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Is it really that hard to autofocus on apertures larger than f/2.5?

I consider myself an experienced photographer, currently on my 4th DSLR (600D, 70D, 7Dm2, 5dm3). I've been taking photos professionally for some time and I am always improving in any areas that I think I can improve at.

But I can not trust any shots taken with aperture larger than f/2.8 (let's say from 1.8 to 2.2 mostly). No matter what technique I use, even on controlled conditions shooting high contrast targets, I can't get tack sharp focus in more than 70% of the shots.

I've had the 50mm 1.8 II, 2 copies of the 85mm 1.8 and now the new 50mm 1.8 STM, which according to reviews has very accurate autofocus. And with 4 different lenses and 4 different bodies, I could not get a combination that gets reliable (>90% in focus) results. I actually get around 70% in useable focus, and the others are a bit front or back focused (never in just one direction).

I would like to believe I am doing something wrong, but I can't see anymore flaws with my technique. Sufficiently high shutter speed, proper lighting, center point high precision AF, no shaking, no recomposing and I still have to rely on luck to get a tack sharp shot.

The 5dm3 (my best performer) with the new 50mm 1.8 STM in test shots at 1.8 is giving me about 70% shots in acceptable focus, 25% a bit off and 5% way off. When shooting portraits at f/2.2 for example, I take 3 shots refocusing in each of them so I am almost guaranteed to have one that is properly focused.

MFA was almost useless in any of my bodies and lenses, because when the focus is missed, it does not happen in one constant way, it is always randomly off to the front or back.

Now here is my big question: am I worrying too much? are all these lenses and bodies working properly and it's just me having too high expectations? Is 70% of 1.8 shots in focus acceptable?

I simply can't believe that I have 4 faulty bodies or 4 faulty lenses. But on the other hand, some reviews that I read lead me to think that with a properly working body/lens, the center AF point on a stationary target is almost guaranteed to nail the focus.

Uncle Rog at LR takes the 5DS rigs through their paces

Roger Cicala didn't wait long -- he just published imatest numbers for 3 high quality lenses and 1 average lens on the 5D3 vs. 5DS vs. 5DSr:

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/06/canon-5ds-and-5ds-r-initial-resolution-tests

Short answer: a rising tide lifts all boats. The lens doesn't need to be mind-blowingly good to benefit from the added resolution of the sensor in the center of the frame, but the average lens didn't resolve much better in the corners on the new rigs (which we might expect).

Anyway, give it a look when you have a moment.

- A

Review: Canon EOS 5DS R by Amateur Photographer

HTML:
Andy Westlake at Amateur Photographer has completed his review of the Canon EOS 5DS R camera body. They came away quite impressed by the image quality and especially the detail available when using good lenses.</p>
<p>A lot of people are wondering about the dynamic range from the production camera, and Amateur Photographer measured it at 12.4 stops at ISO 100, with performance decreasing beyond ISO 400.</p>
<blockquote><p>There’s little doubt that the Canon EOS 5DS R is one of the most impressive cameras we’ve ever seen. With its 50.6MP sensor, robust build, and reliable metering and autofocus, it’s sure to become a favourite with working photographers for whom ultimate resolution really matters. Indeed, with 20% higher linear resolution than 36MP cameras, it lays down the gauntlet to Sony and Nikon to play catch-up again, although it would be naive to expect this to take long.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/dslrs/canon-eos-5ds-r-review" target="_blank">Read the full review</a> | Canon EOS 5DS R Body: <a href="http://adorama.evyy.net/c/60085/51926/1036?u=http://www.adorama.com/results/canonnewfeb" target="_blank">Adorama</a> | <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1119027-REG/canon_0582c002_eos_5ds_r_dslr.html/BI/2466/KBID/3296" target="_blank">B&H Photo</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T3ERPT8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00T3ERPT8&linkCode=as2&tag=canorumo-20&linkId=X7P2IPISEXTZFLQ7" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong></p>

SONY A7RII may be less of an offer than you think

Got excited and prepared my A7RII pre-order when I suddenly realized that there's no guarantee that current Canon EF to SONY FE adapters will allow for reasonably "fast" AF on the SONY.

Even if the new SONY focusing system can deliver much faster focus confirmation the adapter speed itself is a key limiting factor.

I still have my ticket for a pre-order later this week. But I will not pull the trigger unless its confirmed that the SONY/adapter/Canon-lens combo actually delivers reasonable AF speed as a package. I can do without F1 AF speed - but not "slow" AF.

