Oh one more thing. Silly question for the level of users here but I have to ask. In the CA mode with all focus points or one point activated...change anything?
sequiro wrote:
Since the Cann 5dII's focus issues are pretty well known, who here has had that problem?
it depends what you mean
i'm starting to get the feeling that the center point in one shot on my 5D2 is actually a little better than that on the 7D.
outer points can hunt a lot more and are slower, if not necessarily less precise seeming once they hit
i don't really trust any of the 10D,20D,40D,50D,5D2,7D to necessarily nail any given photo for sure, even one shot center point, but the 5D2 is the one I feel I trust the most (and it almost makes me feel confident to where I almost expect any given shot to actually be in focus) of those followed by the 7D, with the rest you are always out and out deeply afraid to look and review
Jim Levitt wrote:
Sorry: Canon has a big hole in the camera lineup. There is no reasonably affordable full-frame camera to compete with the Nikon D700. You want a full frame camera with an AF system that serves for both static and moving subjects well? Something that works beyond just the center point? That will cost you $7000, for a 1DsMkIII. Even the 1D4, at $5000, is a compromise if you need to use wide angles very much. I didn't buy the 16-35/2.8L II to use it as a 21-46mm lens.
As Nikon fills out its lens lineup - which may happen over the next year, with the release of some fast wide primes and revisions of some older lenses - the temptation to switch systems will be very strong. I've tried a D700 in the exact same venue where my 5D2 failed to focus almost as often as it succeeded. The D700 was a better tool for the job. Once some of the missing lenses hit the market, I will have no reason to continue fighting to make the best Canon low-light camera perform as it should. Canon needs a 5D2-type camera with seriously improved AF, in the sub-$3000 price range....Show more →
i certainly could be wrong, but i just help but think it is foolish of them to not have offered an at leat 6.3fps, full-cross AF with dedicated AI servo chip to speed it up a bit more 5D2-like camera, they have the tech and they just want to sit and wait until Nikon forces them while milking as much as they can until then, probably does bring them more money now, and perhaps more in the long run if they are lucky, but they also could end up losing out quite a lot in the long run with this tactic....
Jim Levitt wrote:
Were I a gambling man, I'd put money on Nikon releasing the lenses before Canon offers a "3D" body. Unfortunately. One does have to wonder who makes the decisions at either of these companies. Nikon has been missing fast wide primes for ages. They already have 60mm and 105micro lenses, the latter with VR. So who in blazes thought it necessary to put scarce development funds toward an 85mm f/3.5 micro for the crop camera format Bizarre...
All I want is a good all-around full frame body from Canon, a 24-70/2.8L IS, and an updated 70-200/2.8L IS. Maybe a better wide zoom, or something like the Nikon 14-24/2.8. Those lenses are likely to appear in the reasonably near future. Won't help much if the bodies to which they attach still cost $5000 or more, or don't have competitive AF systems. ...Show more →
yeah a new 17-40 II and a 24-70 IS (better opticall and smaller, more modern) and a 400 f/5.6 with IS for when dragging a 300 2.8+TC on a hike is painful and I bet many would like a 100-400L with the new IS.
i dont see how canon can do a 5D3 with the 5D2 sensor or something like it and 6-8fps and top AF if they have priced the 1D4 at $5000 though. I think they are stuck in their nasty 1D,1Ds scheme. Big bulky for truly top AF or forget it. FF never with fast fps. etc.
I've had a play with a 5DII today to see if I can find this terrible focusing and I'm afraid I've failed.
Camera in hand in the dark today using the side focus points, time after time it got perfect focus. I tired again and again in vain to find the problem, but just couldn't.
Only once did I see an issue as it failed to focus on the back of a flat white large van but moving the camera to the side of the lights and bang back to normal again. Not once did I use the centre point only the side and just couldn't find the issue.
I'd suggest if people really are having a problem they need to get it looked at, this camera was only a week old and before you as it wasn't dusk it was dark and often the shots being taken were on unlit roads.
The only thing I will say is that the lenses I was using were fairly quick and both primes but I really can't fault it one bit. I would highly recommend getting one as the shots it was taking at ISO 2000 were stunning and something the 'mythically' good 7D could only dream of being able to take with such a low noise level.
For the selection in between center point + AF expansion and all 9 points auto, I'm toggling between these 2 methods for different shots and different situation, depends on how big the object in the view finder compared to the AF area. (note, when you selection all 9 point auto or one of the outer point, the 6 invisible assist points will be off automatically).
