F/8 Autofocusing impressions

[tron]

Now that 5DMkIII has been upgraded to support f/8 autofocusing have you tried using it? Of course this question applies equally to 1D series owners too.

1: Do you find AF practical/fast/accurate ?
2: How is the quality retained?

Well, I know that the latter is NOT f/8 autofocusing related but now that this feature is available it may invite more and more people to try using it (instead of just watching the excellent the-digital-picture site). Apart from the new generation super telephotos that can probably handle the version III teleconverters well, how smaller/cheaper Canon lens/teleconverter combinations work? (for example EF300MM f/4 with 2X, EF100-400mm with 1.4X, EF400mm f/5.6 with 1.4X)

I am thinking mostly Canon lenses with Canon II or III series teleconverters but feel free to comment on any camera/lens/teleconverter combination you want regarding autofocusing and quality issues.

 

[RLPhoto]

This is something I'd like to know also.

 

[FallsGuy]

A little help with a qualifier:
I recently rented a 5D III for the purpose of examining the F8 focus with a 100-400 when paired with a 1.4 III tc.
Subjectively, it worked well. The af was not perceptibly slower than "normal" in decent light. The picture quality was good but was affected. Because of some bad weather and a personal emergency, I was unable to use Reikan's focal to really dial it in. Overall, I would not buy a 5D III for the F8 but it certainly is useful. Btw, the 5D III was very impressive with its autofocus but I am sure you already know that.
I normally shoot, birds mostly, with a 7D.

 

[CarlTN]

The 1D4 I rented last fall, seemed a bit slower to AF with a series 2 2x TC mounted to the 300 f/4. It achieved accurate enough autofocus for me, though, and the AF speed was not what I would call "slow".

I have no doubt the 5D3 could achieve similar or superior AF speed and accuracy, especially when coupled to a series 3 TC on a series 2 supertele.

 

[Loswr]

I've used my 1D X with a 600/4 II and 2xIII to track birds in flight, sometimes handheld. It does fine. However, when shooting small birds in thickets (branches in front of and behind subject), where the bare 600 II locks onto the bird easily, with the 2x it hunts a bit - in that situation, it behaves a lot like the bare 100-400L.

 

[wickidwombat]

i've only tested my 300f4L and 2x mk3 TC didnt test tracking

AF speed is quick if it doesnt have to rack the whole focus range using the limiter makes a difference
accuracy seems good and ability to lock in really low light seems good too much better than even fast glass with the previous firmware so far AF in general seems to have got a big boost

 

[WillThompson]

I've used my 1D X with a 600/4 II and 2xIII to track birds in flight, sometimes handheld. It does fine. However, when shooting small birds in thickets (branches in front of and behind subject), where the bare 600 II locks onto the bird easily, with the 2x it hunts a bit - in that situation, it behaves a lot like the bare 100-400L.

Did you use spot single point or regular single point focus for this test?

Thanks, Will T.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

I haven't used f/8 yet on my 5D MK III coz in order to to use f/8 to AF I first need to buy a tele-convertor :-\ ... its funny that for almost a year, there been so many people who were cribbing about not having f/8 AF function on 5D MK III, but hardly anyone is talking about what it is like having f/8 capability, now that it is available. Hope this thread has more entries of people who have tried out the f/8 AF.

 

[RAKAMRAK]

I haven't used f/8 yet on my 5D MK III coz in order to to use f/8 to AF I first need to buy a tele-convertor :-\ ... its funny that for almost a year, there been so many people who were cribbing about not having f/8 AF function on 5D MK III, but hardly anyone is talking about what it is like having f/8 capability, now that it is available. Hope this thread has more entries of people who have tried out the f/8 AF.

Interesting observations Either everyone is busy taking photos with f/8 lenses and have no time to write anything on the forum. Or it was just gear craving. Let's wait and see...

 

[Kernuak]

I haven't used f/8 yet on my 5D MK III coz in order to to use f/8 to AF I first need to buy a tele-convertor :-\ ... its funny that for almost a year, there been so many people who were cribbing about not having f/8 AF function on 5D MK III, but hardly anyone is talking about what it is like having f/8 capability, now that it is available. Hope this thread has more entries of people who have tried out the f/8 AF.

