Canon 5D Mark III - AF Servo field test ... with some action [pics!]

[D_Rochat]

All photos were taken with 5D Mark III with 70-200/2.8 L

Good pictures (and they should be, considering the price tag of the body+lens) - but of course good postprocessing does add to the general impression. And while I wouldn't want to dispute your talent: It should be a bit frightening to sports photogs that these are the results of a first test of the 5d3 because it means just about anybody can get these results nowadays :-o

Under these lighting conditions, you wouldn't even have needed the increased iso range of the 5d3 - but the 1dx/5d3 af seems to be stallar. I'm wondering: If the 5d3 lost focus and you got bad shots, was it just for a short time or did it screw up completely one time or another?

I see what you saying, but I don't think the same results would be achieved by a complete beginner regardless of what camera they used. Even though this is their first time doing action, it seems that he's no stranger to the camera which made the transition a little easier. I still think what you said is true for the most part, just maybe not in this case. 

[Marsu42]

I see what you saying, but I don't think the same results would be achieved by a complete beginner regardless of what camera they used.

Maybe since I am not a complete beginner anymore I cannot imagine how it was back then - but shooting action seems like getting the right angle (which indeed does require some photographic knowledge), switch on servo af and juggle with some settings, shoot tons of pictures and then crop/sort later? But the postprocessing done by the op is certainly nice, I was just wondering about how much skill or experience it really takes to get these shots with the 5d3.

[D_Rochat]

I imagine if someone gave a beginner a 5D with the proper settings and put them in the right position before telling them to shoot, they might be able to pull it off. The tech is making it easier, but you still can't buy skill

[nikkito]

AF is amazing .. even when AI Servo and AI Focus were set with extreme lateral focus points 

All photos were taken with 5D Mark III with 70-200/2.8 L

you have done pretty cool shots, man!

[piotr.c]

I imagine if someone gave a beginner a 5D with the proper settings and put them in the right position before telling them to shoot, they might be able to pull it off. The tech is making it easier, but you still can't buy skill

Phorography is my hobby for over 15 years (half of my life). People are saying I'm quite qood at this  All I do all the time while shooting is thinking about what is going to happen in next 2-3 seconds. I try to predict action and capture best moments on my photos It doesn't really matters if I shoot wedding, sports or streetphotography (my favorite!) - rules are the same, only conditions change

The camera itself is just a tool, it should not restrict me any way. With good AF and fast shutter I can focus myself on action. Those photos are 100% frames (with few exceptions). I guess photos are looking nice because I didn't have to fight with camera while shooting


PS. "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough" ... there is nothing more to say

[Wideopen]

Very nice! I have yet to test mines 

[bdeutsch]

Nice shots.  Thanks for posting.  I'm still reading all the reviews trying to decide if the upgrade is worth it.

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[D_Rochat]

I imagine if someone gave a beginner a 5D with the proper settings and put them in the right position before telling them to shoot, they might be able to pull it off. The tech is making it easier, but you still can't buy skill

Phorography is my hobby for over 15 years (half of my life). People are saying I'm quite qood at this  All I do all the time while shooting is thinking about what is going to happen in next 2-3 seconds. I try to predict action and capture best moments on my photos It doesn't really matters if I shoot wedding, sports or streetphotography (my favorite!) - rules are the same, only conditions change

The camera itself is just a tool, it should not restrict me any way. With good AF and fast shutter I can focus myself on action. Those photos are 100% frames (with few exceptions). I guess photos are looking nice because I didn't have to fight with camera while shooting


PS. "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough" ... there is nothing more to say

I agree 100% and that's what I meant with my posts. I think it's very clear you know what you are doing and your knowledge is what got you those images, not the camera. I may be wrong but I get the impression that you misunderstood my message and I just wanted to clear it up. Anyways, nice images and thanks for the AF examples

[DHL1313]

Nice shots, can't wait to get mine

[awinphoto]

4 shots out of 12? That is not very assuring.... I hope that's not the best it can do...

Sometimes 4, sometimes 12 ... try do this with 5D2 

I agree. Plus it boils down to personal preference as to what is acceptable and what is not. For instance, during the last air show I did, shooting the 7d at full 8fps, I shot 600-700 shots for 1 show. Out of those I would say 6 out of 8 images would look great at Internet/screen shot sizes.  2 out of 8 probably on that burst rate, after final edits would be good at 100% print should I need it to do so. The OP probably pulling his 4 out of 12 based off of final edits, perhaps a different photog may find more keepers in that batch, maybe another finding fewer. It's just more of a personal preference.

[JR]

The AF Servo on the mkIII is really spectacular!  While it is no sports, when I had the mkIII for a few days I tool some shots of my 2 year old daughter playing sliding in the park.  I will say that almost all of them were in perfect focus while she was moving (34 out of 37)!  With my mkII that number would be the opposite, that is 2-3 maybe out of the bunchwould have been in focus!