The EOS-1D X & f/8

[Canon Rumors]

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<strong>Clarification</strong>

<a href="http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/">Arthur Morris</a> has posted the reply he received from Chuck Westfall in regards to the f/8 issue with new Canon EOS-1D X.</p>
<blockquote><p>“AF is unavailable on the EOS-1D X if the maximum aperture reported to the camera through the electronic lens mount is smaller than f/5.6. This is a lower specification than previous EOS-1 series DSLRs. On the plus side, consider the fact that with most f/4 lenses including the 400 DO, 500/4L IS and IS II, and 600/4L IS and IS II, you now have 41 cross-type AF points plus color and face detection, whereas you had no cross-type points and no color or face detection during AF with previous EOS-1 series DSLRs using the same lenses, not to mention a significantly wider AF coverage area from left to right.”</p></blockquote>
<p>via [<a href="http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/cameras/Canon_1Dx.html">NL</a>] & [<a href="http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/90630-Canon-EOS-1D-X-Digital-Camera-Body-Details?p=731924&viewfull=1#post731924">BPN</a>]

 </p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[Loswr]

Great. Canon can have 3M produce little Canon-branded, residue-free pieces of tape, sized to cover the three contacts on the TC. With a brand label, they can charge about $5 each, for a tidy profit.

 

[1982chris911]

Well, looks like many Birders/Wildlife Guys will stay with the MK IV, if they need 1000mm or 1200mm for their subjects. I really don't know if it was the best decision of Canon to skip the f8 center AF point with the new 1D X. After all Wildlife/Bird Photographers are surely a larger portion of the customers of such equipment.

 

[DavidRiesenberg]

Ouch. It does seem that Canon somewhat ignored the wildlife photographers with the X. First the sensor without enough MPs to compensate the loss of the crop factor and now the exclusion of the TC friendly AF.
I wonder if the face detection works on animals and birds. ???

 

[wockawocka]

This may soon be addressed if the 7D2 is APS-H and the 1D4 is still available.

 

[jacobpays]

Could the problem possibly be addressed by the DO TC's that have been patented and mentioned on this site?

 

[nikkito]

we should wait until the 1D X mk II

 

[John Thomas]

Generally, according to my kind of shoots, I like the specialisation of the machine. I think that leaving out the F/8 points will be payed back in terms of speed and accuracy of the AF engine.

Can anyone confirm this? Or perhaps there are other reasons to leave out the F/8 point(s)?

 

[cbphoto]

I look at the Canon lens line-up and the only problem I see is when an extender is used. No Canon lens has a maximum aperture smaller than f5.6. Last century, I bought the 1.4x and 2x FD extenders and found the rendered IQ was lousy with all the recommended lenses. I used them only when absolutely needed, and never with pleasure. Although the EF extenders are supposedly better, I wouldn't use them; they're still a stopgap tool to be used when nothing else will work.

Besides, I can always march 5 miles out on the tundra with this or this. ;D

Instead of extenders, why not utilize an APS-C sensor camera? The 800mm f5.6 lens becomes a 1280mm f5.6 lens with zero loss in IQ.

 

[Justin]

The MTF charts of the new super teles paired with the version III 2x and 1.4x extenders generally show little to no image degradation.

Also, although I understand your point about gaining more reach with an APS-C, it's just not true that using a 1.6x focal multiplier sensor equates to zero loss of IQ when compared to a 35mm full frame or aps-H sensor.

I look at the Canon lens line-up and the only problem I see is when an extender is used. No Canon lens has a maximum aperture smaller than f5.6. Last century, I bought the 1.4x and 2x FD extenders and found the rendered IQ was lousy with all the recommended lenses. I used them only when absolutely needed, and never with pleasure. Although the EF extenders are supposedly better, I wouldn't use them; they're still a stopgap tool to be used when nothing else will work.

Besides, I can always march 5 miles out on the tundra with this or this. ;D

Instead of extenders, why not utilize an APS-C sensor camera? The 800mm f5.6 lens becomes a 1280mm f5.6 lens with zero loss in IQ.

 

[cbphoto]

The MTF charts of the new super teles paired with the version III 2x and 1.4x extenders generally show little to no image degradation.

I include the loss of 1 or 2 stops of light a degradation of image. If there's in increase in ISO to maintain a fast shutter speed, then there's image degradation.

Shooting action at f8? No thanks.

Also, although I understand your point about gaining more reach with an APS-C, it's just not true that using a 1.6x focal multiplier sensor equates to zero loss of IQ when compared to a 35mm full frame or aps-H sensor.

The optics are identical in both cases. And no f8 action work! w00t! 8)

 

[Loswr]

The optics are identical, the sensors are not. FF sensors deliver higher total resolution and better noise performance.

Many times when shooting with long lenses, narrower apertures are needed to get the entire subject in focus. Just sayin'.

 

[UncleFester]

Probably marketing at play.

Not a do-it-all camera, but buy two cameras that will do it all. Sort of like the 5DII/7D scenario.

 

[aznstuart]

Pardon my ignorance, but why won't there be an autofocus past f/8? I currently have a 60D, if I set the aperature at F/11 to take a lanscape picture with my Canon f/2.8 17-55mm, will it also not have autofocus?

 

[UncleFester]

Shooting action at f8? No thanks.

What about panning sports @1/30 sec? Bright daylight iso 100 f/8 sometimes will not work.

 

[AprilForever]

Chuck's answer seems like a cop-out to me... Many are the times before I got my 300 2.8 I wished that my 300 f4 would autofocus with the TC 2x (and the taping trick never would work!).

The exchange Canon offered here (more AF points and what-not) just doesn't seem to cut it...

 

[lol]

Pardon my ignorance, but why won't there be an autofocus past f/8? I currently have a 60D, if I set the aperature at F/11 to take a lanscape picture with my Canon f/2.8 17-55mm, will it also not have autofocus?

The AF works with the lens wide open. For about everything other than current 1D bodies, that requires the lens to be f/5.6 or faster. Third party lenses push that to f/6.3... when you set a smaller aperture, that only takes effect when you take the shot. The focus is done wide open (f/2.8 or whatever).

 

[Stu_bert]

I would be very surprised if by the end of 2012 there is not another Canon body which can AF at f/8 - it was one of the decisions for me skipping the 5D MK II and getting a 2nd-hand 1Ds MK III...

Out of interest, has anyone seen a comparison between a TC 2x and Genuine Fractals?

Over at Deep Green Photography there's a simple comparison on an existing 500mm f/4 IS between the MK II and MK III TCs. The 2x looks good, especially at f/11, but of course it depends on your preference...

 

[Loswr]

Many are the times before I got my 300 2.8 I wished that my 300 f4 would autofocus with the TC 2x

You're not alone. Last year, on top of a mountain in New Hampshire, I ran into Lillian Stokes (who's pictures fill a popular birding guide), and she mentioned that although she has a very nice 500mm f/4L IS, most of her shooting on her 1D IV is done with a 300mm f/4L IS and a 2X TC, because the combo gets her close to 800mm-equivalent, has AF, and is light enough to carry on hikes up to mountaintops.

 

[Lee Jay]

Shooting action at f8? No thanks.

I shoot VERY high speed action (200+mph model aircraft) at f/9 all the time. It's a perfectly practical thing to do in direct sunlight.

This R/C plane was going over 200mph, and this was shot at f/9, ISO 400 and 1/2000th.

http://photos.imageevent.com/sipphoto/aircraft/aamairshow2011/20D44665.jpg