5dmk3 AI servo low light tests

KarlGB77 wrote in post #14786692
You start with whatever point you want and then it tracks.
Doesn't track in any other mode than all 61 points.

Is that everyone's experience?

Zivnuska wrote in post #14786793
Is that everyone's experience?

That's not my experience with it... But it is the only one that lets you select the starting point.

I don't think so. AI servo always start with your chosen point. The surrounding points only when target moves away from starting point. Otherwise it is worthless IMHO. Also having to use all 61 points makes no sense. I never ever used 45 points on my 1dmk2. There I would use center point with assist points as center was the best point.

look at my first run, Top AF point with surrounding 4 points. No problem. Same with run 2, everything looks quite good except one shot. In portrAit mode it didn't do well.

Bobby

Hold on and let me find it in the book and it was also confirmed in one of the 5D3 reviews in the review thread.
I actually posted about it so maybe I'll start there.

It was one of those Ahh Haaaahhh moments.
Let me search my posts.

It will track in center left or right zone but will not let you pick the starting point and won't track outside of that zone.
It will track in 61 point zone and it let's you pick the starting point...

OK, found it....

This is what I posted in a thread 4 weeks or so back.

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Very soon I will have my PHD in Canon's 5D III AF system.
As a matter of fact, I just heard something very cool about AI servo from this review that I was kind of surprised to learn last night.

I read in Doug Klostermann's online book for the 5D III last night that you DO need to have the AF Selection in 61 point Automatic and only then will the AI Servo use ALL the 61 points as it tracks across the frame.
I was wondering about that.
Back in early may when I shot some BIF pic's I wasn't sure what to use.
I thought maybe Zone was the way to go.
Nice to hear that the results are great.

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The thread link and article is here.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1200993

Here is what this guy says in his review that Doug Klostermann confirmed in his book.

"Auto-Focus & Metering

The auto-focus on the 1D X has increased focus points over the 1D Mark IV, jumping from 45 points to 61 in the 1D X. The new auto-focus is almost the same as the 5D Mark III, which received a huge auto-focus upgrade compared to the nine point system in the 5D Mark II. Both the 1D X and 5D Mark III are 61-Point High Density Reticular auto-focus systems, with 41 cross-type AF points, but the major difference is that the 1D X has iTR, or Intelligent Tracking and Recognition, which the 5D Mark III doesn’t have.

Although the 1D X uses dual DIGIC 5+ image processors to process and pump those 12 frames per second through to the CF card, it uses a DIGIC 4 processor to power the EOS ISA (Intelligent Subject Analysis) which is a 100,000 pixel RGB Metering System. This is used to aid the AF system with Automatic Point Selection which improves the tracking system when using AI Servo. What this means is that basically, when you lock on to a subject in AI Servo mode, the camera uses the color information of your subject to track it across the frame, switching to other focus points as necessary. I was hoping that this would provide a magic bullet for some challenging situations, but that doesn’t appear to be the case, as we’ll see shortly.

Note that in AI Servo mode it’s not obvious at first, but for you to enable the camera to use all 61 focus points to track your subject away from the manually selected focus point that you use to obtain your initial focus, you have to select the 61 point automatic selection AF (bottom right in this diagram)."

I will quote what Doug said as well.

The AF in my 5d2 sucked, so I ended up missing quite a few shots until I got used to what I needed to do compensate in different situations.

The AF in my 5d3 is afreakinmazing, so I'm missing quite a few shots because I'm learning how to use it in different situations

bobbyz wrote in post #14785429
Last one is OOF as I think he is too close to me and lens can't focus.

Focus of the last one is on his hands/handlebars.

DimeRazorback wrote in post #14787240
Focus of the last one is on his hands/handlebars.

good point so I am within mdf of the lens. Could be he just stopped and af was thinking movement. Or maybe some mess up on my part.

KarlGB77 wrote in post #14786692
You start with whatever point you want and then it tracks.
Doesn't track in any other mode than all 61 points.

