Lack of red lighted AF points 5d4; big deal?

[Peakbirder]

I have just upgraded from a 1dx mki to mkii, I also have a 5Diii. I find the red lit focus point just far easier to use and see especially when operating in low light situations. It feels a more secure process.

 

[GlynH]

Well today at the Photography Show at the NEC in Birmingham I got hands on the MKIV and the 1DX MKII and can confirm the focus points do light up red and flash the in-focus points on the 1DX.

It is fantastic to watch the focus points dance around the focussing screen.

Big let down going to the MKIV and having those black boxes again.

If only Canon had incorporated the same red focus points on the MKIV I wouldn't have hesitated to buy one.

The Show Price was £2849 down from £3499 which was a great deal for a genuine UK model...almost down to the grey import price of £2679

As it is I'm now wondering whether to spring for the 1DX or hold off until the 5D MKV

Mind you the touchscreen was great for whizzing through the menus etc.

The only other tick in the negative box for me was Canon doing their usual conservative speed rating with the SD Card like they have with most previous 5D models and not incorporating the fastest standard at release time.

You could also argue that they might have chosen USB-C but at least they incorporated USB3 this time around.

Decisions...decisions.

-=Glyn=-

 

[Gino]

I also wish the 5D MKIV had easier to view red autofocus points.

Could Canon give the 5D MKIV the same red autofocus points set-up as the 1DX MKII via a firmware update, or is this a hardware issue and there is no way to make changes to the 5D MKIV autofocus points?

thanks

 

[AlanF]

It's interesting how the absence of one minor feature, such as red focus points dancing around a screen, is enough to stop someone buying a camera. It clearly is a big deal for some.

 

[Sharlin]

I also wish the 5D MKIV had easier to view red autofocus points.

Could Canon give the 5D MKIV the same red autofocus points set-up as the 1DX MKII via a firmware update, or is this a hardware issue and there is no way to make changes to the 5D MKIV autofocus points?

thanks

It is strictly a hardware thing. The 1DX2 has some fancy additional optics in the viewfinder just to be able to overlay the red dots into the viewfinder image.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

It's interesting how the absence of one minor feature, such as red focus points dancing around a screen, is enough to stop someone buying a camera. It clearly is a big deal for some.

Its not a problem except in low light, many don't use their camera that way, apparently including Canon engineers.

 

[AlanF]

I had the 1D4 and loved the illuminated points so much that that was an influence on me choosing the 1DX2 over the 5D4. How important it really is, is a personal thing.

Jack

We both do a lot of bird photography, and the lack of illumination doesn't seem to affect my use. I tend to use single point focus for sitting targets, and multi-points for BIF are against the sky, where the black squares stand out anyway.

Alan

 

[Jack Douglas]

I also wish the 5D MKIV had easier to view red autofocus points.

Could Canon give the 5D MKIV the same red autofocus points set-up as the 1DX MKII via a firmware update, or is this a hardware issue and there is no way to make changes to the 5D MKIV autofocus points?

thanks

It is strictly a hardware thing. The 1DX2 has some fancy additional optics in the viewfinder just to be able to overlay the red dots into the viewfinder image.

........ and imagine this, Neuro predicted it wouldn't/couldn't happen! Had me worried for a while.

Alan, if you'd had a 1D4 or earlier with this feature you might have fallen in love with it. Not saying it is all that important, just something you hate to give up - I'm betting a huge number of 1DX users expressed this to Canon.

Jack

 

[privatebydesign]

I also wish the 5D MKIV had easier to view red autofocus points.

Could Canon give the 5D MKIV the same red autofocus points set-up as the 1DX MKII via a firmware update, or is this a hardware issue and there is no way to make changes to the 5D MKIV autofocus points?

thanks

It is strictly a hardware thing. The 1DX2 has some fancy additional optics in the viewfinder just to be able to overlay the red dots into the viewfinder image.

........ and imagine this, Neuro predicted it wouldn't/couldn't happen! Had me worried for a while.

Alan, if you'd had a 1D4 or earlier with this feature you might have fallen in love with it. Not saying it is all that important, just something you hate to give up - I'm betting a huge number of 1DX users expressed this to Canon.

Jack

I remember that point by Neuro, Jack. I think he meant it couldn't be done with the transmissive screen as we have it, so no chance of firmware fixes or reintroduction without different hardware. The 1DX MkII has additional hardware, and drawings of the new arrangement were made available at launch.

The red line is the focus point illumination optical path, all well above the focusing screen.

 

[Jack Douglas]

I just followed that photo tour of the L glass plant and was blown away. I think my lenses are a bargain! Probably not much different for the camera bodies too. I am spoiled for sure.

Jack

 

[AlanF]

Jack
When do you find the red lighting useful?

 

[Jack Douglas]

Jack
When do you find the red lighting useful?

Always. It's like having a pointer identifying where the focus is going to be. Lived without it with the 6D and was fine but when I discovered it on the 1D4, it was ooh is this ever nice, especially with expansion mode.

Jack

 

[arbitrage]

I was a defender of the 5D3/1DX etc system especially with f/2.8 and narrower lenses outdoors. But using the 1DX2 I love the red points. Still I shoot the 5D4 and 1DX2 back to back and don't really notice until I switch back to the 1DX2 and think "oh yeah that is nicer". But it didn't stop me from buying the 5D4 and it doesn't stop me from using the 5D4 or my 1DX for that matter.

The one thing I don't do with the 1DX2 which I sometimes do with the 5D4 system is leave all 61 points showing in the VF, I find all the 61 red points showing is a little to distracting, showing all 61 black points is okay for me.

 

[Jopa]

In a bright light I never see those red dots. Really like the 5dsr because it has black ones. I think it would be nice if Canon offers a switch between two (like a day / night mode).

 

[Jaysheldon]

Jack Douglas wrote:

"Always. It's like having a pointer identifying where the focus is going to be. Lived without it with the 6D and was fine but when I discovered it on the 1D4, it was ooh is this ever nice, especially with expansion mode."

Jack, Not sure I understand your reference to the 6D. You can make the points light up/off with Custom Function II-8.

As for me, not having points light up would be a deal breaker on my next camera, which, ideally, will be the 6D Mk II.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Jack Douglas wrote:

"Always. It's like having a pointer identifying where the focus is going to be. Lived without it with the 6D and was fine but when I discovered it on the 1D4, it was ooh is this ever nice, especially with expansion mode."

Jack, Not sure I understand your reference to the 6D. You can make the points light up/off with Custom Function II-8.

As for me, not having points light up would be a deal breaker on my next camera, which, ideally, will be the 6D Mk II.

Unless my 6D malfunctions, all that gives me is a flash of red when my back button focus is achieved which is not much help when you're pointing but haven't yet focused. I tried reactivating shutter focus and it changed nothing.

With the 1DX2 the active AF point is constantly lit red when you activate metering and if you prefer you can have all of them lit all the time, which tends to be a little distracting relative to your subject. With full auto you can see which focus points it's shifting to constantly in front of your eyes, same with expansion mode. Check one out and you'll be impressed.

I'd say it's next to certain the 6D2 won't have this feature likely due to it's adding extra complexity. Never the less, I'm still interested in possibly getting one if it has better AF and F8 focus. I have really enjoyed the 6D.

Jack

 

[Jaysheldon]

Jack. I understand now. It would be an advantage to always have the selected square lit.