Maybe it was all too good to be true... :o

Patent: Canon EF 10mm f/2.8

HTML:
Here’s an interesting wide angle prime optical formula patent from Canon. It’s a non-fisheye EF 10mm f/2.8 for full frame sensors.</p>
<p>Patent Publication No. 2015-102620 (Google Translated)</p>
<ul>
<li>Published 2015.6.4</li>
<li>Filing date 2013.11.22</li>
</ul>
<p>Example 3</p>
<ul>
<li>Focal length f = 10.30mm</li>
<li>Fno. 2.88</li>
<li>Half angle of view ω = 64.54 °</li>
<li>Image height 21.64mm</li>
<li>Lens length 124.58mm</li>
<li>BF 38.00mm</li>
</ul>
<p>I’m not sure if this would have been part of the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1119028-REG/canon_9520b002_ef_11_24mm_f_4l_usm.html/BI/2466/KBID/3296/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x604080" target="_blank">EF 11-24mm f/4L</a> development, or if we might actually see a 10mm f/2.8L prime one day. A replacement for the current <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/519474-USA/Canon_2045B002_Super_Wide_Angle_EF.html/BI/2466/KBID/3296/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x117125" target="_blank">EF 14mm f/2.8L II</a>?</p>

Canon 7D Mk II now has $300 discount (=$1,499)

This morning B&H Photo, Adorama, Best Buy were showing an increase in their discount for the body-only model from $100 to $300 bringing the final cost to $1,499.

I just purchased a 7D Mk II last night for $1,500 thinking that I had been so clever in getting such a great deal....My self evaluations of my cleverness are not entirely reliable...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1081808-REG/canon_9128b002_eos_7d_mark_ii.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296
http://www.adorama.com/ica7dm2.html?kbid=64393

Please Canon...make these new items!

I need a better version of the 6d with advanced autofocus...the weight is ideal...the files are great, but the AF sucks on the current version...do not use Mark 3's ...too heavy. Also would love a new 430EX with the built in radio...I need on camera flash for fill and to trigger my off camera flashes...the 600rt is just too bulky and heavy to use on camera....these would sell like hotcakes! Oh yeah ...a vertical release button right on the camera body would also be great....added grips are just too heavy and bulky

Stock Notice: Canon EOS 5DS Body in Stock at B&H Photo and Amazon

HTML:
The brand Canon EOS 5DS is in stock at B&H Photo and Amazon and shipping. We’ve heard that the EOS 5DS R stock levels are a lot tighter for the moment.</p>
<p class="fs16 OpenSans-600-normal upper product-highlights-header">PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS</p>
<ul class="top-section-list" data-selenium="highlightList">
<li class="top-section-list-item">50.6 MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor</li>
<li class="top-section-list-item">Dual DIGIC 6 Image Processors</li>
<li class="top-section-list-item">3.2″ 1.04m-Dot ClearView II LCD Monitor</li>
<li class="top-section-list-item">Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 30 fps</li>
<li class="top-section-list-item">61-Point High Density Reticular AF</li>
<li class="top-section-list-item">ISO 100-6400; 5 fps Continuous Shooting</li>
<li class="top-section-list-item">150,000-Pixel RGB+IR Metering Sensor</li>
<li class="top-section-list-item">User-Selectable Shutter Release Time Lag</li>
<li class="top-section-list-item">Anti-Flicker Compensation</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Canon EOS 5DS Body $3699: </strong><a href="http://www.adorama.com/ICA5DS.html?kbid=64393" target="_blank">Adorama</a><strong> | <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1119026-REG/canon_0581c002_eos_5ds_dslr_camera.html/BI/2466/KBID/3296" target="_blank">B&H Photo</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T3ERPT8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00T3ERPT8&linkCode=as2&tag=canorumo-20&linkId=C3LAZKJCU4IRBJUF" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong></p>

Relaunch of >500mm lenses?

Are there any rumors out there, that Canon is working on new versions of the big white 500 & 600mm lenses?

My husband has been told by Japanese friends that the existing 500mm and 600mm lenses are not optimized for really high MP sensors like the 5Ds. But Canon seems to be working on successors of these lenses.

I follewd the hint of one of the forum readers and bought an used 500mm L IS lens. But I gave it back because the IS had an issue. So I am again looking for an Prime >500mm. Should I wait until X-Mas or buy one now? Could there be an announcement in autumn?

