Sorry, as you can imagine I didn't read all the posts so I don't know if this was already covered. :-) I've had several occasions to shoot 3-4 hundred shots this past week (already getting up to the 1,000 mark) and like the shutter sound better than the 1DMkII or 20D. 6.5 fps not an issue, even with baseball. Focus is quick and I've had no problems with AI Servo. My only complaint so far... the resolution of the LCD screen. Why oh why didn't Canon increase the resolution to at least 300 pixs? It's impossible to tell if you nailed a shot - very grainy and soft. Shots look great once loaded into photoshop or lightroom. I think fewer OOF shots overall than with either the 20D or 1DMkII. Like the Digic III processor. Mostly using AV & Manual modes.
GPirnat wrote:
My only complaint so far... the resolution of the LCD screen. Why oh why didn't Canon increase the resolution to at least 300 pixs? It's impossible to tell if you nailed a shot - very grainy and soft. Shots look great once loaded into photoshop or lightroom..
Just for the record, the reason your LCD screen isn't helping you determine focus is because the images you are looking at on the screen are small thumbnail preview jpgs embedded in the larger jpeg or raw file purely for LCD viewing. I don't know why they use this method instead of letting you zoom in on your actual shot. pixel for pixel the screen is similar to most computer monitors. If you use the live-view function and zoom in 10x to manual focus you will see that the screen is actually quite sharp!
They could make the screen 900k pixels and it wouldn't make a difference.
oncoming wrote:
Arrived today. Started by changing ISO to 1-stop levels to remove useless ISO levels such as 125 or 500.
Why do you consider these ISO levels useless? I personally, find them valuable for several reason, especially when the light is falling and you want the cleanest images possible while keeping the aperture the same and the shutter speed as high as possible.
GPirnat, I must agree with you that the LCD screen is a bit grainy and soft. Canon should have increased the resolution, AF works great, especially when comparing to my 350D. Love my 40D, it is definitely a worthy upgrade for me (from 350D).
James Cripps wrote:
Just got mine today as well. I can definitely confirm that AI Servo "drift". Shot some images of a friend skateboarding and it would lock at first, then focus on the fence about 7 feet behind him, then come back to him and then back to the fence for another 2-3 frames. The AF point used was the center, and it remained over him the entire time.
The thing is, this was using the battery that came in the camera box, with a partial charge. Could this cause a problem like this?
This problem is not new. It is in the 20D and 30D as well, and is a fact of the larger AF sensor - which is much larger than the box on the screen. Think about it: it couldn't focus on the fence unless a sensor picked up the fence. Anyway, this is my major issue with the 40D, and is why the D300 or 1dm2 look so tempting.
James Cripps wrote:
Just got mine today as well. I can definitely confirm that AI Servo "drift". Shot some images of a friend skateboarding and it would lock at first, then focus on the fence about 7 feet behind him, then come back to him and then back to the fence for another 2-3 frames. The AF point used was the center, and it remained over him the entire time.
The thing is, this was using the battery that came in the camera box, with a partial charge. Could this cause a problem like this?
You're saying that you took the battery directly from the box. Popped it in the 40D without fully charging it? Or do you mean the drifting happened after you had depleted some of the power?
Hopefully some of the other 40D owners can chime in on this. I'm interested to know too. Has any one else here had any issues while in AI Servo
mode?
timbop,
You typed your re as I was typing mine. Can you further explain? And this happens in the 20D/30D too? If so I'm sort of surprised Canon hasn't addressed this prior to the release of the 40D.
Good thing I haven't picked up mine yet. And the D300 is on my short list.
Andrew Chase wrote:
You're saying that you took the battery directly from the box. Popped it in the 40D without fully charging it? Or do you mean the drifting happened after you had depleted some of the power?
Hopefully some of the other 40D owners can chime in on this. I'm interested to know too. Has any one else here had any issues while in AI Servo
mode?
timbop,
You typed your re as I was typing mine. Can you further explain? And this happens in the 20D/30D too? If so I'm sort of surprised Canon hasn't addressed this prior to the release of the 40D.
Good thing I haven't picked up mine yet. And the D300 is on my short list. ...Show more →
Yes, it is known by 20D and 30D owners - you need to fill the center circle completely to be sure the AF locks on the subject. It also does have a tendency to drift a little if the subject isn't moving. The upside is that the larger sensor is apparently a little more sensitive in lower light than the 1dm2's - or at least that is what I've read since I don't own a 1.
