Shot wedding with 5DIII, dissapointed in AF

[shizam1]

Enough on this topic for me

I was just giving people a heads up with my experience. The AF might perform better in other lighting situations, but for me, trying to use it last night at a dark wedding reception, it did no better than the 5DII, and potentially took even longer to achieve focus.

 

[Tim Larsen]

I had a similar experience that in low-light using the point expansion made the AF sluggish.

I turned off the point expansion and the AF was stellar in low light. I found that with point expansion turned off, the outer cross-type sensors on the Mark III were just as fast and accurate as the center point on my Mark II. This is with an 85 1.8 and 35 1.4.

The light level was about 1/120, f2.0, iso 6400.

I'm finding that changing the setting of AF on the Mark III can drastically change the performance in different situations.

My AF settings now are limiting the selectable points to 15 point, direct multi control selection method, single point. These settings give me tremendous results in most situations. WAY better than the Mark II.

My other favorite features are pushing the "SET" button and the finger dial to adjust ISO directly in the viewfinder and the "M" button to change the AF from single point to fine point when I'm making portraits at a slower pace.

 

[shizam1]

I had a similar experience that in low-light using the point expansion made the AF sluggish.

I turned off the point expansion and the AF was stellar in low light. I found that with point expansion turned off, the outer cross-type sensors on the Mark III were just as fast and accurate as the center point on my Mark II. This is with an 85 1.8 and 35 1.4.

The light level was about 1/120, f2.0, iso 6400.

I'm finding that changing the setting of AF on the Mark III can drastically change the performance in different situations.

My AF settings now are limiting the selectable points to 15 point, direct multi control selection method, single point. These settings give me tremendous results in most situations. WAY better than the Mark II.

My other favorite features are pushing the "SET" button and the finger dial to adjust ISO directly in the viewfinder and the "M" button to change the AF from single point to fine point when I'm making portraits at a slower pace.

Thanks for the helpful info, I appreciate it! I'm dissapointed in Canon and the literature then... I will be trying this out tonight in my house when it gets dark

 

[Axilrod]

Man if those are the results you got you really need to play with the settings. I shot all weekend and was blown away by how many shots were in focus, it was like I couldn't miss. And this was shooting fast moving subjects on AI Servo. I just use Spot AF, all the expansion and auto selection is unchecked. But seriously, I don't think I'll ever be able to use my Mark II again it sucks so bad compared to the III, so it must be your settings. I use the same lenses as you do for the most part.

 

[JR]

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the 5Diii has focusing issues when used with the older speedlites 580exii and older, and only functioned correctly with new 600ex-rt , anyone else recall reading this and where? Hope it's not true.

I was thinking that too since i had mixed result with the 580ii and my mkiii, however i was told the only issue was that the older flash do not see all 61 points (only 45 like in the previous 1 series). So using only the center point should not impact the flash performance - in theory!!!

 

[rlarsen]

Both of my cameras are impressive, and work very well. I've decided to spent more time with them and learn a lot about the feature options before using them for work. I'm using other cameras for the time being for assignments.
When the 1-DMKlV came out, a lot of people had issues until they learned more about the complex AF.

A friend of mine, an experienced AP photo bureau photo chief in a big city, had issues with his Mark lV until he learned the optimal setup for AF. His results then became consistently excellent.

Rudy Winston, a good guy and tech expert from Canon, has an online series describing the new 5D / 1DX AF system.

 

[Daniel Flather]

With my 580's light my 5D3 can focus in total darkness, but I only ever use spot AF.

 

[PhilDrinkwater]

I'm honestly surprised to hear this. I even find my 5d2 doesn't struggle like you're suggesting and I shoot some very low light venues (ISO3200, 160th, f1.6).

What I may find is that the 5d2 doesn't achieve CRITICAL focus, but it's only a tiny bit out and it hardly ever hunts and is pretty quick.

Hope you get it sorted.

 

[shizam1]

Rudy Winston, a good guy and tech expert from Canon, has an online series describing the new 5D / 1DX AF system.

It is a good article. But nowhere does it say to stick to "single point AF" if you want fast AF. So unfortunately it's one of those things people need to learn and then share that knowledge. I wish it had been documented, because I would have used it last night and would have gotten more keepers from the reception.

 

[mrmarks]

Rudy Winston, a good guy and tech expert from Canon, has an online series describing the new 5D / 1DX AF system.

The links to Rudy's articles can be found here http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/dlc/search/search.spr?keyword=Rudy%20Winston&filterBy=Article

 

[Daniel Flather]

My other favorite features are pushing the "SET" button and the finger dial to adjust ISO directly in the viewfinder...

What? I can't seem to achieve this, explain. Are you truing the quick control dial, or the main dial?

 

[shizam1]

I'm honestly surprised to hear this. I even find my 5d2 doesn't struggle like you're suggesting and I shoot some very low light venues (ISO3200, 160th, f1.6).

What I may find is that the 5d2 doesn't achieve CRITICAL focus, but it's only a tiny bit out and it hardly ever hunts and is pretty quick.

Hope you get it sorted.

Yeah, I've shot lot's of low light stuff before, and maybe this was more challenging/darker than I recollect... Hopefully I can squeeze better AF performance out of the 5DIII by going back to single spot AF like I used to do with the 5DII

 

[rlarsen]

Single point without expansion will be fine as long as that point is directed at something with a little texture.
I'm curious to learn, how with the NEW system, expansion choices etc. effect AF speed.

