am not paying attention to that in my shooting. For awhile, I had it under "auto" that will light the point only if the light conditions are getting low and not while the lighting was sufficient. I have the audible beep on and I can sometimes look at the round green light on the bottom of the viewfinder as a confirmation.
p.7 #8 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
I am not liking the sound of this. I don't mind change if it is an improvement, but this does not sound like an improvement to me. This is contrary to how the AF system worked on the 5D and 5D Mark II.
Those of us who are legacy 5D users, and I dare say most 5D Mark III users likely are, will not like this change at all. I'm hoping someone interviews Chuck Westfall soon and he provides Canon's official response to this issue.
p.7 #9 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
On a side note...I don't like beeps when I'm shooting weddings. I don't want my camera beeping every time I click focus during a ceremony or any other time of a wedding. Therefore, I don't have any Beeps - I rely on the focus point flashing to tell me it locked...and to tell me which focus point locked.
p.7 #10 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
Todd Klassy wrote:
I am not liking the sound of this. I don't mind change if it is an improvement, but this does not sound like an improvement to me. This is contrary to how the AF system worked on the 5D and 5D Mark II.
Those of us who are legacy 5D users, and I dare say most 5D Mark III users likely are, will not like this change at all. I'm hoping someone interviews Chuck Westfall soon and he provides Canon's official response to this issue.
some people may tell ya it's not a big deal, (mostly 7d users) to me it is, the red haze flashing on your screen is a whole lot new chapter to discuss with Mr. Westfall!
p.7 #11 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
What was the name of that web site that used to have regular interviews and Q&A with Chuck? Perhaps they may try to schedule an ad hoc interview with him given the launch of the 5D Mark III and new 1D X.
p.7 #13 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
form wrote:
On a side note...I don't like beeps when I'm shooting weddings. I don't want my camera beeping every time I click focus during a ceremony or any other time of a wedding. Therefore, I don't have any Beeps - I rely on the focus point flashing to tell me it locked...and to tell me which focus point locked.
OK, point well taken for not wanting to hear the beep but the active AF point is lit if you select "on" in the setting when the focus is locked. From where did you get the impression that it is not? Just curious... In extremely bright condition outdoor, it may not be that readily visible and that seems to be the point of contention. The round green light in the bottom of the viewfinder is clearly visible when the AF is locked regardless of the lighting condition.
p.7 #14 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
form wrote:
On a side note...I don't like beeps when I'm shooting weddings. I don't want my camera beeping every time I click focus during a ceremony or any other time of a wedding. Therefore, I don't have any Beeps - I rely on the focus point flashing to tell me it locked...and to tell me which focus point locked.
p.7 #15 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
AGeoJO wrote:
OK, point well taken for not wanting to hear the beep but the active AF point is lit if you select "on" in the setting when the focus is locked. From where did you get the impression that it is not? Just curious... In extremely bright condition outdoor, it may not be that readily visible and that seems to be the point of contention. The green light is clearly visible when the AF is locked regardless of the lighting condition.
the green light ? That works if you shoot paintings
p.7 #16 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
I just don't understand Canon sometimes. Between this and the fact that the 1D X will not autofocus with lenses containing a maximum aperture of f/8, I'm at a loss. I don't know what to do.
p.7 #18 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
I don't know what else to say.... . I really don't recall any complaint about this particular issue in the 7D. Maybe 7D users are just too dumb to figure this out or they are less picky or simply they think that the whole viewfinder, including the AF points, simply works for them just fine. Take you pick!
If you don't like the 5D Mark III, either you sell it and get another one even switch to another brand, if you feel necessary or you find a way to work around it. While I can see the point of wanting to see the active AF point to be lit at the initiation of the AF process and lit again as it locks focus, which I believe can be done in a firmware update, but changing the screen or the way it illuminates the AF point(s) is just senseless, IMHO.
p.7 #19 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
AGeoJO wrote:
I don't know what else to say.... . I really don't recall any complaint about this particular issue in the 7D. Maybe 7D users are just too dumb to figure this out or they are less picky or simply they think that the whole viewfinder, including the AF points, simply works for them just fine. Take you pick!
Or maybe it's just less of an issue with 19 points than with 61?
p.7 #20 · 5d M III Viewfinder illumination and af points!
AGeoJO wrote:
I don't know what else to say.... . I really don't recall any complaint about this particular issue in the 7D. Maybe 7D users are just too dumb to figure this out or they are less picky or simply they think that the whole viewfinder, including the AF points, simply works for them just fine. Take you pick!
stanj wrote:
Or maybe it's just less of an issue with 19 points than with 61?
Or just select the cross-type AF points to reduce the number to.... (what's the number again? I am too lazy to figure this out right now ) and just be happy with it?
Technically, you could have shades of grey, but what would be the point of that?
. I really don't recall any complaint about this particular issue in the 7D. Maybe 7D users are just too dumb to figure this out 
) and just be happy with it?