5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

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Sycotek said:
Happens on the 1DX too...
They didn't care tbh - it's not a problem apparently.

Not on my 1D X. One flash of the AF assist lamp, then the AF confirm beep happens immediately (and the focus is accurate). Does that in low light with a low contrast subject, does it in a pitch black room with the camera pointed at a blank white wall. Works with the center AF point selected, works with an edge AF point selected (only difference is the center point just projects a thin, vertical red strip whereas with an off-center point the full grid is projected). Same behavior, same fast AF lock with the assist lamp on both a 600EX-RT and a 430EX II.
 
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This problem is so huge, Im surprised that so many people have not come forward with this problem, 100s of photographers are being paid to shoot jobs in low light and I am certain they use a 5D3 also, maybe Canon does know about this problem and may address it soon, I really hope they do, as It worries me to even accept a job now because of this
 
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neuroanatomist said:
Sycotek said:
Happens on the 1DX too...
They didn't care tbh - it's not a problem apparently.

Not on my 1D X. One flash of the AF assist lamp, then the AF confirm beep happens immediately (and the focus is accurate). Does that in low light with a low contrast subject, does it in a pitch black room with the camera pointed at a blank white wall. Works with the center AF point selected, works with an edge AF point selected (only difference is the center point just projects a thin, vertical red strip whereas with an off-center point the full grid is projected). Same behavior, same fast AF lock with the assist lamp on both a 600EX-RT and a 430EX II.

Do you happen to have a 5D3 as well that you could test?
 
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I have a 60D and 580EX II, and I have the same problem (focus takes 2-3 seconds and often misses with AF assist). I don't understand why this happens, but judging by the comments here it's a common issue for Canon. The "fix" is fairly simple: disable the AF assist light and aim for high contrast areas on your subject. Even with the 60D's more basic AF, I've never had a serious problem in dark halls, as long as I pick good spots. Was hoping they would fix this for the 5D3 and 600ex-rt, but sounds like we are still stuck using non-assisted AF. Since I don't have a firmware update to fix this, I assume it won't happen with the 5D3.
 
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Area256 said:
I have a 60D and 580EX II, and I have the same problem (focus takes 2-3 seconds and often misses with AF assist).

Ok, now it's getting really strange - at least with my 60d and the 70-300L & 100L the camera near focuses instantly without hunting with the af assist beams of the 430ex2 and 600rt. It takes just a little longer than in good light because it beams, focuses, beams again and does the final focus. If your 60d hunts then there's definitely something wrong with your setup.
 
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After reading this post I checked my 5DIII and the 600ex flash together with the 24-105 lens and had no problems to quickly focus in completely dark rooms even at structureless walls by the help of the assist pattern... I have no idea what is wrong with your systems... I was trying both single central point as well as all points available.
 
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With different people seeing different things with the same platform, I wonder if someone who has it working (on say a 5DIII or 1DX) would be okay with posting their camera's config file. Others could (after saving their own config to restore later) load the "working" config to see if it works on their camera, too.

That would at least eliminate/confirm it being a configuration issue.

Shawn L.
 
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Shawn L said:
With different people seeing different things with the same platform, I wonder if someone who has it working (on say a 5DIII or 1DX) would be okay with posting their camera's config file.

Has to be a 1D X, right? The 5DIII doesn't have the ability to save/load settings from a memory card. If someone having this problem on a 1D X wants to try, PM me and I'll send you a .CSD file.
 
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Caleb Luke said:
Interesting read indeed. I have a few 600rt's and both bodies, I am going to test side-by-side to see if I can replicate.

... and please test some lens & af setting configurations in different lighting conditions and object distances if you have the time :-p - there is definitely some FUD about this issue but even considering that there are enough "serious" reports it cannot be dismissed as imaginary.
 
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This issue is a strange one..... I have tested a 5DIII (paired with a 24-70 MII) with the 600rt in a very dark indoor environment and found it to be equally fast (or slow) in acquiring and confirming focus on either single or multiple focus points with and without the aid of the assist beam.

I have one of the first produced 5DMIII's with the light leak (6th digit is 1)
 
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kasperj said:
This issue is a strange one..... I have tested a 5DIII (paired with a 24-70 MII) with the 600rt in a very dark indoor environment and found it to be equally fast (or slow) in acquiring and confirming focus on either single or multiple focus points with and without the aid of the assist beam.

I have one of the first produced 5DMIII's with the light leak (6th digit is 1)

Do you have any other lenses you could test? My 70-200 f/2.8L IS II is the one that gives me issues. My 24mm 1.4L does just about the same with or without the AF assist beam. With the 70-200 there is a very noticeable difference.
 
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Marsu42 said:
Area256 said:
I have a 60D and 580EX II, and I have the same problem (focus takes 2-3 seconds and often misses with AF assist).

Ok, now it's getting really strange - at least with my 60d and the 70-300L & 100L the camera near focuses instantly without hunting with the af assist beams of the 430ex2 and 600rt. It takes just a little longer than in good light because it beams, focuses, beams again and does the final focus. If your 60d hunts then there's definitely something wrong with your setup.

Found the problem (at least in my case). It turns out that my 580EX II has some wiggle room in the hot shoe, and was misaligned for interacting with my selected AF point. I had to turn off all the lights in my room, and look really closely to see the issue. Adjusting the flash a little in the shoe fixed the problem. I wounder if maybe some of the users here are experiencing this same issue?

Try going into a dark room, and focusing on a white wall, you should be able to see if the beam hits in the location of your selected AF point. If not, there is a misalignment with your flash. This could explain why some, but not all, members are seeing the problem on the 5D3.
 
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