I recall having trouble with my older cameras shooting night football. If the sensor was on a jersery between the number and the waist band, the solid color was a bitch to track. Often I would sacrifice composition to place the sensor on texture and contrast. The new 1-DX will also track color and faces.......for an extra $3500

Good idea to learn the stick-shift before leaving the driveway ( for me anyway )

 

[april]

Rudy Winston, a good guy and tech expert from Canon, has an online series describing the new 5D / 1DX AF system.

It is a good article. But nowhere does it say to stick to "single point AF" if you want fast AF. So unfortunately it's one of those things people need to learn and then share that knowledge. I wish it had been documented, because I would have used it last night and would have gotten more keepers from the reception.

if we had to use single point AF for the camera to focus properly to achieve a sharp image, then what's the point of putting 61 pt. AF when it will be useless other than a maketing strategy. As far as I understood, those points when selected will be the basis of the camera to focus on regardless of other settings. What's the point of having zones or expansion points if focus cannot be achieved? Does this mean we will need to use the 61 points individually?

 

[rlarsen]

This was helpful to me, and I will use some of the suggestions.
http://www.atrero.com/articles/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-af-settings/

 

[pdirestajr]

The original poster mentioned the focus was on "one shot" doesn't that mean if the subject moved at all (or the photographer), the focus point would be off- since it doesn't sound like it was in servo? Especially at wide open apertures where DOF is super shallow.

I only have a 7D, but I find I nail focus on 90% of my shots when I have it in servo as opposed to one shot. Unless it is a still photo obviously.

And also 1/60 shutter speed is a little on the slower side for moving people no? Seems like natural motion could create blur here.

I've never shot a wedding or used a 5D, so this is just me guessing based on my experience with AF and what the OP initially said.

 

[PhilDrinkwater]

The original poster mentioned the focus was on "one shot" doesn't that mean if the subject moved at all (or the photographer), the focus point would be off- since it doesn't sound like it was in servo? Especially at wide open apertures where DOF is super shallow.

I only have a 7D, but I find I nail focus on 90% of my shots when I have it in servo as opposed to one shot. Unless it is a still photo obviously.

And also 1/60 shutter speed is a little on the slower side for moving people no? Seems like natural motion could create blur here.

I've never shot a wedding or used a 5D, so this is just me guessing based on my experience with AF and what the OP initially said.

You shouldn't be shooting in servo unless the subject is moving - it won't actually LOCK focus at any point.

I certainly would never do this and speaking to Canon they also don't recommend it.

The ideal situation would be to place an AF point over the persons eye and use one shot...

 

[shizam1]

if we had to use single point AF for the camera to focus properly to achieve a sharp image, then what's the point of putting 61 pt. AF when it will be useless other than a maketing strategy. As far as I understood, those points when selected will be the basis of the camera to focus on regardless of other settings. What's the point of having zones or expansion points if focus cannot be achieved? Does this mean we will need to use the 61 points individually?

Well, more points could help you to avoid "focus and recompose". The problem with the 5DII focus points, is there weren't many and they were all clustered around the center of the VF. And more focus points could help with bright situations when using AI Servo with moving targets. It just depends on what you are shooting, and what AF mode you need to be in. For weddings, I normally use "one shot" drive mode, and might only switch to "AI-Servo" when bride is walking down aisle and that sort of thing.

 

[Bosman]

One thing i'd like to know is this, in dark situations is having outter points on hindering the speed. Although i havent shot a reception as of yet and havent tested this out i prob wouldn't use the focus assist points in low light. From my testing my 5dm3 is a monster in dark lit areas and locks on focus pretty nicely. I can only expect it would be the same in any situation. What F stop were you using it lloks like all your lenses are low light monsters. You may need to look into calibrating it to your body. My 50 F1.2 focussed pretty dang well outta the box but i spent a lot of time and got my testing device out and decided to go with +5 for it. At f1.2 its pretty difficult to calibrate since the 85 1.2 and the 50 1.2 are difficult beasts to work with but when you get the shot forget about any other lens.

 

[Bosman]

Man if those are the results you got you really need to play with the settings. I shot all weekend and was blown away by how many shots were in focus, it was like I couldn't miss. And this was shooting fast moving subjects on AI Servo. I just use Spot AF, all the expansion and auto selection is unchecked. But seriously, I don't think I'll ever be able to use my Mark II again it sucks so bad compared to the III, so it must be your settings. I use the same lenses as you do for the most part.

Spot af in servo, i am surprised that wasn't a problem. Im pretty sure i read in the manual that moving subjects are best to not be using spot af point on because it is such a refined focus. Its def cool if it still worked but maybe they mean more like runners or sports its not a good setting and maybe with weddings people aren't moving too fast so its not a problem then...Cool to know though.
KEY INFO BELOW:
Also as a side note I can say without any doubt in my mind this is absolutely true in using fast primes, shooting in servo is a bad bad idea no matter what camera. I have tested it out on both my 1dm3, my 5d and now my 5dm3 and talk about a lens hunting, it was constantly moving in and out. Flip it to single shot and BAM it locks on focus. Literally if people knew this fact alone while working with fast primes, their keeper rate would be transformed!