5D III focus accuracy with fast primes wide open

[BL]

I've been rocking a 5DC since launch, and have never been happy about having to manually focus on anything outside of the center cross AF point with pretty much any of my fast primes wide open (e.g. 50L, 85L II, 135L).

The high precision, MF screen helps and is a life saver, but it's become a crutch as I've come rely on that to validate all focussing. That said, the new 5D III does not have user replaceable screens allowing for proper DOF previews for lenses faster than 2.8

For folks shooting primarily fast primes with their 5D III, how are you coping with this? Is the AF capable enough so that focus points on the edges are accurate down to f1.2?

Focus and recompose is not an option for me. The focal plane is in the millimeters at f1.2 for tighter portraits

 

[drmikeinpdx]

I would also like to see some responses to this question.

I use a 5D classic and have learned to live with poor autofocus results when using primes wide open. I tried manual focus with two special focus screens including a split prism one and did not get repeatable results.

My main reason for considering an upgrade to the Mark III or perhaps another new Canon full frame camera this year is strictly for better autofocus performance.

Mike

 

[BL]

Yeah, I can live with one or the other.

If the AF is crap, at least I can really on focussing with my eyeball MkI, something I had to master in the Canon FD days shooting amateur motorsports with a 300 2.8

But if I can't trust my eyes, I HAVE to believe the outer points will deliver at these extreme apertures.

 

[@!ex]

I've been shooting my 50mm 1.2L wide open for the last few days. I did have to do a +6 micro adjustment but so far it has been very good on about 80% of shots and excellent on about 70% or so. I think a lot of the variance has nothing to do with the AF, but rather a very slight movement on my part after the AF locks. If you even swayed a mm it would be noticeable. I've also had a lot of good luck with off center AF points. Here is a shot I took with an off center AF point (then one over his right eye).

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php/topic,4864.msg96476.html#msg96476

 

[Stephen Melvin]

My 24 f/1.4L II and 50 f/1.4 are spot on with every cross point sensor even in extremely low light. The difference from the Mk II is amazing.

 

[Daniel Flather]

My 24L mk2, 35L, 85 1.8, and 200/2 are all spot on, my 50 1.2L is performing well too, albeit not quite as well as my other primes, but the 50 1.2L is never perfect. I'm coming from a 50D to add some perspective.

*shooting all wide open of course.

 

[wickidwombat]

My 24L mk2, 35L, 85 1.8, and 200/2 are all spot on, my 50 1.2L is performing well too, albeit not quite as well as my other primes, but the 50 1.2L is never perfect. I'm coming from a 50D to add some perspective.

*shooting all wide open of course.

any chance of posting some samples? raws if possible too

 

[Daniel Flather]

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php/topic,4864.msg96476.html#msg96476

Nice!

 

[RLPhoto]

I've been rocking a 5DC since launch, and have never been happy about having to manually focus on anything outside of the center cross AF point with pretty much any of my fast primes wide open (e.g. 50L, 85L II, 135L).

The high precision, MF screen helps and is a life saver, but it's become a crutch as I've come rely on that to validate all focussing. That said, the new 5D III does not have user replaceable screens allowing for proper DOF previews for lenses faster than 2.8

For folks shooting primarily fast primes with their 5D III, how are you coping with this? Is the AF capable enough so that focus points on the edges are accurate down to f1.2?

Focus and recompose is not an option for me. The focal plane is in the millimeters at f1.2 for tighter portraits

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!

My 5Dc with the EG-S Screen is my Bread and Butter Portrait money maker!!! The New 5D3 doesnt have changeable focus screen's! I may just get a 5D2 because of that reason.

I Love my primes and wouldn't change it for just a new body.

 

[etto72]

The mk III gives new life the 50L and 85L!!
Look over here
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1032&thread=41035032

I've been rocking a 5DC since launch, and have never been happy about having to manually focus on anything outside of the center cross AF point with pretty much any of my fast primes wide open (e.g. 50L, 85L II, 135L).

The high precision, MF screen helps and is a life saver, but it's become a crutch as I've come rely on that to validate all focussing. That said, the new 5D III does not have user replaceable screens allowing for proper DOF previews for lenses faster than 2.8

For folks shooting primarily fast primes with their 5D III, how are you coping with this? Is the AF capable enough so that focus points on the edges are accurate down to f1.2?