G
Daniela

Canon Gear that could possibly work with A7R II

I am somewhat heavily invested...at least for me in Canon gear. I have 3 canon 600ex-rt flashes with the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT. The 24-70 2.8 mk II and the 70-200 2.8 IS mk II. Will or does anyone believe my flashes in addition to the transmitter will work with the a7R II. I have read that the TTL will not work which isnt really a problem. I believe this is what I will need for my lenses to work.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1054790-REG/metabones_mb_ef_e_bm4_canon_ef_lens_to.html

Hasselblad to Launch New Camera Based on A7R

HTML:
Hasselblad continues down the road of “who the heck is making these product decisions?”</p>
<p>Apparently we’re going to see a new, and grossly overpriced version of Sony’s A7R, not the <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2015/06/sonys-new-%CE%B17r-ii-camera-delivers-innovative-imaging-experience-with-worlds-first-back-illuminated-35mm-full-frame-sensor/" target="_blank">A7R II that was just announced</a>, but the original A7R.</p>
<p>Give me the fixed the lens <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2015/06/leica-unveils-the-leica-q-today-bringing-iconic-leica-features-to-an-innovative-new-camera/" target="_blank">Leica Q</a> or A7R II over whatever this thing is.</p>

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Nikon to Refresh 500mm f/4 VR & 600mm f/4 VR Lenses

HTML:
It looks like Nikon’s next announcement will be for new supertelephoto lenses. Expect to see the announcements some time in July/August of this year.</p>
<ul>
<li>Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4E FL ED VR</li>
<li><span class="s1 amzn_view_checked amzn-taggable-text">Nikkor AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR</span></li>
</ul>
<p>The new lenses will get a flourite element (FL) as well as a weight reduction, improved VR and a price bump to match.</p>

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Talk [CR1]

HTML:
There isn’t a lot coming out of the rumor mill currently. This generally means there is nothing significant coming in the near future, which isn’t a surprise, as summer is generally a slow time of year for product launches.</p>
<p>The most highly anticipated product from Canon is the EOS 5D Mark IV and we’re only getting small bits of information, below is list of the latest information we’ve heard about the camera, not much is new outside of the ship date.</p>
<ul>
<li>The EOS 5D Mark IV will come after the EOS-1D X Mark II announcement.</li>
<li>Q1 of 2016 is the ship time Canon is aiming for.</li>
<li>EOS 5D Mark IV will have 4K.</li>
<li>New Speedlite metering system coming with the EOS-1D X Mark II & EOS 5D Mark IV.</li>
<li>Sensors ranging from 18mp to 28mp are in testing for full frame cameras.</li>
<li>EOS 5DS & EOS 5DS R a test for “two model viability”, a model split of the EOS 5D Mark IV still possible. (Though, we think unlikely)</li>
<li>New DIGIC processor</li>
</ul>
<p>The EOS C300 Mark II starts shipping in September, so I doubt we’ll see a 4k DSLR launching at the same time.</p>
<p>There is also the Canon EXPO in September, which might give us some clues about the future of the DSLR.</p>
<p>There has been some suggestions of an NAB launch in April for the EOS 5D Mark IV, but I don’t see that happened as I suspect a new Cinema EOS camera will come for that show. While it will have a lot of video oriented features, it’s still considered stills camera.</p>
<p>Is an EOS 5D C possible?</p>
<p>Anything’s possible, but we still put it as unlikely.</p>

  • Poll Poll
POLL: Who will be first with 8K...

Which mainstream manufacturer will be first to add 8K video to a device?

  • Canon

    Votes: 3 5.0%
  • Sony

    Votes: 29 48.3%
  • Nikon

    Votes: 1 1.7%
  • Panasonic

    Votes: 17 28.3%
  • Fuji

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Leica

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Samsung

    Votes: 10 16.7%

Just a few weeks ago people here and elsewhere were still discussing 4K, but in the past few days I have read more and more online reports about 8K videos appearing on YouTube!

Here is one such video:

https://youtu.be/RNdHaeBhT9Q

(note that in YT settings I can only go up to 4K (2160), I presume because my connection is not fast enough and my monitor is only 1920x1080.

Crazy stuff, but it's coming, albeit only if you have the right hardware and internet connection!

So which of the main manufacturers, Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Samsung etc do you reckon will be first to add 8K to one of their new devices?!

It does not really matter whether we need this tech or not, it's here and coming - faster than we think.

Canon 50mm 1.8 STM Review plus 8GB+ RAW files

Hey guys, I've been using the Canon 50 STM since it came out, and I think it's decent enough to replace the 50 1.8 II for sure.

It has great build quality and AF. That said I think I still prefer the Canon 40 2.8 for travel and landscape stuff.