I seem to have a bit of a problem with my 40D. It appears that it might be firmware issue, but my ISO starts at 200, and even with the ISO expansion on it only goes to 1600. I have been through the book, and the camera, thinking that I was missing something, but can't seem to figure anything out. Maybe somebody else has some idea.
I have had a 10D, 20D, 5D, and 1Ds, so I do have some experience with Canon cameras, I just can't help but thinking I am missing something though.
Levi Holden wrote:
I seem to have a bit of a problem with my 40D. It appears that it might be firmware issue, but my ISO starts at 200, and even with the ISO expansion on it only goes to 1600. I have been through the book, and the camera, thinking that I was missing something, but can't seem to figure anything out. Maybe somebody else has some idea.
I have had a 10D, 20D, 5D, and 1Ds, so I do have some experience with Canon cameras, I just can't help but thinking I am missing something though.
James Cripps wrote:
Just got mine today as well. I can definitely confirm that AI Servo "drift". Shot some images of a friend skateboarding and it would lock at first, then focus on the fence about 7 feet behind him, then come back to him and then back to the fence for another 2-3 frames. The AF point used was the center, and it remained over him the entire time.
The thing is, this was using the battery that came in the camera box, with a partial charge. Could this cause a problem like this?
This is the most opportune time to show the image of the AF indicator points vs. the sensitivity of the 10D and 5D:
As you can see with both images, the sensitive area is much larger than the indicators show in the viewfinder. Similar results occur with the 350D, 20D, 30D, and 400D. I haven't seen such a diagram for the 1-series, but my experience shows that the sensors are smaller and closer to the size of the indicators in the camera.
The 1-series (prior to the Mk III) were a bit less sensitive in very low light - I sold my 1D2 in favor of the 5D in part because the 5D can focus better in very dim conditions. But that reduced sensitivity is/was the tradeoff for the more accurate AF sensors.
There's no reason to believe that the 40D, with it's very good low-light focus capability, doesn't carry on the characteristics of it's predecessors.
James Cripps wrote:
"You're saying that you took the battery directly from the box. Popped it in the 40D without fully charging it?"
Exactly. Stupid, yes. I think the problem still exists though.
Well, according to tombop this has existed with previous xxD models. Have you tried using a fully charged battery? I'm suprised Canon has let this quirk reappear in the 40D knowing it existed in the 20D/30D too. But do tell us if you notice any change with a fully charged battery. Though, I doubt it will change things.
Can you please clarify what you meant earlier. I think some people are misinterpreting what you said earlier.
Are you saying that a low battery leading to a bad AI Servo operation occurs on 20D/30D? Or are you saying that if you don't fill the AF sensor with your subject the camera may focus on other objects?
GPirnat wrote:
My only complaint so far... the resolution of the LCD screen. Why oh why didn't Canon increase the resolution to at least 300 pixs? It's impossible to tell if you nailed a shot - very grainy and soft.
Because they want to make sure you to buy the 50D in 2009.
herve wrote:
A bit general as a question, but what does the better focussing mechanism does to lenses with a history of chasing focus in certain low light conditions, like the 50 f/1,8?
Thanks
A history of chasing focus in certain low light conditions?
I must say I have no idea what you are talking about. I had two copies of the 50/1.8 II and have owned or used most of Canon lenses up to 300mm in the past 20 years. The 50/1.8 has the best AF capabilities of any lens which is not equipped with ring-USM and IF. Low light conditions included.
I'm on a Mac running OS 10.4.10 and trying to install DPP 3.1. Unfortunately, when the dialog box saying, "Preparing to install Digital Photo Professional" comes up, it just stalls and won't progress. Is anyone else having a similar problem? Repaired permissions but still having the same problem. Any help would be appreciated!
EOS20 wrote:
I never noticed any problems shooting with AI AF and Servo modes throughout the 9 hours I was shooting today. All the shots (Except one) were focused on what I had pointed the camera to (One shot focused on a fence in front of me instead of the cars behind on the track).
Maybe its just your magic touch Alan!
I'm glad your copy is OK and maybe it is my curse. The photos show it is real. That it seems not to be universal might mean it's repairable. But then that applies to 1D3 too
I took several series of shots with my 1D2 today and it did not drift like the 40D did. Also using a single AF sensor.
Has any one else here had any issues while in AI Servo 
