Messages

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: EOS 5D Mark III Firmware Coming April 30, 2013

« on: April 18, 2013, 09:18:31 AM »

So this update does not address the issue with AF-assist beam lag. Is that a separate update?

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Another one of those 5D Mark III soft images threads.

« on: April 10, 2013, 11:40:55 AM »

Check your in camera noise reduction levels. On the 5d3 this is a little stronger than the 5d2 and this can result in softer images, especially shots above ISO 1600

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 6D or 5D Mark III

« on: March 07, 2013, 11:46:40 AM »

Coming from two Canon 5d MK II bodies and killing one, which I replaced with a mk III. I'm seriously considering selling my remaining mk II and getting a 6D as a second (walkaround and backup) body. The low light AF (dis)abilities of the mk II really bothered me since its release and reports of the 6D are very positive in this regard. I also have the cash for a second MK III but at this point I find it a little overkill to use a 3K camera as a walkaround body dangling over my shoulder or wrist wherever I go, but the 5D Mk III is a JOY to use and love the images I take with it. It is a fantastic camera and the images looks more "natural" to my eyes than the the 5d mk II ever did.  And reports that the IQ of the 6D is at least as good as the 5d mk III gives me a reason to ditch the 5d II for one of these two bodies. I can't choose!!

That's probably the best case I've heard so far for a 6D. If it's really just a backup and for walkaround I see how a smaller lighter plastic camera makes sense and its limitations probably won't be too difficult to deal with since you still have the Mark III for the more serious stuff.

On the other hand I personally would keep the second 5DII until fails before spending more money. I still think that the MarkII beats the 6D overall - but then I was never concerned with the AF performance and find it plenty good even in difficult light.

How about something completely different for everyday use/walkaround? I'd consider a Fuji or Sony and keep the 5DII around as second SLR body.

Thank you for your reply. That's is exactly the reason, 6D to play around with and the MK III to bring the money. My remaining 5D II is currently parked on 180 thousand actuations and I think it won't die in the near future. The truth is, I didn't touch it since I got the 5d mk III unless it was absolutely necessary because the IQ is not so appealing to me anymore, and it seems the 6D is on the same page with the mk III IQ wise. And that matters to me a lot.

I'm steering on all directions right now. How is the weather sealing on the 6D? Is it in the same level with the 5D II/III? This is important as I beat the crap out of my camera's on all kind of conditions.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Information [CR1]

« on: March 07, 2013, 09:10:52 AM »

It is very interesting and very hard to believe. Canon can be a BIG game changer if it can release such a camera.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 6D or 5D Mark III

« on: March 07, 2013, 04:28:34 AM »

Coming from two Canon 5d MK II bodies and killing one, which I replaced with a mk III. I'm seriously considering selling my remaining mk II and getting a 6D as a second (walkaround and backup) body. The low light AF (dis)abilities of the mk II really bothered me since its release and reports of the 6D are very positive in this regard. I also have the cash for a second MK III but at this point I find it a little overkill to use a 3K camera as a walkaround body dangling over my shoulder or wrist wherever I go, but the 5D Mk III is a JOY to use and love the images I take with it. It is a fantastic camera and the images looks more "natural" to my eyes than the the 5d mk II ever did.  And reports that the IQ of the 6D is at least as good as the 5d mk III gives me a reason to ditch the 5d II for one of these two bodies. I can't choose!!

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 21, 2013, 11:17:46 AM »

Repeat these steps after restarting your camera. It will give you different values.

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Sports / Re: Cars cars cars (and some bikes)

« on: February 21, 2013, 09:33:06 AM »

Took this hanging out the window of a racing car low to the ground with 150km/h. The raindrops were horribly painful...

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 13, 2013, 04:38:39 PM »

I tried this today on the 5d3 with my 50L 1.2 and 16-35II's long end and it gave me very inconsistent results. I did this on a controlled light setup, marked my positions at max distance for both lenses, wide open aperture and aligned the target (from lens-align) parallel to the sensor. I tried this technique 3 times on the same positions with both lenses. I shut down the camera and restarted the test after each try. These are the results:
50mm 1.2
first try -5 to +12
second -9 to +9
third -8 to +16

16-35II on 35mm
first try -9 to 10
second -5 to +14
third -6 to +12

Did I do something wrong?

