5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus
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I don't want this thread to slip, its super important, i want it back up to the top of the page, I really hope it gets read by everyone
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Sorry about the acronym Rusty, normally I hate them ‘cos I don’t know what half of them mean myself ;D
I have to admit when I wrote that I was kind of angry/frustrated and was thinking it might just flush someone out into saying what actually goes on. One reflection that’s silly and never going to happen.
The reason for the frustration is simply that I have for some time been planning on getting a 5D3 next April/May time it simply ticks all the boxes for me and one of the first and important uses will be a wedding evening reception. Exactly the sort of event I thought this camera was built to excel at. Ah well at least time is still on my side, there may be a fix and I can just use what I’ve got now anyway if needs be.
Louis - why not start a thread on the new Canon forum, you may get a bigger ball rolling there? I’m not a pro so don’t have any weigh or real reason to complain that’s business related.
I hope I’m right in thinking that issues big enough to be affecting business raised by pros are addressed by Canon as a priority!
I have to admit when I wrote that I was kind of angry/frustrated and was thinking it might just flush someone out into saying what actually goes on. One reflection that’s silly and never going to happen.
The reason for the frustration is simply that I have for some time been planning on getting a 5D3 next April/May time it simply ticks all the boxes for me and one of the first and important uses will be a wedding evening reception. Exactly the sort of event I thought this camera was built to excel at. Ah well at least time is still on my side, there may be a fix and I can just use what I’ve got now anyway if needs be.
Louis - why not start a thread on the new Canon forum, you may get a bigger ball rolling there? I’m not a pro so don’t have any weigh or real reason to complain that’s business related.
I hope I’m right in thinking that issues big enough to be affecting business raised by pros are addressed by Canon as a priority!
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Hey zim, not sure what acronym you mean but everything's cool here! I feel your frustration, a $3000+ camera that is heavily marketed to do something well should indeed do that something well, esp after we waited extra time for the camera to be released. It's a wonderful camera for all other uses. I wouldn't hold my breath for the low light fix. Start considering what YOU can do to work around it. I am hoping that the 6D is Canon's hail mary throw to the end zone to address the 5D3 low light issue.
I think this is a problem we are going to see more often as DSLRs are being designed to be both still picture cameras and video devices. I hate that Canon has taken this path. It's a compromise that drags down the still picture performance while also hampering the video performance. I wonder if this dual use design challenge is partly to blame for the low light issue.
Canon: Just give me a highest possible quality still picture camera with NO video! I don't use it, I don't need it and I'm trying to understand why it even exists on a pro level camera. Photographers are NOT videographers and vice versa. And those that are, typically will buy the tool that is best for each craft. They don't crave one-device fits-all solutions. I've taken some shaky video with my 60D and it sucks. So what if you can use EF lenses on the thing? The DSLR body design is terrible for video so to make it work, tons of money must be spent on all kinds of contraptions to fix the problems that video camcorder (pro and consumer) makers solved years ago with dedicated HD camcorders that still make better video with AF and stereo sound. IMO, adding video to DSLRs was done to sell more cameras to consumers wanting to move up from point and shoot cameras, not answer any urgent need from photographers and it's a real shame. It's a novelty feature that is likely hurting, not helping the primary use of the camera which is taking still images, not video.
I think this is a problem we are going to see more often as DSLRs are being designed to be both still picture cameras and video devices. I hate that Canon has taken this path. It's a compromise that drags down the still picture performance while also hampering the video performance. I wonder if this dual use design challenge is partly to blame for the low light issue.
Canon: Just give me a highest possible quality still picture camera with NO video! I don't use it, I don't need it and I'm trying to understand why it even exists on a pro level camera. Photographers are NOT videographers and vice versa. And those that are, typically will buy the tool that is best for each craft. They don't crave one-device fits-all solutions. I've taken some shaky video with my 60D and it sucks. So what if you can use EF lenses on the thing? The DSLR body design is terrible for video so to make it work, tons of money must be spent on all kinds of contraptions to fix the problems that video camcorder (pro and consumer) makers solved years ago with dedicated HD camcorders that still make better video with AF and stereo sound. IMO, adding video to DSLRs was done to sell more cameras to consumers wanting to move up from point and shoot cameras, not answer any urgent need from photographers and it's a real shame. It's a novelty feature that is likely hurting, not helping the primary use of the camera which is taking still images, not video.
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bigjonny
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I have to add, that i fing the Mk3 IS fully optimised for my still photography needs. I can't think of ANYTHING that is wrong with the camera for stills. It is perfect for me, and shooting weddings I think it's fair to say that I put my cameras through a wide range of conditions and they take quite a punding. No issues for me. Not sure what else you want from a camera, but for me, they do the job PERFECTLY. If they didn't I'd spend more and buy something, even non-canon, that does the job better. I think some folks get stuck in nit-picking the slightest little issue, instead of actually shooting images and learnign to adapt. Compared to cameras of years ago, the current line up ROCKS.
