No f/8.0 autofocus with 5D Mark III

[dilbert]

Same AF design as the 1DX... Canon's specs:

AF Points
61-point (up to 41 cross-type points)

* One to five cross-type AF points at f/2.8, 10 to 20 cross-type AF points at f/4, and 15 to 21 cross-type AF points at f/5.6. (The number of cross-type AF points will differ depending on the lens.)

... the days of f/8.0 AF are now gone for Canon shooters?

[dr croubie]

Well, I wouldn't have expected it on the 5D3, but i'm still shocked it wasn't on the 1DX.

Depending on how many pre-orders they get for the 5D3 (and how many cancel their 1DX pre-order), maybe they'll consider adding it to the 1DX before launch?

(or might we see it on the 7D2?)

[briansquibb]

Well, I wouldn't have expected it on the 5D3, but i'm still shocked it wasn't on the 1DX.

Depending on how many pre-orders they get for the 5D3 (and how many cancel their 1DX pre-order), maybe they'll consider adding it to the 1DX before launch?

(or might we see it on the 7D2?)

I can't imagine BIF shooter going back to a 7DII from a 1D4

[WoodysGamertag]

Can somebody explain what this means to me?  If I set my lens to f/8.0 it literally won't focus? I find that hard to believe.

[mike_s_one]

Can somebody explain what this means to me?  If I set my lens to f/8.0 it literally won't focus? I find that hard to believe.

It means if your lenses fastest aperture is f8 or slower the autofocus will not work. You could for example shoot a 24-70 f2.8 at f11 and it would autofocus. But you could not shoot a 70-200 f4 with a 2x tele converter, because essentially that makes it an f8 lense.

[jrista]

Well, I wouldn't have expected it on the 5D3, but i'm still shocked it wasn't on the 1DX.

Depending on how many pre-orders they get for the 5D3 (and how many cancel their 1DX pre-order), maybe they'll consider adding it to the 1DX before launch?

(or might we see it on the 7D2?)

I can't imagine BIF shooter going back to a 7DII from a 1D4

Ditto. The 1D IV is still pretty much king for BIF w/ TC's. I would love to get a 1D X, but lack of f/8...and the fact that a much cheaper used 1D IV would have it, pretty much answers the question for me.

[Michael7]

Not acceptable at this price point, IMHO.

[marekjoz]

I hope guys from Magic Lantern will fix this issue in lifeview mode. If they only get into digic5+ I think with it's computing power it won't be a problem neither on 5d3 nor more on 1dx with it's 2 digics (and 1 for af but could be not useful here).

[dr croubie]

Well, I wouldn't have expected it on the 5D3, but i'm still shocked it wasn't on the 1DX.

Depending on how many pre-orders they get for the 5D3 (and how many cancel their 1DX pre-order), maybe they'll consider adding it to the 1DX before launch?

(or might we see it on the 7D2?)

I can't imagine BIF shooter going back to a 7DII from a 1D4

Ditto. The 1D IV is still pretty much king for BIF w/ TC's. I would love to get a 1D X, but lack of f/8...and the fact that a much cheaper used 1D IV would have it, pretty much answers the question for me.

If i could get a 7D2 at 18-24MP aps-c, 10fps,  the 41pt af from the 1d4, but most importantly the f/8 point, and if the IQ of that was as good as the 1D4 (after a few more years of tech research, it's possible), i'd see it as an upgrade from a 1d4.
But yeah, at the moment the 1d4 is an upgrade from the 7d, i'd still be interested in getting one if i could afford it...

[dolina]

D800 has AF with f/8.0 lenses. And they charge more for the 5D3. 

[briansquibb]

D800 has AF with f/8.0 lenses. And they charge more for the 5D3. 

To early to say what the street prices will be

[SambalOelek]

I hope guys from Magic Lantern will fix this issue in lifeview mode. If they only get into digic5+ I think with it's computing power it won't be a problem neither on 5d3 nor more on 1dx with it's 2 digics (and 1 for af but could be not useful here).

This is not an issue in LiveView mode, as Liveview AF relies on (painfully slow) contrast-detection autofocus, which does not utilize the AF sensor. So using LiveView to autofocus is already a "workaround" for f/8+ AF, but that's little consolation to those bird shooters...

[marekjoz]

I hope guys from Magic Lantern will fix this issue in lifeview mode. If they only get into digic5+ I think with it's computing power it won't be a problem neither on 5d3 nor more on 1dx with it's 2 digics (and 1 for af but could be not useful here).

This is not an issue in LiveView mode, as Liveview AF relies on (painfully slow) contrast-detection autofocus, which does not utilize the AF sensor. So using LiveView to autofocus is already a "workaround" for f/8+ AF, but that's little consolation to those bird shooters...

I know the problem is with AF through viewfider not LV, but lways better that than nothing. I didn't know it's already fixed in Liveview mode. Does 1dx and 5d3 AF in LV@f8?

[Mark D5 TEAM II]

As I understand, the reason for Canon to ditch f8 was to design the autofokus system for higher preciscion.
So while Nikon on paper seems to be better with f8 sensitivity perhaps Canons system will be both faster and more accurate!?
If this is the case I would give a slight edge to Canon in AF. Autofocus to f5.6 us used all the time but how often is f8 needed. For some it is probably very important, and its bad for them, but the majority would probably never need f8.
I think for those who are focal limited and want more reach the low resolution of only 22MP is at least a equal severe problem as missing f8. Nikon will here have a "potential focal multiplier" of 1.28 in body.

This is the correct explanation for all those asking "why no f/8?". As if that was a huge deal before when all the previous 1D bodies had it and Nikon was strangely silent on their AF capabilities (classic marketing tactic of emphasizing only that feature that gives you an advantage). Take note Nikon still cannot figure out how to make cross-type AF points on the left & right sides of the frame, meaning even the 40D/50D/60D 9-pt all-cross type AF pts. had an advantage when the subject was not in the center or near the top & bottom when shooting vertically, they also still don't have the concept of increased-precision f/4 & f/2.8 AF sensors which Canon has been implementing since the '90s!

[meli]

Sorry double post. Just to repeat for emphasis, 1Dx & 5D3 AF > D4/D800 AF, based on number and spread of cross-type AF points, presence of increased-precision X-type f/2.8 & cross-type f/4 sensors, customizability (things not found on spec sheets) & AF pt. orientation-switching, etc. Anybody saying otherwise is a DPR Nikon troll. 

Ahem, so said the CR canon troll 

lets just wait for  the reviews, canon's recent AF history doesnt really point where you want it to(literally sometimes), no matter what X-Cross-Quantum-Warp-Mazer-type they implement