61 vs. 45 AF Points

So yesterday I had a chance to read Canon's lovely 48-page PDF on how to use all the AF widgets on the 1Dx...

Apparently the new 61-point system clusters the individual points much tighter than the previous 45-point system for "increased accuracy and speed" in moving subjects (or so I gather).

Does this trouble anyone else? I don't shoot moving stuff as much as I do things that stand still - usually with fast lenses wide open. I've always manually selected a single AF point closest to my subject to avoid additional focus-and-recompose error.

This new system seems less... Useful for that.

I'm not even going to get into the fact that AF controls span several menu pages now, let alone need a 48-page book to understand. Holy moly!

400+ page manual, too!

You don't have to use all the points. You can set the camera to only use the cross type (41 of them, if memory serves). Or you can configure in other ways, to use even fewer or even use only a single point if you wish.

I see you have a 1V, I still have a couple EOS-3 with the same 45-point AF system... which you also can set to use fewer points (11 or 13, if memory serves.... and even can link them to spot metering, which I found very useful and cool). The 61--point system is similar to that in a lot of ways.

Better get used to it... I imagine all the newer higher end Canon models will have it or perhaps a somewhat scaled down version (the 7D's 19-point system is like using only the cross-type points fromo the 45-point system).

I don't have 5DIII yet, but it's AF is sort of like one of my 7Ds' AF on steroids. The active matrix/transmissive LCD focus screen takes some getting used to. Generally speaking, it reconfigures itself to only show the AF points you are using, so the viewfinder is actually clearer and more open. On the other hand, some of the cues you used to get... such as a single point lighting up momentarily to show what you selected or to confirm AF lock... are gone. It takes a little getting used to.

One tip, I think it's best at first to use these really complicated and fancy AF system pretty simply, perhaps set it up much the way you did your old camera. Then experiment with each of the other functions a little at a time to learn what they can do. Ultimately, I think most of us find a "default" mode that works for us and use that most of the time, only venture into some of the other possible configurations when they make sense for a special situation.

I set it to use 41 x points. I also choose my own focus point too just that there are more to choose from and more likely at the place where I want it to be. I haven't done any head to head test with the 1d3 focus but from normal shooting the 5d3 is good, really really good, especially locking at low light.

The new AF really makes some lenses alive!

Actually it's more useful in the new config. The focus points were too far apart in previous versions to get good tracking on subjects in a lot of outdoor sports. Here's another real good resource that goes into the new AF system in depth: http://www.the-digital-picture.com …I-DSLR-Camera-Review.aspx
Until reading this, I did not know there was now a separate AF CPU chip separate from the Digic5x.

bsmotril wrote in post #14266401
Actually it's more useful in the new config. The focus points were too far apart in previous versions to get good tracking on subjects in a lot of outdoor sports. Here's another real good resource that goes into the new AF system in depth: http://www.the-digital-picture.com …I-DSLR-Camera-Review.aspx
Until reading this, I did not know there was now a separate AF CPU chip separate from the Digic5x.

I totally agree. Much easier than the previous versions. It is quite intuitive actually. A 10 year old could figure it out in about 3 minutes. I know, I have seen one do it.

Double Negative wrote in post #14253608
Does this trouble anyone else? I don't shoot moving stuff as much as I do things that stand still - usually with fast lenses wide open. I've always manually selected a single AF point closest to my subject to avoid additional focus-and-recompose error.

Thats why there are 6 cases you can choose from and tweak for your purposes.

Its really not that complicated. And Canon did the rigth thing putting all AF related settings in the same place. I find the new af system much easier to use than the one in 1D3. In fact the first time I tried shooting a bird in fligth with 5D3 I got keepers. That was not the case the first time I tried the same with 1D3. 1D3 takes a lot more tweaking of settings to get the same results. At least thats my opinon.

It doesn't trouble me that I will have more keepers and it is now easier to set up the AF system for my purposes. Doesn't trouble me a bit.

also only use just the cross-types, but the AF is amazingly good (how can i even compare against previous gen 5d's); even on my slight misses off the mark the subject is still clear, AI Servo rocks.

OP...all the above posts are on the right track, from my short experience with the 5D3. The main thing is that it works...REALLY works. And by keeping it simple...not trying to learn the whole thing at once...it becomes quite intuitive and you learn new bits as you go.

As a side issue, I still see some posts on various threads casting doubts on the camera...mostly from people who haven't actually used it, or not much anyway... whereas there are a growing number of USERS of the camera who, like me, loved most of the tings about the 5D2 except the AF system, who have already become totally enthusiastic about the Mk3. It ain't perfect, but then, neither am I, and it's letting me get more keepers when the action happens.

AcuraFan wrote in post #14271197
also only use just the cross-types, but the AF is amazingly good (how can i even compare against previous gen 5d's); even on my slight misses off the mark the subject is still clear, AI Servo rocks.

I just wish I had more than nine measly Rebel AF points

bsmotril wrote in post #14266401
Until reading this, I did not know there was now a separate AF CPU chip separate from the Digic5x.

There was a dedicated AF processor already in the 1D Mark III, 1Ds Mark III, 7D and 1D Mark IV. So that's no news.

The new thing is the sensor, the interaction between AF sensor and exposure meter (1D X only) and the setup strategy.