5D2 vs 5D3 low light AF

[briansquibb]

I shot Wednesday outside with the 5D Mk III and 70-200L lens that you mention and it's hard to imagine a better combination. Oh the sharpness and color...............

I really like the 70-200 f/2.8 II but for sharpness and colour the 200 f/2 is up another notch ...

It's out of stock at Adorama and B&H, but I purchased one on back-order. I will need this lens for indoor sports season, so ordering now on back-order wasn't a big deal. I would rather go wider than f/2.8 in some instances so f/2 will help and the lens is awesome. Can't wait to put it on a 1D4.

Wider would be the 70-200 on the 5DIII

 

[bdunbar79]

True.

 

[briansquibb]

True.

That is often my approach, prime lens on one, zoom on the other.

Sometime I go 24-105 on ff and 135 f/2 on the 1D4 - or 24-105 on the 1D4 and 200 f/2 on the 1DS3, for portrait sessions.

You are fortunate to have both cameras good at low light work, both with excellent AF

 

[bdunbar79]

Thanks for the input. That makes sense.

I was wondering about portrait shots with the 200 f/2L. I typically do them with 85/135 (who doesn't?) but I've never done them at 200mm focal length. There is a guy who sometimes does them with his 180 f/3.5L macro lens, and they have sort of an odd look to them, but not in a bad way, sort of unique. Anyways, I suppose DOF is easier to control, and there would be an added "compressed" look. I want to try it out. For sports I LOVE the 200/300mm focal lengths, but never tried it for portraits.

 

[Dylan777]

All great points guys. As a former 5D Mk II owner and current 5D Mk III owner, they're great in low light. One other thing to add to the discussion is remember the lens matters too. Max ap lenses of f/4, f/2.8, f/1.2, etc. tend to focus faster, especially on the 1D Mk IV than narrower max ap lenses. Consider the 300mm f/4L lens on the 1DX vs. the 300mm f/2.8L on the same camera body. The latter will focus faster. Of course, stationary scenes who cares.

Had my 70-200 2.8II on the whole time. Great, fast combo.

5D III + 70-200 f2.8 IS II = a gift from heaven

 

[briansquibb]

Thanks for the input. That makes sense.

I was wondering about portrait shots with the 200 f/2L. I typically do them with 85/135 (who doesn't?) but I've never done them at 200mm focal length. There is a guy who sometimes does them with his 180 f/3.5L macro lens, and they have sort of an odd look to them, but not in a bad way, sort of unique. Anyways, I suppose DOF is easier to control, and there would be an added "compressed" look. I want to try it out. For sports I LOVE the 200/300mm focal lengths, but never tried it for portraits.

Fabulous on ff

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=2607.msg134879#msg134879

 

[bdunbar79]

Cool thanks. 8)

 

[Razor2012]

All great points guys. As a former 5D Mk II owner and current 5D Mk III owner, they're great in low light. One other thing to add to the discussion is remember the lens matters too. Max ap lenses of f/4, f/2.8, f/1.2, etc. tend to focus faster, especially on the 1D Mk IV than narrower max ap lenses. Consider the 300mm f/4L lens on the 1DX vs. the 300mm f/2.8L on the same camera body. The latter will focus faster. Of course, stationary scenes who cares.

Had my 70-200 2.8II on the whole time. Great, fast combo.

5D III + 70-200 f2.8 IS II = a gift from heaven

I have to agree with you on that one. I shot a bunch on the weekend and was amazed how fast that combo was. I'm liking not having to use flash.

 

[bdunbar79]

All great points guys. As a former 5D Mk II owner and current 5D Mk III owner, they're great in low light. One other thing to add to the discussion is remember the lens matters too. Max ap lenses of f/4, f/2.8, f/1.2, etc. tend to focus faster, especially on the 1D Mk IV than narrower max ap lenses. Consider the 300mm f/4L lens on the 1DX vs. the 300mm f/2.8L on the same camera body. The latter will focus faster. Of course, stationary scenes who cares.

Had my 70-200 2.8II on the whole time. Great, fast combo.

5D III + 70-200 f2.8 IS II = a gift from heaven

I have to agree with you on that one. I shot a bunch on the weekend and was amazed how fast that combo was. I'm liking not having to use flash.

I tested the lens today in bright sunlight, with a B+W UV haze filter on 10 shots and without on 10 shots and noticed no difference at all in IQ. The only thing I noticed was in the extreme corners darkening with the UV filters on, but most of the image was not different at all. That lens is sharp! All tests done on a 5D Mk III.

Next really stupid question: Get ready. How do I post photos on here for destructive criticism?