Interesting observations Either everyone is busy taking photos with f/8 lenses and have no time to write anything on the forum. Or it was just gear craving. Let's wait and see...

When I went to a 5D MkIII CPS event at Focus on Imaging last year a couple of days after its release, someone asked the rep the question about lack of f/8 focus. The rep responded with a question "how often do you use it and is the IQ good enough (on the previous 1D series). The person asking the question admitted that it was rarely and the IQ wasn't really as good, so that seems to bear out RAKAMRAK's observation.

 

[nubu]

I'm quite happy with the now possible EF500/4 IS L + EX2XIII combo on my 5DIII. Did a lot of of wildlife pics at dusk and down and had no problems with focus both in central single point as well as extended mode. I prefer the first to pinpoint the focus. It is slower than without but perfectly ok with stationary objects that one is for with 1000mm anyway. I also found the focus help from the 600 flash now much better in low light situation! Thank you Canon!

 

[eddiemrg]

Excuse me, can anyone explain me what is F8 autofocus and why is so important?
Thanks!

 

[nubu]

Very simple: Lenses with a maximum aperture of LESS then 5.6 did NOT autofocus before the firmware update for the 5DIII. This also holds for lens+teleconverter combinations leading to maximum apertures of less than 5.6. e.g. my 500/4 lens turns into a 1000/8 lens when combined with a 2x converter. Before we had to focus manually them or do some "taping contact" things leading to suboptimal results....

 

[eddiemrg]

okay... is the same for the 7D?

 

[skinkfoot]

I shot a lot with the 5d mk iii and taped pins on a 1.4 ii/400 f5.6 combo, and I was pretty impressed with this combo, with the new firmware I removed the tape and expected not much difference. What I found was the focus speed felt a little bit slower, but, locking on quicker and more accurately. No more jerky hunting.

As far as the image quality goes, you still pay a price, but, when I am further than 6m(20ft) and I am in good light the extender combo is better than cropping, anything closer the bare lens and cropping are better.

Its always hard to decide if I should mount the extender or not, It is capable of BIF but. not as fast. If I knew that I was going to take pictures of stationary birds it would be okay. If I could afford it, I would preorder the 200-400 but that is not an option(My Wife clarified that for me).

 

[Loswr]

I've used my 1D X with a 600/4 II and 2xIII to track birds in flight, sometimes handheld. It does fine. However, when shooting small birds in thickets (branches in front of and behind subject), where the bare 600 II locks onto the bird easily, with the 2x it hunts a bit - in that situation, it behaves a lot like the bare 100-400L.

Did you use spot single point or regular single point focus for this test?

I've tried both, spot AF does not offer a significant improvement. It certainly does help for birds in thickets without the TC in place, though.

okay... is the same for the 7D?

The 7D cannot autofocus with an f/8 combo.

 

[tron]

If I could afford it, I would preorder the 200-400 but that is not an option(My Wife clarified that for me).

Does she have the same hard feelings for EF500 f/4L IS II ? ;D

 

[miah]

Someone please explain this f/8 brouhaha to me: my 5D3 + Kenko 1.4x tele-extender + 400 & 70-300 auto-focus (at f/8, pre-firmware update) all day long. I just downloaded the firmware update and will install it later today, but I've been auto-focusing just fine at f/8 for some time. Am I missing something?

 

[tron]

Someone please explain this f/8 brouhaha to me: my 5D3 + Kenko 1.4x tele-extender + 400 & 70-300 auto-focus (at f/8, pre-firmware update) all day long. I just downloaded the firmware update and will install it later today, but I've been auto-focusing just fine at f/8 for some time. Am I missing something?

You are missing ... Canon teleconverters which report the correct maximum aperture to camera.

When you put kenco with your say 400 f/5.6 lens does it report it as having a maximum f/8 aperture? I guess not! It still reports it as f/5.6!

You have effectively a 1.4X400 = 560mm f/8 lens but the camera thinks it is connected to a f/5.6 maximum aperture lens and tries to autofocus!

 

[East Wind Photography]

Tried it with my 600 F4 and didnt like the IQ. So I put the 2XIII in with my 70-200L IS II where it will stay. F8 AF was what I expected. Slower than without and IQ did not meet my QA!