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RustyTheGeek said:
totally and completely agree rustmeister...one beer for you! now you only owe me one
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Northstar said:totally and completely agree rustmeister...one beer for you! now you only owe me one
Glad to hear it! See my other post. I started another thread on the idea to see if anyone else thinks it's logical. And if we keep the beer thing going, eventually they may add it to the forum.
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Louis said:@Zim what new Canon forum?
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=10912.0;topicseen
Enjoy!!
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Thanks I have posted, a New thread about the known problem,
please help in making this known on that forum also,
here is the link
http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/Camera/5D3-AF-assist-beam-slower-focus/m-p/2277#U2277
please help in making this known on that forum also,
here is the link
http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/Camera/5D3-AF-assist-beam-slower-focus/m-p/2277#U2277
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I have shot several more weddings since I originally started the post and I still have the problem but have found ways to "live" with it. First, I shoot with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, the 50mm 1.2L and the 24mm 1.4L and both the 50mm and 24mm seem benefit (or at least are not negatively affected) from the AF assist. The 50mm just plain sucks in low light though so there isn't much helping it. However, the 70-200 has serious problems with the AF assist beam so I just turn it off when I use it and I almost forget there is a problem. I simply added the AF-assist enable/disable to MY MENU so I can access it quickly when I need to. The flash still works fine I just doesn't use the AF-assist. Just as long as I focus on an area that has some contrast I am fine even if it is really dark. I usually focus on a white shirt collar or another area that has contrast. At 2.8 if you focus on the shirt color the face almost always falls into focus as well. I have also adjusted the setting towards release priority instead of focus priority and I find that really helps me get a shot quickly. It seems that the camera does focus quickly but sometimes it just hesitates a little before it confirms with the red light. Overall I am very happy with the camera I am just so frustrated that the AF assist beam makes focusing a lot worse with some lenses. I am also frustrated that CPS says they have never heard of the problem which means they are lying to me.
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Just joined this forum because of this particular discussion. Just bought a 5d3 and used it this weekend at reception. Boy...this thing is bad when using single point af and flash , even in decent light. Had to wait seconds
for the focus confirmation. Lucky I still have my mark2's to take over. Does Canon deliberately cripple their cameras so you will run out and purchase the newest one next year?
We have to communicate this to the corporation...this has to end!
for the focus confirmation. Lucky I still have my mark2's to take over. Does Canon deliberately cripple their cameras so you will run out and purchase the newest one next year?
We have to communicate this to the corporation...this has to end!
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echelonphoto said:
The fix supposedly is not to wait for the af confirmation, but just press the shutter with release priority because the camera has finished focusing way before it confirms it (see the posts above for the original post of this method).
Does this method work for you? It's interesting to me because that would really be a reason to get the cheaper 6d over the 5d3 for me, esp. if Canon doesn't ack this problem or comes up with a firmware fix.
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That fix is not acceptable...if you set to release priority...you get oof images half the time....so that really defeats
the reason for buying a camera with supposedly better af....what a farce!
the reason for buying a camera with supposedly better af....what a farce!
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echelonphoto said:
Actually that was exactly my thought when I read it, but since I don't own a 5d3 (yet) and just am trying to figure out if to get a 6d instead it's hard to say if people are either protective of their expensive investment or - the other side - overcompensating and bashing it because of disappointment. Unfortunately this issue is not something I can test myself in a photo store, so I have to rely on owner's opinions.
The other problem is to define "low light" because nowadays photogs aren't running around with light meters anymore, so that's another cause for the contradicting opinions on how serious this is (with or without af assist).
Last not least, Canon ignoring this either means it's a non-issue silently fixed in the next fw or a really serious problem
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Actually....the 6d seems to have this same problem...just saw a thread on it. I guess Canon fixed one thing and
broke another (the response to focus assist infrared). I just did and extreme test....took both cameras into the
bathroom and turned off all the lights...total darkness. Use flash and the 24-105....the mark 2 focused just about
as fast as you could shoot and even on a totally flat wall...no contrast. The mark3 hesitated all over the place and
half the shots were oof.
broke another (the response to focus assist infrared). I just did and extreme test....took both cameras into the
bathroom and turned off all the lights...total darkness. Use flash and the 24-105....the mark 2 focused just about
as fast as you could shoot and even on a totally flat wall...no contrast. The mark3 hesitated all over the place and
half the shots were oof.
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echelonphoto said:
Can you give the link to the 6d thread?
I wonder if the 6d could really have the same problem given the fact that it uses nearly the same af as the 5d (minus some af assist points, plus better center low light af). I'm ok if it doesn't af in my bathroom, but it should be able to do dark meetings/receptions :->
Btw: Did you use a 600rt for your test? What af mode (single point/all/...)?
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