Alistair Watson wrote:
Does focussing seem any faster Chris? ie if you are lined up on a target and you drift off then reacquite, does this reacquire seem faster than before?
Alistair,
I know you are an experienced user of the 1D's but surely setting Set C.Fn III-2 controls the way the MKIII looses and requires focus, does for me. I perhaps I am misunderstanding what you are asking Chris?
I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 0 no assist whatsoever.
Cheers Nick
below is Canon's explanation of C.Fn III-2
--------------------
C.Fn III-2: AF system sensitivity to sudden subject changes when in AI Servo mode
* 0 — Standard sensitivity (AF tracking will momentarily pause if the AF point sees another subject while tracking)
* -2 — Slow (Tracking will pause for a longer period when AF is disrupted to allow the photographer to find original subject)
* -1 — Moderately slow (Pause length will be in between setting -2 and 0 )
* +1— Moderately Fast (The AF system will respond faster to a change in subject position)
* +2 — Fast (AF system will not pause, if a change occurs camera will instantly re-focus)
This custom function adresses the different focus tracking needs of various photographers. It adjusts how the AF system will
respond if when tracking a moving subject (AI Servo mode), you lose your subject and find your AF point now in the distance,
or if something closer moves in front of you subject. Important: It does NOT change the speed at which the camera can track
a continuously-moving subject. It only deals with how quickly the system will try to focus upon something different, if the active
AF point no longer sees your moving subject.
Edited by NickRno77 on Oct 17, 2007 at 01:49 PM GMT
Alistair Watson wrote:
Does focussing seem any faster Chris? ie if you are lined up on a target and you drift off then reacquite, does this reacquire seem faster than before?
NickRno77 wrote:
Alistair,
I know you are an experienced user of the 1D's but surely setting Set C.Fn III-2 controls the way the MKIII looses and requires focus, does for me. I perhaps I am misunderstanding what you are asking Chris?
I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 0 no assist whatsoever.
Cheers Nick
Hi Nick,
I could have asked the question in a better way, you are right, I just saw Chris' post and quickly composed a reply. I know that CFn III-2 controls the way the Mark 3 loses and reacquires focus, personally I believe this to be on of the problems with, certainly, my body. When a rugby player is running towards me I have lock, then he jinks right and instantly focus is obtained on the background, there seems to be a big delay once the AF spot is back over the player in acquiring focus lock again though stabbing the AF-ON button always seems to get the object back in focus. Thinking about it, this is probably because the player is a low contrast part of the scene but no matter what I set CFn III-2 to the AF seems reluctant to reacquire the player without hitting the AF-ON button.
Canon seems to hate comparisons to the 1D2N saying that this is a different AF system, much more advanced, much more sensitive, but in the situation I have mentioned the AF on the 1D2N refocuses instantly, even on the low contrast object. Quite quite odd.....! And before anyone asks, yes I have tried the assist points but these don't help that much and at other points in the game assist causes me other issues when the players are all close together.
I could have asked the question in a better way, you are right, I just saw Chris' post and quickly composed a reply. I know that CFn III-2 controls the way the Mark 3 loses and reacquires focus, personally I believe this to be on of the problems with, certainly, my body. When a rugby player is running towards me I have lock, then he jinks right and instantly focus is obtained on the background, there seems to be a big delay once the AF spot is back over the player in acquiring focus lock again though stabbing the AF-ON button always seems to get the object back in focus. Thinking about it, this is probably because the player is a low contrast part of the scene but no matter what I set CFn III-2 to the AF seems reluctant to reacquire the player without hitting the AF-ON button.
Canon seems to hate comparisons to the 1D2N saying that this is a different AF system, much more advanced, much more sensitive, but in the situation I have mentioned the AF on the 1D2N refocuses instantly, even on the low contrast object. Quite quite odd.....! And before anyone asks, yes I have tried the assist points but these don't help that much and at other points in the game assist causes me other issues when the players are all close together....Show more →
Hi Alistair, I have tried shooting motorbikes coming towards me, when the focus point drifts off target yes focus is lost but comes back just as quick to re acquire AF? I'll have to get to a football match sometime now the race season has finished to do some testing. IMO Canon have made the AF to fast, stating the obvious they should have left the AF alone but updated everything else.
