Your Canon EOS 5D Mark III user tips

[Bosman]

I personally own the EOS 5D Mark III, I would like to start two threads for the new EOS cameras. This thread is here for you to offer shooting tips be it lighting and exposures with the 5D Mark III, focus points, Autofocus Case settings, Iso's, anything that you select in camera to get your best image captures for what you do. Please be generous with your tips, this will be a big help for all who own the camera!

[Bosman]

Use your AF cases, they make a difference! For bikes in Triathlons Case 3 is what you need. Most other shooting ive done works well in case one but the servo and focus speed get a good shot in the arm on Case 3, i moved the accel/decel from +1 to Zero so it tracks the subject more than just switching to another subject on me and it works quite well. Shooting people on bikes is a challenge because they move fast and there are often times a pack coming at you and to get everyone you need to focus and re-compose lightning fast. Case 3 works well for this scenario. Learn about the three adjustments you can make within each case and read carfully how it affects the af and taylor it to how you want it to respond to your input. I usally shoot single point focus but with bikes trying single, 4pt, 8pt, 4 pt seemed the best. I haven't found surrounding points shooting to help much but this does seem to work well in some situations.

[Bosman]

I have included the Autofocus guide for the 1dx and 5dm3 for easy access to the info. They use the same system so the info provided can be used for both cameras. The file is 3.5 mg as opposed to 12.

[Gadger]

Thanks for the AF Setting Guidebook for the 5D Mk III, was getting a little confused  compared to my 5D Mk II

Gadger

[Bosman]

Glad to help! Knowledge is power!

[Cptn Rigo]

Nice thread.

One of my favorite "custom" settings of the 5d mkIII is programming the "depth of field preview" to work as an "AI SERVO" quick switch.  It work as a charm 

[bdunbar79]

For ultimate control of shutter speed AND aperture, set ISO to AUTO in manual mode.  This is particularly useful when using spot metering, and you want a specific aperture and shutter speed and don't want to suddenly have to worry about ISO.

[Cptn Rigo]

Another cool feature is the "Register AF point", the way I use it is:
- Customize the AF-ON button to work as Registered AF point (pressing
- Select a focus point
- Press the "AF point selection" button (The one that looks like a cross) and LCD illumination button at the same time
- Move the focus point elsewhere

Now, with the half shutter you use your main focus point, and with the back focus point immediately shift to the stored one 

Pressing AF point selection + ISO speed will reset the storaged focus point

Note:
This will work too with the "Depth of field preview" custom setting that I already posted

Page 326
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0300007348/01/eos5dmkiii-im-c-en.pdf

[canon816]

Glad to help! Knowledge is power!

One of those "The more you know" ads with the shooting star just flashed back from my childhood.... but seriously... cool thread to start.   

[janvehrenkamp]

Another cool feature is the "Register AF point", the way I use it is:
- Customize the AF-ON button to work as Registered AF point (pressing
- Select a focus point
- Press the "AF point selection" button (The one that looks like a cross) and LCD illumination button at the same time
- Move the focus point elsewhere

Now, with the half shutter you use your main focus point, and with the back focus point immediately shift to the stored one 

Pressing AF point selection + ISO speed will reset the storaged focus point

Note:
This will work too with the "Depth of field preview" custom setting that I already posted

Page 326
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0300007348/01/eos5dmkiii-im-c-en.pdf

pro tip:
unbind focusing from the shutter button and use af-on and * to focus.
getting used to it might take a day or two. but now even my girlfriend agrees.

[Jotho]

Glad to help! Knowledge is power!

Thanks for starting this thread. I don't have to contribute with, but have a question instead. I shoot golf. The swing is a very fast motion and difficult to catch, I've become quite good at picking cool angles. But when it comes to maximize the no of frames I'm not sure how to do it. Obviously making sure I get a very fast shutter speed, I crank up the ISO a bit and open the aperture and let's the camera pick shutter speed, should I do the other way around? Pick shutter speed in TV mode? Any other settings? AF cases? AF points? Metering? Any tips are welcome. I have a 5D Mkiii, mostly I use my 24-105L. I shoot RAW and have set it to register to the CF card. I currently live in South East Asia, this means that it is normally very light even with overcast.

[te4o]

Another cool feature is the "Register AF point", the way I use it is:
- Customize the AF-ON button to work as Registered AF point (pressing
- Select a focus point
- Press the "AF point selection" button (The one that looks like a cross) and LCD illumination button at the same time
- Move the focus point elsewhere

Now, with the half shutter you use your main focus point, and with the back focus point immediately shift to the stored one 

Pressing AF point selection + ISO speed will reset the storaged focus point

Note:
This will work too with the "Depth of field preview" custom setting that I already posted

Page 326
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0300007348/01/eos5dmkiii-im-c-en.pdf

pro tip:
unbind focusing from the shutter button and use af-on and * to focus.
getting used to it might take a day or two. but now even my girlfriend agrees.

yes, but in this case if you want to use the pre-registered point as quoted you need to set shutter for metering only, AF-ON for pre-registered and *(Metering) for AF-ON. I do that and use Mf-n for Metering stop. My pre-registered AF point is usually 2/3 to the left and the set point is to the right so I don't get confused with left and right as AF-ON button is to the left of the * button.
Thanks for the Case 3 tips, I tried to start a thread like this about AF cases but it was too early probably and people haven't had enough chance to experiment and figure out their ways. Good timing now!

[keithfullermusic]

DOF set to servo is the most useful thing ever in my opinion.

When doing sports, go to M, then setup your aperture and shutter speed and go auto ISO, and make sure to set the auto ISO range.

I also love the grid in the viewfinder.


Those are my basic tips.

[Bosman]

DOF set to servo is the most useful thing ever in my opinion.

When doing sports, go to M, then setup your aperture and shutter speed and go auto ISO, and make sure to set the auto ISO range.

I also love the grid in the viewfinder.


Those are my basic tips.

What do you do when your subject is heavily backlit? Auto iso only lets you have 0 comp. This is one thing i wish canon allowed with auto iso, i often comp +1 stops over when backlit, i have even had to do 2 stops over but wit highlight tone priority it just smooths things out for you.

[Bosman]

Glad to help! Knowledge is power!

Thanks for starting this thread. I don't have to contribute with, but have a question instead. I shoot golf. The swing is a very fast motion and difficult to catch, I've become quite good at picking cool angles. But when it comes to maximize the no of frames I'm not sure how to do it. Obviously making sure I get a very fast shutter speed, I crank up the ISO a bit and open the aperture and let's the camera pick shutter speed, should I do the other way around? Pick shutter speed in TV mode? Any other settings? AF cases? AF points? Metering? Any tips are welcome. I have a 5D Mkiii, mostly I use my 24-105L. I shoot RAW and have set it to register to the CF card. I currently live in South East Asia, this means that it is normally very light even with overcast.

Well, I'd get the main focus point on your guy with the golf club, once you have it switch auto focus off. Shoot F7.1 or so and set to one shot instead of servo since you turned your lens focus off. Also set to the highest shutter speed available. Use manual and set to F7.1 then adjust your shutter speed to say 1/4000 or higher if the exposure is close to the middle. Adjust your iso until all metering is showing a correct exposure then fire away. I shoot manual so for consistency i don't rely on my camera to make adjustments for me. It helps especially when a person wearing black comes into the frame because in other than manual your camera will most likely over expose the person. Its not as much of a problem with the 5dm3 in my testing however.