I won't keep the AF expansion on all the time since it will affect the accuracy of the center point when you shooting something like macro which have super thin DOF.
I can say the 5D2 AF feature is capable enough for most situation, however if it have 7D's AF feature installed, we can shoot more easier.(But it doesn't mean the keeper rate will increase, technique and proper setting is still the major role )
KKFung.......you 've made this thread fun for me to flip thru. Very good and dynamic photos of your kid who is also a super little model. That's the way to photograph kids IMO.
Rob Whiting's head-on bird shot is also exceptional.....I'd like to see some more of those.
AF goodness is largely reflected in our keeper rate. Isolated difficult-to-focus shots are possible with any camera. Now, I am not saying that's the case here because I simply don't know.
sequiro wrote:
Since the Cann 5dII's focus issues are pretty well known, who here has had that problem?
The only issue with the 5D2's auto focus, is the people who wanted 1 series AF in a 20+mp body, with all of the other features of the 5D2 for like 1500 bucks.
You welcome Peter, I love your super model too ---> the well trained Pigeon and Duck
PetKal wrote:
KKFung.......you 've made this thread fun for me to flip thru. Very good and dynamic photos of your kid who is also a super little model. That's the way to photograph kids IMO.
Rob Whiting's head-on bird shot is also exceptional.....I'd like to see some more of those.
AF goodness is largely reflected in our keeper rate. Isolated difficult-to-focus shots are possible with any camera. Now, I am not saying that's the case here because I simply don't know.
RobertLynn wrote:
The only issue with the 5D2's auto focus, is the people who wanted 1 series AF in a 20+mp body, with all of the other features of the 5D2 for like 1500 bucks.
Just found a photo which shown a close shot on swing. I want the face in focus so I took it at a lower angle so the focus plane will be more likely angle to his face. The face is not tack sharp because of the shutter speed not high enough (my fault, should have > 1/1600s, now is 1/800s) but this tiny motion burr can be a keeper.
RobertLynn wrote:
The only issue with the 5D2's auto focus, is the people who wanted 1 series AF in a 20+mp body, with all of the other features of the 5D2 for like 1500 bucks.
That's not true. I think it was perfectly reasonable to expect that the revised 5D, after three years, would AT LEAST have cross-type sensors in all locations, since Canon had already done that on the far less expensive 40D and 50D. For $2700, it wouldn't have been out of line for Canon to throw in maybe four more points, so the diamond could become more of a rectangle: much better for composition purposes.
You tell me: how much do you think that would have added to the manufacturing costs of this body? I guarantee you that it would have made the 5D II far more capable, as it should be for the price.
Jim Levitt wrote:
You tell me: how much do you think that would have added to the manufacturing costs of this body? I guarantee you that it would have made the 5D II far more capable, as it should be for the price.
I have seen somewhere that the AF was not upgraded at the time because of the 1DIII problems, Canon did not want to run into more troubles.
I do really hope Canon propose in the near future a full frame high performance (incuding 7D-like AF) in a 7D-like body though.
i dont think it's crazy for people to have wanted all cross-type (and wow did that add a LOT to the price of the 40D and 50D compared to the 20D.... ). much of the time i use center myself, but at times outer cross could help and i know there are many who really like to use outer points a lot. not terrible on the 5D2 since unlike the 20D ones they can focus with some degree of precision but they are usually too slow for tracking and sometimes for still stuff.
and a dedicated AF cpu to speed up AI servo wouldn't add much cost, i doubt tht chip is more than a few books cost to them.
(to get even crazier:
and certainly just looking at parts, adding another digic can't be much since even a few dollar P&S uses a digic, now a faster mirror box/shutter can add some cost but they certainly could make 6.3fps beast with dual-digic and all xtype and extra cpu to speed up ai servo calc for say $3600 (or maybe even $3100) and still get same profit per body as they do with the 5D2 (of course that will kill their precious 1Ds sales a good deal as well as some 1D sales for those who could live with 6-8fps instead of 10fps).
)
but once again the center point for one shot isn't the horror story many had feared and many still claim, certainly better than that in any non 1 series cam and maybe not too far off of the 1 series either
5D2 af has been a lot better than i had feared if not everything i had hoped for or expected either, in some ways the sluggish mirror and sloowwww fps are the bigger annoyance
still a nice cam though, very nice, don't get me wrong and i'm very, very happy to have it, it is impressive
Bizarre...