 

[Razor2012]

All great points guys. As a former 5D Mk II owner and current 5D Mk III owner, they're great in low light. One other thing to add to the discussion is remember the lens matters too. Max ap lenses of f/4, f/2.8, f/1.2, etc. tend to focus faster, especially on the 1D Mk IV than narrower max ap lenses. Consider the 300mm f/4L lens on the 1DX vs. the 300mm f/2.8L on the same camera body. The latter will focus faster. Of course, stationary scenes who cares.

Had my 70-200 2.8II on the whole time. Great, fast combo.

5D III + 70-200 f2.8 IS II = a gift from heaven

I have to agree with you on that one. I shot a bunch on the weekend and was amazed how fast that combo was. I'm liking not having to use flash.

I tested the lens today in bright sunlight, with a B+W UV haze filter on 10 shots and without on 10 shots and noticed no difference at all in IQ. The only thing I noticed was in the extreme corners darkening with the UV filters on, but most of the image was not different at all. That lens is sharp! All tests done on a 5D Mk III.

Next really stupid question: Get ready. How do I post photos on here for destructive criticism?

I use the B+W XS-PRO's, I think they're almost as thin as the slims. When you post there's an option under the box that says 'Attachments and other options'.

 

[bdunbar79]

Thank you

 

[Razor2012]

Thank you

Yw

 

[wickidwombat]

I thought the 70-200 f2.8L II was the best too... that was until i used the sigma 85 f1.4

I haven't used the 70-200 II much but can agree that i much the prefer the 85 1.4 for low light stuff. The 5d3 is a pretty well rounded camera, its no MP but targetted at beating the d700 and an upgrade from the 5d2 it really does do a stellar job. I'd be excited to use a 1dx when they're available, Only negative I've heard from current 1dx users is they want them to be available.

Black AF points are gonna cause a rukus too

 

[Dylan777]

All great points guys. As a former 5D Mk II owner and current 5D Mk III owner, they're great in low light. One other thing to add to the discussion is remember the lens matters too. Max ap lenses of f/4, f/2.8, f/1.2, etc. tend to focus faster, especially on the 1D Mk IV than narrower max ap lenses. Consider the 300mm f/4L lens on the 1DX vs. the 300mm f/2.8L on the same camera body. The latter will focus faster. Of course, stationary scenes who cares.

Had my 70-200 2.8II on the whole time. Great, fast combo.

5D III + 70-200 f2.8 IS II = a gift from heaven

I have to agree with you on that one. I shot a bunch on the weekend and was amazed how fast that combo was. I'm liking not having to use flash.

I tested the lens today in bright sunlight, with a B+W UV haze filter on 10 shots and without on 10 shots and noticed no difference at all in IQ. The only thing I noticed was in the extreme corners darkening with the UV filters on, but most of the image was not different at all. That lens is sharp! All tests done on a 5D Mk III.

Next really stupid question: Get ready. How do I post photos on here for destructive criticism?

I use the B+W XS-PRO's, I think they're almost as thin as the slims. When you post there's an option under the box that says 'Attachments and other options'.

+1...B+W XS-PRO Clear is my favorite

 

[scottkinfw]

I have both, and have noted the same thing. Also, the 5DII will only focus on center focus point in darker situations, while many more on the III. I also found side by side, the 5DII will fail to achieve focus while the III has no problem. That is not to mention focusing on moving objects.

I had a 5D2 for years and never really had too many complaints about the AF at dark wedding receptions. I ended up selling my 5D2 before my 5D3 arrived so I didn't have a chance to do a side by side comparison. The 5D3 is great and I am happy with the AF but I never really thought it was that much better at low light AF than the 5D2. Well I shot a wedding with another photographer who has a 5D2 this past weekend and just for the fun of it I took a few shots and compared the cameras side by side and I was amazed at how much faster the 5D3 was. I could get 5 good shots in the time it took the 5D2 to get focused and take one. It seemed like night and day to me. I am sure this isn't news to anyone but I thought I would share just for the fun of it.

 

[@!ex]

Been loving every second of this camera. This shot was taken in zero light, with the stage lights blasting us at different angles, people clapping and dancing and at f1.2 (50mm). Also the focus point was near the edge (the guy in the white t-shirt sort of toward the bottom). I was trying to catch the crowd's reaction to the encore song at the Bon Iver/Feist show a few weeks age at Red Rocks. Love this camera...


A Night @ Red Rocks by @!ex, on Flickr

 

[sandymandy]

That Shot looks so dreamy. Need 50mm 1.2 T_T

 

[Razor2012]

Been loving every second of this camera. This shot was taken in zero light, with the stage lights blasting us at different angles, people clapping and dancing and at f1.2 (50mm). Also the focus point was near the edge (the guy in the white t-shirt sort of toward the bottom). I was trying to catch the crowd's reaction to the encore song at the Bon Iver/Feist show a few weeks age at Red Rocks. Love this camera...


A Night @ Red Rocks by @!ex, on Flickr

Nice shot, just wish we could take more pics at concerts.