python2000 wrote:
That page has been discussed and criticized here before. Firstly, the 40D in that set-up is getting 2.5 keepers per second. Secondly, it is being asked to focus on a white shirt with hardly any contrast, against a background of highly contrasty trees. (It should tell you something when even the Canon 1-series line had trouble.) Thirdly, the difference between the 40D and 1 series was not world's apart.
There is no point of mentioning Nikon's AF until you see their results on that page. And when I looked last time, the poster hadn't posted anything concerning Nikon.
There is nothing in that test that shows there is a large variation in AF among 40Ds. A recent poll was taken of 40D owners, and there very few disappointed in the AF....Show more →
First of all, I had no idea if the original poster had known about the ProPhoto tests. Just trying to be helpfull, sheesh. As for the setup of the test, at least it was consistent between the different cameras and as far as I'm concerned the lousy results speak to the fact that there may be problems with some of the new AF units. Note that Drew is using a 1D2, not 1D2n for his benchmark tests. It's well known that the 1D2 did not focus as well as say the 1D2n that replaced it. The 1D2n is prehaps Canon's best AFing camera to date. You mentiom that the in the ProPhoto tests, the AF performances were not too far apart. I agree - they all are unexceptable as far as I'm concerned.
By mentioning Nikon, I was addressing the often brought up issue that some folks feel we Canon purchasers don't have any right to expect a 1 series AF system on a non 1 series DSLR. Well, Nikon has proven that it's possible for at least one well respected DSLR manufacturer to offer pro level AF systems in mid range DSLRs (and yes, I am assuming it'll work well). Perhaps Canon purachses also have a right to expect that level of performance in a mid range DSLR.
The last time I looked, I never said there was anything about the ProPhoto test itself that showed a variation betwen AF units. It just seems to me from reading forums and hearing from photogrpahers I respect that some folks have units that seems to work well and others don't - a strangley similar situation to the 1D3.
