Can we all send a complaint to Canon to fix the AF-Assist focusing on the 5D3?

[jonathan7007]

Paul (PWP), others with the 1dMk4:
Is the 1dMk4 body any better at this available-darkness fast-focus-capture? (with flash up top...) I am asking if the "assist" functions better.

People with 5DMk3's in this thread have used several work-arounds, one of them straining to focus manually and getting better hit rate. Yikes!! The other work around was a Yongnuo 565. Anyone know if this is also helped by the 568? I have to decide between Yongnuo and Canon speedlights -- Odin synch or Canon 600-style included radio.

I too have found the black points to be tough in some situations. I shot a dress rehearsal (no flash, of course) and the points get pretty lost in dark clothing. I did more with my 5Dmk2 on that set. Further, close-in party stuff was sometimes difficult. The soft red alert in my 5DMk3 for focus doesn't always seem to work the way I expect.

So, is the 1DMk4 better at this?

jonathan7007

 

[RayValdez360]

Check page 77 of the manual. There is a mention of this, I think:

* With Single-Point Spot AF, focusing with the Speedlite's AF-Assist beam may be difficult
* If the camera cannot focus with the EOS-dedicated Speedlite's AF-Assist beam, set the AF area selection mode to Single-Point AF (Manual Selection) and select the center AF point to focus.

This sucks

I never use single point spot but from reading that it seems like the auto focus points might be too small and are missing the assist beam? Is this the problem???

 

[Mehmetski]

Check page 77 of the manual. There is a mention of this, I think:

* With Single-Point Spot AF, focusing with the Speedlite's AF-Assist beam may be difficult
* If the camera cannot focus with the EOS-dedicated Speedlite's AF-Assist beam, set the AF area selection mode to Single-Point AF (Manual Selection) and select the center AF point to focus.

This sucks

I never use single point spot but from reading that it seems like the auto focus points might be too small and are missing the assist beam? Is this the problem???

I'm not sure. I haven't tested extensively it yet.
I just got the 5DIII and reading your post reminded me of that section of the manual. My first upcoming clubgig is this weekend and I'll check out then.
I did a couple of quick shots at home with absolute darkness with the 5DIII and the 580EXII and it focuses pretty quick, I didn't notice any lag. I used the center and outer edges with AF expansion and SP-AF. Does the AF assist beam cover all the AF points of the 5DIII? Maybe that is the problem.

 

[pwp]

Paul (PWP), others with the 1dMk4:
Is the 1dMk4 body any better at this available-darkness fast-focus-capture? (with flash up top...) I am asking if the "assist" functions better.
jonathan7007

I love my 1D4. In most circumstances the AF is stellar. In the very low light situations being referred to in this thread, the 1D4 AF either on it's own or with an AF assist beam its a piece of shirt. So working in low light venues with the Mk4 and the 5D3 I'm struggling...

-PW

 

[dr croubie]

Paul (PWP), others with the 1dMk4:
Is the 1dMk4 body any better at this available-darkness fast-focus-capture? (with flash up top...) I am asking if the "assist" functions better.
jonathan7007

I love my 1D4. In most circumstances the AF is stellar. In the very low light situations being referred to in this thread, the 1D4 AF either on it's own or with an AF assist beam its a piece of shirt. So working in low light venues with the Mk4 and the 5D3 I'm struggling...

-PW

Seeing as we're talking about the 1D mk4.
The black AF point "issue", afaik, is how the 7D has been operating since day 1 (i've never found it a problem, and obviously noone else who bought a 7D found it a problem either).
It was only when the 5D3 and 1DX operated the exact same way that people started complaining. Does the 1D mk4 work that way as well?

 

[pwp]

Get a Yongnuo YN565 flash instead - AF assist light is very effective - and won't look out of place in a Nightclub (if you've ever used one you'll know what I mean )

I have never been one for after-market or third party equipment, but can anyone else confirm that the Yongnuo YN565 spits out an AF Assist beam that solves the issue being discussed on this thread? If so, I'll get a couple of them in a heartbeat, just for dark venue jobs.

Is it possible to hook up external batteries to the Yongnuo YN365? I run a Quantum Turbo T3 with the twin outputs at most functions.

-PW

 

[pwp]

Seeing as we're talking about the 1D mk4.
The black AF point "issue", afaik, is how the 7D has been operating since day 1 (I've never found it a problem, and obviously noone else who bought a 7D found it a problem either).
It was only when the 5D3 and 1DX operated the exact same way that people started complaining. Does the 1D mk4 work that way as well?

Like every Canon DSLR except the 7D, 5D3 & 1DX the 1D Mk4 offers constantly illuminated red AF points.

The 7D does have the black AF points, though the points are much larger than in the 5D3 & 1DX viewfinders, and perhaps more visible. It's great that the black AF points are a non-issue for you, but can you find an acceptance somewhere in your consciousness that it is a very real issue for a lot of shooters who work in different environments to you.

-PW

 

[Daniel Flather]

Interesting, I just tested this theory out in my garage in total darkness. With centre point AF, AF was snappy fast with the 600 flash. As I moved the AF point to the side my AF speed slowed, and on the very edge AF points it was horrible. But what blew me away was, if I set the AF to all points auto (the idiot mode) it would easily achieve focus with the side AF points. Odd.

