cogitech wrote:
All those settings you mention are things I choose long before the camera is up to my eye. Once I begin shooting, my attention is on my subject and my composition. None of those settings are distractions for me. AF sensors, their modes, odd behaviour and blinking lights certainly are distractions and I do everything in my power to remove them completely. If I could remove the AF system from my camera and go with a 100% silvered mirror (as Richard mentioned) I would do it in a heartbeat. Not even a moment of hesitation.
For me, and I'm sure for many others, they are settings that change constantly. I once felt the same way about flash as you do about AF, until I learned how it works and how to use it. Sure it takes a bit of work and a lot of memorization, but once you understand how it works it becomes second nature. However I do agree simple can be good.
Lyndon Chen wrote:
Can't speak to the 1DIV, but my 1DII does a worse job of focusing in low light than my 5D and 5DII. The 1DII simply can't acquire focus lock in certain darkish conditions where the 5D has no problem. If my memory serves me right, the 1DII AF was rated to 0 EV, while the 5D and 5DII are rated to -.5 EV.
In fairness, how the 1DII performs in low light is no testament as to how the 1DIV performs in the same conditions, especially considering how much better the 1DIII is in low light compared to the 1DII.
M Vers wrote:
For me, and I'm sure for many others, they are settings that change constantly. I once felt the same way about flash as you do about AF, until I learned how it works and how to use it. Sure it takes a bit of work and a lot of memorization, but once you understand how it works it becomes second nature. However I do agree simple can be good.
I understand very well how AF works. I understand even better that for what I shoot, manual focus works infinitely better. Flash? No problem there.
Lyndon Chen wrote:
Don't get me wrong, the 1DII walks all over the 5D in other aspects of AF. But in this one performance niche of focusing in extreme dark, the 5D holds the edge. From the review, sounds like the 1DIV has not improved much in this department.
I find the 1D II can focus well in low light, but takes a little extra time than a 5D II or 7D, but once it acquires focus it's accurate.
cogitech wrote:
I understand very well how AF works. I understand even better that for what I shoot, manual focus works infinitely better. Flash? No problem there.
And for me, settings change depending on the situation and AF is infinitely better. To reiterate my point, settings like aperture, shutter speed, ISO and EC are, in practice, the same as various AF settings--you pick the best setting for the scene or desired effect and utilize it. Sometimes you forget to change settings and you miss a shot--it happens. You then have two options, disable the setting or do your best to remember when and when not to use it.
I think there is some major unlearning toi be done from past AF experience with the MK4.
I started using both mine as i had my mk3 and 1dsmk3 and got poor results in poor light. Im talking night action here.
When i switch to the circle of fire its spot on and i mean spot on.
In the past where i had to rely on single point expanded for accuracy i now get awesome results with the full array.
However if you do use single point beware as sinve the 1.0.6 update single point is HOPELESS with long glass and i have the OOF stuff to prove it.
Whatever they did with that update killed single point, single point expanded.
Single point with all point assisting is better but the first two a disaster in backlit and poor light scenarios when using anything longer the 400.
My 500,600 and 800 are all hopeless unless using the ring of fire than they totally ROCK.
I get the feeling even Canon are learning as well about this new AF system...
Dont treat it like a MK3 is my lesson from 20000 frames in the last 10 days..
dehowie wrote:
I think there is some major unlearning toi be done from past AF experience with the MK4.
I started using both mine as i had my mk3 and 1dsmk3 and got poor results in poor light. Im talking night action here.
When i switch to the circle of fire its spot on and i mean spot on.
In the past where i had to rely on single point expanded for accuracy i now get awesome results with the full array.
However if you do use single point beware as sinve the 1.0.6 update single point is HOPELESS with long glass and i have the OOF stuff to prove it.
Whatever they did with that update killed single point, single point expanded.
Single point with all point assisting is better but the first two a disaster in backlit and poor light scenarios when using anything longer the 400.
My 500,600 and 800 are all hopeless unless using the ring of fire than they totally ROCK.
I get the feeling even Canon are learning as well about this new AF system...
Dont treat it like a MK3 is my lesson from 20000 frames in the last 10 days.....Show more →
That's great info - thanks! I probably won't get a mk4, but this could have a bearing on other future Canon AF systems.
