Rumors > EOS Bodies
1DX - issues in low light at reception / Edit..use expansion pts, problem solved
mjcphoto:
Hi gang,
I've been a follower of Canon Rumors updates for years, but this is my first time posting in the forum.
I recently purchased the 1DX. Let me first say that Canon has done a nice job making improvements over the 1D MK4. The A/I servo is incredibly accurate, and in well light back lit situations the camera is spot on!
However, I shot a wedding reception in relatively low light this past weekend and I had trouble both acquiring focus at times and with images that were out of focus (after focus had been confirmed). Assist beam was on and hoods removed when using longer lenses. I normally shoot and ISO 400 - 640 and drop my shutter down to 1/15 and I'm just below the room light controlling what freezes as always. In this case I was at 800ISO at a 1/15...so it was definitely darker than average. Prior to the reception (low light situation), the camera and focus performed flawlessly!
I had a similar experience with the 1D MK4, along with many other issues. CPS couldn't fix it on a couple of attempts so it went back. I've been with the 1D MK3's since early 2007. While they have their own issues (minor), during an indoor wedding reception they can acquire and be extremely accurate with focus when using an on camera Canon flash (fill / with assist beam) and triggering a Q flash as my main light (most of the time). 99% of the time I nail the shot. This was not the case with the 1DX. Any others out there experience this as well?
I should also point out that outdoors, the 1DX has performed flawlessly! Focus is spot on 99% or more of the time. I tracked a couple crossing the street in A/I servo at 1/500 at 2.8 with a 135 F2.0 lens and every single shot was amazingly sharp!
I'm hoping this will be a firmware update? Or is a short coming and/or trade off of the sensor used? Thinking I'm going to use my MKIII for the reception shots in lower light situations going forward.
thanks,
Michael
Studio1930:
I noticed that my 1DX was able to find focus in very low light when in one shot mode but not in AI servo mode. Then I noticed that my 1D4 did the same thing and the 1DX was about 1/2 to 1 stop better than the 1D4 in acquiring focus in low light in one shot mode.
Make sure you are in one shot mode if you are trying to do very low light shots with the 1DX. Test it in a dim hallway or something and you will see what I mean.
mjcphoto:
Thanks, yes, all 2000 shots in one shot...I tried A/I servo a couple of times but to no avail...
--- Quote from: Studio1930 on August 13, 2012, 02:33:58 PM ---I noticed that my 1DX was able to find focus in very low light when in one shot mode but not in AI servo mode. Then I noticed that my 1D4 did the same thing and the 1DX was about 1/2 to 1 stop better than the 1D4 in acquiring focus in low light in one shot mode.
Make sure you are in one shot mode if you are trying to do very low light shots with the 1DX. Test it in a dim hallway or something and you will see what I mean.
--- End quote ---
Studio1930:
Depends on the lens too. My 135 f/2 doesn't focus well in low light (even though it is f/2) and neither does my 85 f/1.2, but my 200 f/2 is crazy good in low light and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II is pretty good too. The 200 f/2 is my go to lens for low light and gives me about 1 to 2 stops more low light focusing ability than my other lenses. I was surprised and happy when I first tested this.
mjcphoto:
--- Quote from: Studio1930 on August 13, 2012, 02:51:02 PM ---Depends on the lens too. My 135 f/2 doesn't focus well in low light (even though it is f/2) and neither does my 85 f/1.2, but my 200 f/2 is crazy good in low light and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II is pretty good too. The 200 f/2 is my go to lens for low light and gives me about 1 to 2 stops more low light focusing ability than my other lenses. I was surprised and happy when I first tested this.
--- End quote ---
Agreed! The 135 is not the ideal lens for low light! Nor is the 70-200. The 24-70, to me has been the most reliable and good all around reception lens and it too was having trouble. Again, it was dark and there were room lights in the background as well as reception hall dance floor lights that would trigger occasionally. Like the mark4 I'm finding it has a touch of trouble when indoors with backlight (not nearly as much as my Mk4 body, but it's there).
I shot a wedding a week ago, I was shooting at 500 and 640 later when the lights went down...the room was a little brighter and I didn't notice the out of focus issue...focus acquisition wasn't quite on par with the mark3....man I wish this wasn't the case! Again, in lighter settings it's always on! And I use the focusing grid that's designed for 2.8 and wider apertures.
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