Canon EOS 70D Dual Pixel AF Performance

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Who Dey
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Jul 20, 2010
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<p><strong>Dual Pixel AF in action

</strong>The Polish website <a href="http://www.optyczne.pl/5979-nowo%C5%9B%C4%87-Canon_EOS_70D_-_pierwsze_wra%C5%BCenia.html" target="_blank">www.optyczne.pl</a> has posted a few videos showing the AF performance of the new Dual Pixel AF technology from Canon. They used both an STM lens, as well as an EF 100 f/2.8L IS macro lens.</p>
<p>The performance definitely looks better than liveview autofocus on any other Canon I have used. I’m especially impressed with the performance of the servo mode.</p>
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4TffRSFSwo</p>
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVAIEdwfj78</p>
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF9pmqEN3bE</p>
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjH4Inox4YA</p>
<p><strong>Canon EOS 70D Body $1199</strong>

<strong><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/986389-REG/canon_8469b002_canon_eos_70d_dslr.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">B&H Photo</a></strong> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMS0KAC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DMS0KAC&linkCode=as2&tag=canorumo-20">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.adorama.com/ICA70D.html?kbid=64393" target="_blank">Adorama</a> |<strong> <a href="http://www.normancamera.com/index/page/product/product_id/28683/product_name/Canon+EOS+70D+DSLR+Camera+%28Body+Only%29" target="_blank">Norman Camera</a> </strong>|  <a href="http://www.cameracanada.com/enet-cart/product.asp?pid=70DBody">Camera Canada $1299</a></p>
<p><strong>Canon EOS 70D w/18-55 IS STM $1349</strong>

<strong><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/986390-REG/canon_8469b009_canon_eos_70d_dslr.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">B&H Photo</a></strong> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMS0KAC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DMS0KAC&linkCode=as2&tag=canorumo-20">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.adorama.com/ICA70DK.html?KBID=64393" target="_blank">Adorama</a> | <strong><a href="http://www.normancamera.com/index/page/product/product_id/28685/product_name/Canon+EOS+70D+DSLR+Camera+with+18-55mm+STM+f3.5-5.6+Lens" target="_blank">Norman Camera</a></strong> |  <a href="http://www.cameracanada.com/enet-cart/product.asp?pid=70D1855" target="_blank">Camera Canada $1449</a></p>
<p><strong>Canon EOS 70D w/18-135 IS STM $1549</strong>

<strong><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/986391-REG/canon_8469b016_canon_eos_70d_dslr.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">B&H Photo</a></strong> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMS0KAC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DMS0KAC&linkCode=as2&tag=canorumo-20">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.adorama.com/ICA70DK1.html?KBID=64393" target="_blank">Adorama</a> | <strong><a href="http://www.normancamera.com/index/page/product/product_id/28684/product_name/Canon+EOS+70D+DSLR+Camera+with+18-135mm+STM+f3.5-5.6+Lens" target="_blank">Norman Camera</a></strong> | <a href="http://www.cameracanada.com/enet-cart/product.asp?pid=70D18135" target="_blank">Camera Canada $1649</a></p>
<p>Source: [<a href="http://www.optyczne.pl/5979-nowo%C5%9B%C4%87-Canon_EOS_70D_-_pierwsze_wra%C5%BCenia.html" target="_blank">OP</a>] via [<a href="http://www.canonwatch.com/canon-eos-70d-first-independent-auto-focus-test-videos/" target="_blank">CW</a>]</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>
 
I have claimed for a long time that focus is the most important aspect of image quality.... It does not matter how many megapixels, what the dr is, read noise, or iso performance if the picture is blurry. Thank you canon for raising the af bar higher.
 
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My observations:

- Ring USM is still faster than STM. STM is just for smoother & quieter focusing, not speed.

- I can't be sure due to the video quality, but it appears there is still some sort of CDAF-style "focus racking" (albeit minor), most apparent in the 1st & 3rd vids. It doesn't "snap" into focus like one would expect from PDAF.

- Not sure how the continuous AF tracking was set up for the 4th vid (or if it was even set up correctly at all), but it clearly showed that that particular L USM lens+body combo couldn't follow the hand as it moved backward & forward from the initial point of focus lock. I hope that's the worst case scenario already (too fast movement), and the firmware is still not yet finalized.

Overall, still pretty fast compared to existing solutions.
 
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I don't know why, but I'm not really impressed by the AF speed shown in the videos. It doesn't seem that much faster than the EOS M with firmware 2.0.2 installed. PDAF is still a lot faster than this.
 
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jocau said:
I don't know why, but I'm not really impressed by the AF speed shown in the videos. It doesn't seem that much faster than the EOS M with firmware 2.0.2 installed. PDAF is still a lot faster than this.

I agree. And based on these initial videos it's still noticeably slower than CDAF on MFT cameras like the OM-D.
 
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TheBadger said:
So many goodies in this new camera. Makes you wonder why would anyone get a 6d now!

Totally agree. ::) The 6D is so passe now that it is good for nothing but deep discount sales.

Here's to hoping... I'll definitely be on the lookout for one of those dump-the-now-worthless-6D-with-old-model-24-105-kit-lens sales!
 
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TheBadger said:
So many goodies in this new camera. Makes you wonder why would anyone get a 6d now!

High ISO performance?
Image quality?

I had the 60D (I don't know how the 70D will compare, but...) and the 6D is in a whole 'nother league IQ wise once you get into medium and low-light.
 
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As to the lv af performance: the (afaik unanswered question) is: Is this on-sensor phase af as precise as the good ol' contrast af which beats the 60d/7d/... viewfinder phase af hands down? When I use af in lv it's usually for precision, not for speed.

neuroanatomist said:
TheBadger said:
So many goodies in this new camera. Makes you wonder why would anyone get a 6d now!
No, it really doesn't.

:-) But still I'd like Canon to put a ff sensor in this 70d rather than the 6d being a ff 60d :-p
 
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