Review: http://breakthrough.photography/canon-50mm-1-8-stm-review-hands-on/
Image Gallery: http://breakthrough.photography/canon-50mm-1-8-stm-image-gallery/

I was also curious to see what the performance of the new Canon 50mm 1.8 STM was like compared to my FD and FL 50 1.8 lenses, so I put that in there too. Having shot this with my modified-IR 5D, it's also a very good IR performer with virtually zero cone overexposure for infrared.

Canon-50mm-1.8-STM-Review-Hands-On-II-Sharpness.jpg


Canon-50mm-STM-Review-Sharpness-Performance-on-Canon-6D-683x1024.jpg


Canon-50mm-STM-Review-Highlight-Details-1024x683.jpg


Canon-50mm-STM-Review-Shadow-Detail-on-Canon-6D-1024x683.jpg

The real problem with Canon sensor technology?

Everyone is raving about the BSI sensor on the A7r ii; whilst it is yet another visible step forwards in Sony sensor technology, I don't think that the much vaulted BSI is really such a game changer. It's been said by others before, but the fill factor advantage isn't nearly as important on full frame -certainly not the 2 stops Sony marketing would have you believe. Nevertheless, the chance to use a high-res Exmor sensor with decent AF on an EF mount adapter and IBIS (yet to be independently confirmed) is very tempting if you are already considering the 5DS(R).

We keep thinking that Canon will catch up with "the next EOS body" and getting disappointed when performance fall short of our hopes. My concern is that Canon will always be behind the curve because they simply don't produce enough sensors to justify the level of R&D and process updates that Sony (or even Samsung) can invest in. Last year Canon sold fewer than 6.5 million DSLRs1 (i.e. cameras that utilize their own sensors) compared to 74.5 million2 iPhones (using Sony sensors) in just the last quarter of 2014.

It is the needs of small sensors that are driving the R&D efforts of the chip makers these days and Canon simply isn't in that game.

1http://www.dpreview.com/articles/5928296460/canon-q4-earnings-report-shows-camera-sales-are-down
2http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-holiday-quarter-2014-iphone-sales-2015-1

Speculate on 5Ds/5DsR dxomark sharpness score 'effective megapixels'

So will this new sensor actually be able to resolve close to 50 megapixels of detail?
Let's take a look at all of the tested Canon and Nikon sensors to date - megapixels vs 'sharpness score' on the best lens available for Canon & Nikon cameras: Carl Zeiss Otus 85mm
Camera name : sensor resolution : dxomark sharpness score 'effective megapixels'

I realize that the dxomark sharpness score is not a perfect test and that we should probably look at the results with a margin of error of about +- 1 megapixel (at least this is my opinion).

CANON:
CROP 1.6x
100D : 18 : 16
350D : 8 : 8
400D : 10 : 8
450D : 12 : 10
500D : 15 : 11
700D : 18 : 16
20D : 8 : 8
30D : 8 : 8
40D : 10 : 9
50D : 15 : 10
70D : 20 : 17
7D : 18 : 15
CROP 1.3x
1D mark II : 8 : 8
1D mark III: 10 : 10
FULL FRAME:
1Ds mark III : 21 : 19
1DX : 18 : 17
6D : 20 : 19
5D : 12.8 : 13
5D mark II : 21 : 18
5D mark III : 22 : 21

NIKON:
CROP 1.5x
D40X : 10 : 9
D60 : 10 : 9
D70 : 6 : 6
D90 : 12 : 11
D200 : 10 : 9
D300s : 12 : 11
D700 : 12 : 11
D5000 : 12 : 11
D5200 : 24 : 18
D5300 : 24 : 22
D7000 : 16 : 14
D7100 : 24 : 22
FULL FRAME:
D3 : 12 : 12
D3s : 12 : 11
D3X : 24 : 23
D4 : 16 : 15
D600 : 24 : 22
D610 : 24 : 23
D800: 36 : 29
D800E : 36 : 35
D810 : 36 : 35
DF: 16 : 16

If we multiply the D800 and D800E sharpness score by 1.4 to get from 36 to 50 megapixels, then we could theoretically get 40 and 49 effective megapixels for the 5Ds and 5DsR if Canon does as good as Nikon - and if we are not running into lens limitations.
What is your guess ? :)

How to remove a scratch from top LCD on 1DX

I've got a small scratch on the top LCD of my 1DX. I've seen a video of polishing out the face of the watch with Colgate toothpaste to remove all the scratches.

Has anyone attempted this on a LCD with toothpaste or another polish?

I'm going to sell my 1DX soon and this is the only minute flaw I can see. It bothers me just knowing it's there.

Any help you can provide would be very much appreciated.

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