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 06, 2013, 04:30:39 AM »

I will try this for sure

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

« on: November 21, 2012, 10:25:09 AM »

OK....so many of us now know there is a REAL problem here.  How do we go about notifying Canon and getting
them to fix it.

I already send an e-mail to CPS. I talked about it on the phone with Canon and also send them an e-mail. Twice in two weeks. Still no response.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

« on: November 21, 2012, 05:36:28 AM »

If the subject is moving than the lag is almost unbearable. Spontaneous quick shots are near impossible. Even with the 24-70 II

Um, I don't believe it's in the product announcement that the 5d3 can track moving objects  far away in the dark with af assist? Though it should work on static objects in the 2m range, it certainly does on the 60d.

That's true. Just to avoid the confusion, the last sentence is more a general statement for the problem and not so much with the distance. With that said, I had no problems with this before with the 5DII or the 40D where even moving subjects were locked almost instantly with AF assist beam in the dark.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

« on: November 21, 2012, 03:10:12 AM »

Distance is a major factor on the issue. Close distance focus won't show hardly any lag with the 5dII+Speedlite AF Assist combo. The issue start to show somewhere around 1.5 to 2  meters from the subject, get 0.5 meters further away and you'll see it consistently lagging.

If the subject is moving than the lag is almost unbearable. Spontaneous quick shots are near impossible. Even with the 24-70 II

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 5D Mark III Blinking Red AF Point Information

« on: November 15, 2012, 09:31:15 AM »

Dear Canon,

If you really can't get the red lights to work with AI Servo, please may you hand us something else as an apology. You can do a survey if you like with current users to find out what they may like, but a couple of suggestions spring to mind...

- Sorting out the AF assist beam focus issue

Agreed! Fix this and the camera is PERFECT!

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

« on: November 13, 2012, 08:18:48 AM »

Thanks for spending time on this Northstar!  I'm looking forward to receiving the replacement camera and hopefully seeing better performance.  It helps to have someone else to compare with.

Since I shoot in both normal indoor and darker indoor/outdoor areas using my older cameras, esp the old trusty 5Dc, I'm comparing to those with regard to what is already normal for me and achievable with older technology.  If the 5D3 can't improve on that in the same circumstances or performs worse, than I have to assume either the camera is faulty, everyone is lying or it has a design flaw.  What else can I assume, right?  I suspect a little bit of everything is possible.  I know how to manage my expectations, but what I (and others) have experienced sounds ridiculous.

I've already got the good glass.  Canon marketing, various reviews and some other individuals attest that the 5D3 is a miracle camera.  So I guess I just want the miracle dammit!   

Thanks again!

You must have had a bad copy...again, theses shots I took we're 25 minutes after sunset and it was almost pitch dark out....no problems locking on focus in "available low light shooting"

I disagree. I don't think it is a bad copy or malfunctioning body. A lot of 5D3 users have this phenomenon shooting in certain conditions (Nightclubs, dark wedding receptions etc where flash is required). Shooting in low light without flash is not the problem at all, in fact this works perfect. Fast, accurate and very responsive and a hell of fun! The problem is locking focus with the AF assist Beam with the Speedlights attached in low light situations. That is where the "lag" happens, even with a fast lens!

Now compare this with the AF system of the 5D2. This ancient AF was practically blind on that body in dark situations without the flash AF Assist. Engage the AF Assist and it became a fast focusing eagle in pitch black situations. The 5D3 just can't do this with its "Pro-AF" and that's where the frustration comes from.

Another factor should be taken in account with this AF Assist problem on the 5D3. Distance. When you are really close to the subject the lag is not very noticeable (around 1m). When the distance is somewhere in the "portrait" range than you'll notice it. Moving subjects can make a difference as well. But in comparison the 5D2 is much much faster in the same conditions.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

« on: November 13, 2012, 05:23:05 AM »

Yeah some people are mixing up the issue at hand here.
The AF of the 5D3 is outstanding, even in super low light (near darkness) situations. It hits fast and accurate!
BUT, if you use a flash with the AF assist beam on in low light situations. It sucks. And that is the problem, which is quite frustrating.