That is inaccurate. Watch the videos on canons digital learning site for a good explanation of the different modes. Yes you need to have all points available to track using them all, but point switching works with the expanded and zone options as well. The case settings are applicable if af is in ai servo and using all points, zone, or one of the expanded options.

I need to read more but as far I know or my understanding of canon AI servo. You select AF point, either single or sorrounding. Then you acquire target and track. Once tracking starts surrounding points whether 4, 8, all just help as you track. Now in my case os shooting high schol sports I have been mainly using center AF and no issues. Sometimes I shoot in portrait mode and no problems either. Never enabled 45 points, only sorrounding points. Tracking works.

I am assuming 5dmk3 is same just better points and tracking. Will do some more tests.

If you read the review to the link I posted, it says you need to have all 61 points enabled and then you select a starting point.
As opposed to say single point in expansion or zone.

As I was wondering about this and having Doug Klostermann's book, (which I hadn't read completely), I saw the review that I posted the link to.

This is the rest of what Martin Bailey said below what I posted.

Is he wrong?

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"This is somewhat counter intuitive but although it’s called 61 point automatic selection auto focus, in AI Servo mode you still have the ability to move a focus single point around, and that is used to gain your initial focus. If you conversely select Single-point Spot AF, Single-point AF or one of the AF point expansion modes the camera will only use the points or groups of AF points selected, and even in AI Servo mode it will not shift to the other focus points if the subject moves away from the selected points or you recompose the image."

http://blog.martinbail​eyphotography.com …-1d-x-digital-slr-review/

And then this...

"So, put simply to use AI Servo and have the camera track your subject around the frame, select 61-point automatic selection AF and focus with the center focus point, or move that focus point anywhere you like, and then half press the shutter button or use the back focus button to focus, and as long as you hold down the focus button, you can recompose shot or your subject can move and as long as they stay within the 61 focus point area, the camera will automatically track your subject around the frame."

KarlGB77 wrote in post #14787372
This is the rest of what Martin Bailey said below what I posted.

Is he wrong?

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"This is somewhat counter intuitive but although it’s called 61 point automatic selection auto focus, in AI Servo mode you still have the ability to move a focus single point around, and that is used to gain your initial focus. If you conversely select Single-point Spot AF, Single-point AF or one of the AF point expansion modes the camera will only use the points or groups of AF points selected, and even in AI Servo mode it will not shift to the other focus points if the subject moves away from the selected points or you recompose the image."

http://blog.martinbail​eyphotography.com …-1d-x-digital-slr-review/

No that's exactly how it works

KarlGB77 wrote in post #14787372
If you read the review to the link I posted, it says you need to have all 61 points enabled and then you select a starting point.
As opposed to say single point in expansion or zone.

As I was wondering about this and having Doug Klostermann's book, (which I hadn't read completely), I saw the review that I posted the link to.

This is the rest of what Martin Bailey said below what I posted.

Is he wrong?

---------------

"This is somewhat counter intuitive but although it’s called 61 point automatic selection auto focus, in AI Servo mode you still have the ability to move a focus single point around, and that is used to gain your initial focus. If you conversely select Single-point Spot AF, Single-point AF or one of the AF point expansion modes the camera will only use the points or groups of AF points selected, and even in AI Servo mode it will not shift to the other focus points if the subject moves away from the selected points or you recompose the image."

http://blog.martinbail​eyphotography.com …-1d-x-digital-slr-review/

If the book states tracking does not work unless you are in all 61 point mode then yes he is absolutely wrong. For example if you are in expanded + 8 and start tracking a bird against a blue sky and the center af point gets off the bird, one of the neighboring assist points will acquire and continue to track. If the center point and the assist points get off the bird then focus will be lost. It will only use those nine points to track the subject. This is no different from the 7d and 1d4. Zone and expanded modes just limit the number of points used for tracking / point switching.

http://learn.usa.canon​.com …d_markiii_tutor​ials.shtml.