p.1 #1 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
I took the EOS-R out for a short try and i'm surprised that AF tracking is pretty good. I was able to track Tern diving/flying. I haven't figure out where to turn on the Continue shot for the 7fps. All of these images was tracking via Al-servo and sniper shot. I've tried zone AF, vertical zone, horizontal zone and they were able to follow the subject.
Consider i'm not even using R lens but EF lens via adapter (400DO ii). This is a very welcome news for Canon. They're heading into the right direction. Compare this to the original Sony A7, it is WAY BETTER in term of AF speed/tracking.
p.1 #4 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
The main subjects in the first and last photos look sharp on my U2711. The other two a bit less so. It's not a particular bother though. These are "Day 1" photos, with initial release firmware and we're looking at small jpgs. I won't get too concerned about evaluating 'sharpness' until I get my hands on RAW files, and have a detailed look for myself. I say, "Thanks" to Alex, for sharing his early results. It looks very promising, which is great.
p.1 #6 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
lighthound wrote:
This is very welcomed and exciting news!
How did the EVF feel/work while tracking the BIF?
Thanks for doing this quick test run for us.
This is what I'd like to know also....what is happening in the EVF during AI Servo tracking at 3-5FPS? Is it a live view of the scene? Is there significant blackout or lag? Also once you figure out how to go into 7FPS mode is the "slideshow" affect a deal breaker in tracking a BIF?
Thanks for experimenting for us Alex....can't believe you are wasting time with this when you have a brand new Sony 400/2.8 GM sitting there also
p.1 #7 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
Good stuff, Alex. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, the terns aren't as crisp as the bigger birds in terms of sharpness, but first shots, lots of things in play here.
Keep at it - I'm curious to see what it'll do.
Side note - I guess I'd better address my avatar. It's gone
p.1 #8 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
(1) BIF pictures is one of the poorest vehicles for demonstrating gear performance, or lack thereof. Sure, it can be done, but the photographer's feedback on the tested equipment operation is often more useful than viewing sample images taken with the tested equipment.
(3) The frame rate of 3 FPS is very limiting for any action shooting, including BIF, and today such cameras are just not suitable for the application.
(3) I have no feel on how good or bad EVF really is for fast Servo AF tracking, and it would help to see more comments by those who have some experience shooting BIF with EVF cameras.
p.1 #9 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
Can you show the Exif data on these shots Alex? Curious as to your settings used, especially on the BIF shots.
+1 @ testing out a new rig on something like a diving tern.
Hell, I can't get any great keepers of those little bastards using my familiar camera rig, let alone a shiny new one that I'm testing out for the first time.
Reason I asked about the EVF is because when I played around with a Sony A7R3 a few months ago in a store, as I panned and banged off a few shots it drove me crazy. It has some weird blur/lag thing going on that I found extremely distracting.
It will be the best to see exactly what happening from evf. However, same as Sony, the moment I plug in the hdmi cable, both evf/lcd shut down. You can’t really handheld tracking anything by looking to The external monitor. There is no cage for eos-r yet.
p.1 #14 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
Thanks for sharing. Any updates on longer term use after the new firmware updates? Also any recommendations on settings? Im getting in today and I am hoping that it will be my primary camera moving forward , replacing 5DIII/7DII. (I will keep one of the two for backup).
p.1 #15 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
Thanks for posting. I have started building my birding rig around the 400DOII with extenders, aiming for use on a future EOS-R body, but for now using a 7DII and adapted to the Sony A7rII. Reading your positive report, I might sell the 7DII and go for the EOS-R, as I am not much into 10fps. The coming EOS-R counterpart to the 5DS-R is what I am really waiting for though. I have no doubts whatsoever that Canon will get mirrorless into line with Sony before too long, they are really committed to the R system. Their sensors have been getting better also, and their bodies are great to handle. Lenses like the 400DOII have such great AF motors and are so well designed, that I cannot see why they would not perform absolutely native on R bodies with the dedicated adapter.
p.1 #16 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
NJPhotographer wrote:
I believe it's only 3fps with focus priority mode. Should work very well in the regular 5fps Servo AF mode, no?
There's no way to turn on 7fps in servo mode. In Servo it's limited to 5fps, but I could swear that after I upgraded mine to 1.2, the speed sounds faster with a fast lens in super bright light (RF50 in sunlight). Didn't measure it, though.
Not sure what the "focus priority mode" is that you speak of. Focus vs. Release priority is for One Shot only, and has no impact on servo shooting. Not sure where the 3fps comes from.
I'm much happier with this camera than I was with the 5D4, which I now sold. It's not a 5DSR or 1DX2 for their respective fields, but a great sign of things to come.
p.1 #17 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
I read the above posts and they refer to 3fps with auto servo. I checked the manual and it says 5fps max with auto servo - a low end of acceptable for bif but still acceptable if its not your priority. Lower fps if antiflicker, low ss, and lots of other stuff similar to 5DIV issues. Anyone have different view than max 5fps - what am I missing?
This is as good as my 5dsr that I currently use,minus the flicker on evf. But likely better for histogram recovery. And definitely better with 50 Raw to fill buffer (vs 20).
p.1 #18 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
You only get the fast shutter speed with no continuous AF.
I am also surprised at how well the camera focuses with long lenses. I hooked it to a Sigma 150-600 and the sharpness at 600mm is way better than I was getting with my 1Dx, which leads me to believe that the focus was always slightly off at the long end of my 1Dx.
p.1 #19 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
stanj wrote:
Not sure what the "focus priority mode" is that you speak of. Focus vs. Release priority is for One Shot only, and has no impact on servo shooting. Not sure where the 3fps comes from.
This is untrue, up until firmware 1.4 setting focus priority resulted in 3fps shooting. Now it only applies to single shot.
p.1 #20 · Canon EOS-R + Canon 400DO mkii in the field
Scott Stoness wrote:
I read the above posts and they refer to 3fps with auto servo. I checked the manual and it says 5fps max with auto servo - a low end of acceptable for bif but still acceptable if its not your priority. Lower fps if antiflicker, low ss, and lots of other stuff similar to 5DIV issues. Anyone have different view than max 5fps - what am I missing?
This is as good as my 5dsr that I currently use,minus the flicker on evf. But likely better for histogram recovery. And definitely better with 50 Raw to fill buffer (vs 20).
It might have changed since the fw updates but originally you only got 3fps with continuous hi-speed AF with tracking priority enabled. If they have improved it to 5fps with tracking that's good news.
If the EOS Rs shows the same improvements the M6 II does and can shoot at least 5fps with tracking then that augers well and would be enticing.