Lens was the ef35 mm f1.4.

 

[jonathan7007]

Paul,
I believe the Yongnuo 565 is engineered for an external battery pack, but the 568 is not. The 565 had a slightly different ETTL capability/feature set than the 568, and pros were upset that the "better" 568 left off the battery pack connector. Look on those other threads that compare the YN's to the Canon5xx/600's. The sites that sell the Yongnuo's don't make model-to-model differences as clear as I'd like.

I have to see where this goes before deciding which flash upgrade to pursue, as there will be several units to buy to have the multiple reliable sources I want to take on location. Lotsa $$ affected.

jonathan7007

 

[bvukich]

Is it possible to hook up external batteries to the Yongnuo YN365? I run a Quantum Turbo T3 with the twin outputs at most functions.

Yes the YN565EX has the same connector as the 580EXII and works with the CP-E4 or clones.

It also cycles quite a bit faster than a 580EXII, fast enough that you have to be slightly conscious of head temperature lest you let out the magic smoke (like I did to mine after a week :'(, mine was also a very early production run one and I pushed it way harder than I would a flash that wasn't so inexpensive it's nearly disposable). Not saying you have to baby it or anything... but if you do almost continuous full pops for half an hour and it starts smelling funny, you probably shouldn't just change batteries and keep going.

 

[PeterJ]

Check page 77 of the manual. There is a mention of this, I think:

* With Single-Point Spot AF, focusing with the Speedlite's AF-Assist beam may be difficult
* If the camera cannot focus with the EOS-dedicated Speedlite's AF-Assist beam, set the AF area selection mode to Single-Point AF (Manual Selection) and select the center AF point to focus.

This sucks

Remember that the 5D2 didn't have single point spot AF. I haven't done enough flash work with my 5D3 yet to comment decisively but the 7D didn't cope well in that mode either. I'm wondering if a lot of the complaints are 5D2 single-point users that have gone to single-point spot and find it doesn't work as well?

From the limited amount I've done so far I've been using AF point expansion and all is fine, and most of the time it's the center selected point that locks which would have been same result as a 5D2, or otherwise have got the shot on better contrast on an edge point and has all been good.

 

[pwp]

OK thanks for the info on the Yongnuo YN565 being able to take an external battery pack. Good! That ticks one more box.

But can anyone verify whether the Yongnuo YN565 spits out an AF Assist beam that makes the 5D3 AF more reliable at very low light venues than the Canon 580EXII & 600EX-RT?

-PW

 

[RLPhoto]

The squeaky wheel gets the grease I suppose.

 

[jonathan7007]

Paul caught the current unknown in this thread:
Has anyone been able to compare the assisted AF (in near dark conditions) of the YN565 to any of the Canon units?

I'd love to see the comparison include 550EX units as well as 580EX(classic and II) as I am alternatives I am also considering these older flashes. The 550EX took a battery pack, which I consider a real plus. One of the contributors here, V8Beast, has had good experiences with these older units in the field and they hope that they offer the benefit of sturdier construction than the Yongnuos.

Near dark shooting with YN565? YN568? Anyone?

jonathan7007

 

[Louis]

It makes you wonder how extensive the testing is at Canon,

"Did you test the camera with a speedlite?"

R&D "Erm"

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I've found that if you half press the shutter button and wait for the AF light to and point to flash, it takes 3 sec or more. However, if I just press the shutter button down all the way, it focuses in about 1 second or less and fires with perfectly sharp focus.
It does this regardless of AF-Assist or not. So, if you are waiting for the AF- Assist to stop flashing to take the image, just press and hold the shutter button. It fires as soon as focus is reached rather than delaying another 2-3 seconds before the focus points light up.

 

[gilmorephoto]

I've found that if you half press the shutter button and wait for the AF light to and point to flash, it takes 3 sec or more. However, if I just press the shutter button down all the way, it focuses in about 1 second or less and fires with perfectly sharp focus.
It does this regardless of AF-Assist or not. So, if you are waiting for the AF- Assist to stop flashing to take the image, just press and hold the shutter button. It fires as soon as focus is reached rather than delaying another 2-3 seconds before the focus points light up.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[RayValdez360]

I've found that if you half press the shutter button and wait for the AF light to and point to flash, it takes 3 sec or more. However, if I just press the shutter button down all the way, it focuses in about 1 second or less and fires with perfectly sharp focus.

I hope this is true for most situations. Everyone pleasure try this!

 

[Mehmetski]

I've shot the first clubgig with the 5dIII this weekend. The combo was 5DIII+24-70II+580EXII and the lag with the AF beam is really terrible. I've used Single Point AF and AF Expansion throughout the night with usually the center AF points selected, the outer edges weren't event doable. For still subjects it was OK and not that very frustrating but when you want to capture that spontaneous moment in which you require almost instant focus, it just can't deliver.
The funny thing is if you disable the AF-Beam on camera than it focuses much much faster!

 

[kpk1]

And I thought that I'm the only one with this problem.
Here too, 5D3 with 600EX-RT focuses slower in the dark with the AF beam.
The rule with full shutter press is working but still anoying, when 5D2 focuses faster in the same conditions with the same 600EX.
So dear Canon could you just upgrade this instead of the price I paid ?