Canon EOS-1D X f/8 to be Added? [CR1]

[kubelik]

Yes, Canon, yes, please!!

(Although in a very recent 1DX presentation a Canon rep told me that it's impossible to correct this issue in firmware).

Given the fact that you can tape pins in the mount to enable this in older and non-1-series cameras, this is definitely a firmware issue.  I'm confident that given the choice of zero AF at f/8 or less impressive performance at f/8, everyone would choose the latter.

[LetTheRightLensIn]

May I ask what I suspect is a dumb question please…..
Would the f8 issue be resolved if Canon designed a new ‘faster’ teleconverter? Is that possible?

not possible unless you alter the laws of physics.

[Wrathwilde]

not possible unless you alter the laws of physics.

According to several bosses I've had... that's no excuse, make it work.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Hum... as far as I understood the AF-sensor, adding f/8 support via firmware is not possible, if the sensor wasn't designed to do f/8 focusing. But the 1DX isn't going to be my next camera body anyway...

It can be added in firmware, but likely will not work very well without some different hardware.

[neuroanatomist]

Given the fact that you can tape pins in the mount to enable this in older and non-1-series cameras, this is definitely a firmware issue.  I'm confident that given the choice of zero AF at f/8 or less impressive performance at f/8, everyone would choose the latter.

It's not working in the same way, though. In the previous 1-series bodies, Canon designed the center AF point to be sensitive at f/8 in one orientation (and f/4 in the other) without sacrificing accuracy with f/5.6 and f/2.8 (respectively) lenses.  Taping pins isn't quite the same. 

[pakosouthpark]

not possible unless you alter the laws of physics.

According to several bosses I've had... that's no excuse, make it work.

that's what canon has to do! to make it work! come on, i mean they have the best engineers and all that..!

[Ekefe]

I think that if you decide to create the "Definitive" Body (is that what Canon has decided to do...), putting in it every best skill you can, is a pure nonsense to erase the "f8" AF Aiming skill. As a lot of PRO use the 2X teleconverter with long rage f4 Zooms. Don't forget we're speaking about the 6-7,000 $ next top Body, not the 600 $ entry level one. So, Canon is kindly requested to correct this nonsense....      

[KeithR]

The question at hand was about the possibility of designing a 'faster teleconverter' as a workaround for the f/8 issue. Optical physics is quite relevant for that question.

Fair point - but the question would be irrelevant if Canon hadn't made the decisions it has made with regard to the 1DX...

[Asposium]

consider a lens of a particular focal length and aperture, this lens "collects" light from a given field of view (angle)

a teleconverter reduces the field of view of the lens, as therefore the light collection by a similar value.

make any sense?

as for the 1D X and f/8.  i wonder why f/8 AF was left out beforehand.  make me wonder if the f/8 wasn't "good enough" and was only added due to internet complaint.

[Colorado]

Predicted chain of events:

-- Canon tested and determined that AF capability at f/8 is below the design goal for the 1DX
-- Canon announced no AF capability at f/8 for the 1DX
-- Internet "users" who will never buy the camera declare they are switching to Nikon
-- Canon decides they have a marketing issue, changes firmware to allow subpar focusing at f/8
-- Internet users declare they are sticking with Canon
-- 1DX is released
-- Rob Galbraith conducts extensive testing exclusively at f/8
-- Galbraith writes 26 page article detailing 1DX's "poor" AF performance
-- Internet users declare they are switching back to Nikon

[jrista]

May I ask what I suspect is a dumb question please…..
Would the f8 issue be resolved if Canon designed a new ‘faster’ teleconverter? Is that possible?

It doesn't really work that way. Aperture f# is a relative value, so if you start with say a 500mm lens with an f/4 aperture, that means you have a 125mm (500/4 = 125) entrance pupil (physical aperture as viewed through the front of the lens). Now, the maximum aperture is fixed, a built-in physical aspect of the lens. Adding additional optical elements onto the end of the lens (a teleconverter) cannot change physical aspects of the lens, so the entrance pupil is the same, even though with a 2x TC you now have a 1000mm lens. You can arrive at the new f# for that longer focal length by dividing the focal length by the entrance pupil diameter: 1000/125 = 8. Similarly, if you slapped on a 1.4x TC, you would have 700/125 = 5.6.

There isn't really such a thing as "speed" for a teleconverter...thats determined by the total focal length and the entrance pupil.

[BDD]

Only *two* random emails? I'll send another and maybe it would become a CR2 rumor . This f/8 non-issue is overwrought as it is. I suspect this is because that's the only feature that the D4 has over the 1Dx. Everything else is inferior on the D4. Did it occur to the fanbois that the previous Nikons didn't have this f/8 capability while the EOS-1 series has had it since the mid-90s? No one has trumpeted it as a huge advantage until now that the shoe is on the other foot.

I was thinking the same thing. On paper having the ability to AF at f/8 was what the D4 has over the 1D-X. That and the difference in cost ($1000 difference in Canada). If Canon does give the 1D-X this ability...would be a smart move. They have time.

But, if Canon does this...and Nikon catches wind of this...will Nikon play the "one up game" and give the D4 another stop?

Will the 5D3 be able to do this too?

[wickidwombat]

not possible unless you alter the laws of physics.

According to several bosses I've had... that's no excuse, make it work.

Wow I think we have had the same Bosses!

if it is just firmware I wonder if magic lantern could enable f8 AF on the rest of the line
that would really put the bird togs amongst the pigeons

I would also think if its firmware they can just make the f8 a selectable setting where you can enable or disable and thereby increasing or decreasing the f2.8 sensetivity accordingly and get the best of both worlds.

[marekjoz]

not possible unless you alter the laws of physics.

According to several bosses I've had... that's no excuse, make it work.

Wow I think we have had the same Bosses!

if it is just firmware I wonder if magic lantern could enable f8 AF on the rest of the line
that would really put the bird togs amongst the pigeons

(...)

When I last checked ML, they had problems with synchronizing 2 digics working at a time, so even version for 7d is no longer developed as far. 1dx has also 2 digics (+1 for af) so problems could be same there. If so, then ML for 1dx may take long time if ever succeeded