5d2 focus issue?

I've had my 5d2 for about a week now. I use centre point focus. Sometimes it just doesn't want to focus. And sometimes the centre point doesn't even light up. This has happened a handful of times, usually in low light, but not extreme low light. Is there a problem with my af system or is the 5d2 af system just poor?

The 5d2 is not a low light camera. Your center point won't light up if your camera can't focus on it.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

Saint728 wrote in post #12583574
The 5d2 is not a low light camera. Your center point won't light up if your camera can't focus on it.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

The 5D2 has the best low-light sensor in the Canon lineup. Unfortunately it has a seriously sub-par autofocus system as a whole... But your problem is unusual, for the the 5D2 centerpoint is actually quite good. Are you placing the AF point on an area of no contrast (such as a solid color shirt)?

No. The couple of times it has happened it was at my son, at his face / head. Always in low light tho.

What would have the exposure settings been. I am trying to get an idea what "low light" means to you. Which lens ?

My 5DII can focus in light so low, with a f2.8 lens or faster, there is little chance you would get a sharp image from camera and/or subject movement.

Focusing on a tight crop on a cheek or similar is about the worst conditions you can get for an AF system to focus on. No contrast, like focusing on a blank piece of paper.

Focus on an entire eye (with eyebrows) oe something like that.

supernova74 wrote in post #12583715
No. The couple of times it has happened it was at my son, at his face / head. Always in low light tho.

It sounds like the sensor/AF system may not perceiving sufficient contrast to get a focus lock. This will happen with many cameras in low light conditions with little or no scene contrast. Is it possible that you were too close to the subject - that is, outside of the focusing range of the lens?

I agree with the others - The 5D series has an excellent center point AF point. Now, the side points in really low light...........well, that's another issue....