NickRno77 wrote:
Hi Alistair, I have tried shooting motorbikes coming towards me, when the focus point drifts off target yes focus is lost but comes back just as quick to re acquire AF? I'll have to get to a football match sometime now the race season has finished to do some testing. IMO Canon have made the AF to fast, stating the obvious they should have left the AF alone but updated everything else.
Cheers
Nick
I have also tried cars coming towards me and it works fine, I can drift off target and reacquire the target very quickly, even with tracking sensitivity set to 0. Cars and bikes are nice, bright high contrast areas to focus on. Rugby on the other hands, especially now it is getting darker earlier, is a pain in the backside. The AF does not seem to be able to reacquire though funnily enough when I hit the AF-ON button it comes right back..... This happens even with the camera set completely at default.
I did some basic testing with the new firmware and 500mm with tracking Gul's.
I set C.Fn III-2 to moderate/slow (-1 according Nick)
and C.Fn III-8 to 2 (all assist points)
So far everything looks good. I made several series and 80/90% were in focus. I had a serie of 17, all in focus. It's quite hard to track those birds, they never fly in a straight way
I did some testing my 70-200/4.0L IS with athletics (childrens high jump and spear) and all where in focus.
This weekend there's the Marathon of Amsterdam and I'll do some tests with my 400DO (I sold the 300/2.8) and shorter lenses.
Not looking to hijack the thread, but were you having problems with one-shot mode focus problems before? Are you seeing any improvements with 1.1.1.? My MkIII is horribly inconsistent in indoor low light conditions. If the single focus point is on something of relatively low contrast it often 'jumps' to an area of higher contrast often far away from the intended area. This with both 35L and 85L mkII!!
Alistair Watson wrote:
I have also tried cars coming towards me and it works fine, I can drift off target and reacquire the target very quickly, even with tracking sensitivity set to 0. Cars and bikes are nice, bright high contrast areas to focus on. Rugby on the other hands, especially now it is getting darker earlier, is a pain in the backside. The AF does not seem to be able to reacquire though funnily enough when I hit the AF-ON button it comes right back..... This happens even with the camera set completely at default.
Yeah, cars, bikes, planes...this is an easy task for AF on any 1D body, even coming right at you...field sports are very different and much better AF test.
Like Chris Dees I had this weekend the oppertunity to run some tests with 1.1.1. My subjects were (groups of) mountainbikers and yesterday I did some birding. Mainly using 100-400,1600 ISO at shutter speeds 1/1000. I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 2 (all assist points).
My first impressions are equal to Chris (80/90% in focus) but to be honest I don't have a long experience-base on this particular body, therefore missing the "before-after"comparison possibillity.
In some cases AF didn't do the job but for sure due to operator error. And yes Shane, i agree, field sports are a more challenging task for the AF. Perhaps next weekend I'll give it a try!
Frank Kaat wrote:
Like Chris Dees I had this weekend the oppertunity to run some tests with 1.1.1. My subjects were (groups of) mountainbikers and yesterday I did some birding. Mainly using 100-400,1600 ISO at shutter speeds 1/1000. I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 2 (all assist points).
My first impressions are equal to Chris (80/90% in focus) but to be honest I don't have a long experience-base on this particular body, therefore missing the "before-after"comparison possibillity.
In some cases AF didn't do the job but for sure due to operator error. And yes Shane, i agree, field sports are a more challenging task for the AF. Perhaps next weekend I'll give it a try!
Regards
Frank
...Show more →
Hoi Frank, welkom bij FM! (sorry, can't resist welcoming a first-time poster from my native country in my native language)
Quick question: how come you had 1.1.1 installed on your body? Had problems before? And where did they install 1.1.1? I'm planning on getting the 1D3 in a few weeks when I'm in the Netherlands - better price than over here @ Kamera Express - and would like to get one with 1.1.1 installed as I've read many positive reports...
And before anyone asks, yes I have tried the assist points but these don't help that much and at other points in the game assist causes me other issues when the players are all close together.
..) is in a " Try before you buy" situation.