Setup AF for 1DX

[charlesa]

Hi
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[/size]Anyone has experience on how to set up AF for low light performing arts events such as dance shows? Used to perform like a beauty coupled with the 400 f/2.8 II or the 70-200 f/2.8 L II, but lately it has taken quite a drop in the amount of in focus shots I got, unsure whether it is due to a firmware upgrade. For sure my AF skills have remained the same, if not improved, after shooting around 50 shows in 3 years...

 

[FEBS]

There is a very good explanation for the 1Dx for the AF system. Very detailed. Based on Version 2 of the firmware in which several modifications were done for AF improvement.

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/nl/files/product/cameras/eos-1d_x/AF%20guide_EOS-1DX_V2_eng.pdf

 

[Dylan777]

I'm not sure if this is related: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024809120b7

 

[charlesa]

I'm not sure if this is related: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024809120b7

Unfortunately related yes, after my 1DX was sorted for this issue, I noticed quite a drop in AF performance. Camera checked again, but they state they cannot elucidate any issues with the AF. Then again, they did not try to shoot a dancer in extreme low light at 1/400...

 

[brianftpc]

My 1Dx has the same issue in a similiar lighting situation. i was in a church doing graduation pictures and my 70-200mkII would not take a single picture because I set AF priority to focus. NOT 1 PICTURE. I put my 24-70mkII on my and my ability to lock focus and take a picture was much better. This is quite ridiculous. I sent the 1Dx in for the repair of the defect from the link above. Got it back and still it doesnt like focusing.

 

[BL]

Are you using an AF case best suited for your subject matter?

If dancers are coming in and out of your subjects field of view, have you tried case 2?

AF case 2 has become my default instead of case 1 as of late.

 

[charlesa]

Case 2 is usually my default, tried case 5 and 6 since those are appropriate too, seeing dancers move erratically with stops and goes. No luck.

 

[brianftpc]

are there multiple dancers on the stage wearing very similiar clothing. I may be wrong but I thought I read when you lock focus it uses some kind of recognition tracking my taking 100k pixels from the area of focus and using that to compare what it thinks you want in focus before it fires the shutter. Like at a basketball game and at least 4 other people have a jersey thats the exact same color. Ive seen it get confused and grab focus on another player then find focus on the subject i wanted when Im just holding the shutter button down. I also found it better just to use the center AF point

 

[charlesa]

Camera back from CPS with the following repair report:

PCB assy replaced, FP screen, focus EC-CIV, general check and clean and full functional check carried out.