Focus and recompose is not an option for me. The focal plane is in the millimeters at f1.2 for tighter portraits

 

[wickidwombat]

I've been rocking a 5DC since launch, and have never been happy about having to manually focus on anything outside of the center cross AF point with pretty much any of my fast primes wide open (e.g. 50L, 85L II, 135L).

The high precision, MF screen helps and is a life saver, but it's become a crutch as I've come rely on that to validate all focussing. That said, the new 5D III does not have user replaceable screens allowing for proper DOF previews for lenses faster than 2.8

For folks shooting primarily fast primes with their 5D III, how are you coping with this? Is the AF capable enough so that focus points on the edges are accurate down to f1.2?

Focus and recompose is not an option for me. The focal plane is in the millimeters at f1.2 for tighter portraits

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!

My 5Dc with the EG-S Screen is my Bread and Butter Portrait money maker!!! The New 5D3 doesnt have changeable focus screen's! I may just get a 5D2 because of that reason.

I Love my primes and wouldn't change it for just a new body.

the 5Dmk3 viewfinder standard is WAY better than the 5Dmk2 with an EG-S screen for MF it really is super big and bright with fast glass on it

 

[Daniel Flather]

1/4000
f1.2
ef 50mm f1.2 L
Off centre focus point
Hand-held
iso 200

1/60
f1.4
ef 24mm f1.4 L Mrk 2
focus point right over viewer's right eye
Hand-held
iso 800

1/1000
f1.2
ef 50mm f1.2 L
Outer focus point
Hand-held
iso 100

All converted with DPP. Slight adjustments to WB, tiny cropping, a little sharpness. I don't pixel peep much. I know they might not be super photos, but I like them.

 

[Stephen Melvin]

1/1000
f1.2
ef 50mm f1.2 L
Outer focus point
Hand-held
iso 100

1/60
f1.4
ef 24mm f1.4 L Mrk 2
focus point right over viewer's right eye
Hand-held
iso 800

1/4000
f1.2
ef 50mm f1.2 L
Off centre focus point
Hand-held
iso 200


All converted with DPP. Slight adjustments to WB, tiny cropping, a little sharpness. I don't pixel peep much. I know they might not be super photos, but I like them.

The links won't work because you posted them as images. You'll need to put the jpegs in the img tags or just remove the tags.

 

[blackwind]

1/1000
f1.2
ef 50mm f1.2 L
Outer focus point
Hand-held
iso 100

1/60
f1.4
ef 24mm f1.4 L Mrk 2
focus point right over viewer's right eye
Hand-held
iso 800

1/4000
f1.2
ef 50mm f1.2 L
Off centre focus point
Hand-held
iso 200


Here fixed

 

[wickidwombat]

Thanks guys, yeah i'm not getting anything remotely that sharp :'(

 

[EvilTed]

Awesome.
I love fast primes.
I wish they'd bundled the 50mm F/1.2 as a kit lens instead of the 24-105
How's the focus "issues" of the 50 with the new AF of the MK3?

ET

 

[dirtcastle]

I think you posted the same shot twice.

 

[JerryKnight]

Thanks guys, yeah i'm not getting anything remotely that sharp :'(

I'm a little confused that you can make that assessment from a 640x427 jpeg.. If you really can tell from an image that small, you're doing something wrong or your camera or lens is incredibly broken.

I'm also a little confused by the wording of this thread's subject. Aren't all lenses "wide open" during autofocus? The aperture is only adjusted when the shutter is activated (or the depth-of-field preview is activated).

 

[nightbreath]

I'm also a little confused by the wording of this thread's subject. Aren't all lenses "wide open" during autofocus? The aperture is only adjusted when the shutter is activated (or the depth-of-field preview is activated).

I believe "wide open" refers to resulted image, not the focusing process. Having a fast prime wide open you can easily notice focusing issues when your DOF is shallow enough.

 

[Daniel Flather]

Thanks guys, yeah i'm not getting anything remotely that sharp :'(

I'm a little confused that you can make that assessment from a 640x427 jpeg.. If you really can tell from an image that small, you're doing something wrong or your camera or lens is incredibly broken.

True, but if their 640*427 jpegs are soft vs. mine, then there is an issue.