7D Mark II - Focus Discussions

Same as Teamspeed here.

I thought the whole point of BBF is to separate focusing from metering and shutter operation. If you retain focus on the shutter button, that kinda defeats the whole point, IMO.

TeleFragger wrote in post #18306725
what I have learned is these pro shooters go into the menu and remove the following ...
leaving ONLY
Manual selection:1pt AF, Expand AF Area, Manual Select:Zone AF

... what I have learned is that the ones removed are ALL going to lock onto subject and will be focused on the closest to the camera. It was said this is good for say if a car is facing you and you want the grill sharp but for sports or birds it wont work well.

Yes, after viewing a Canon document about 7DII autofocus yesterday, I arrived that a conclusion quickly. http://downloads.canon​.com …_AF_guide_CUSA_​9-2014.pdf

When I read the description of the Zone focus settings, "the camera will always focus on the nearest subject, or part of a subject, within the zone", that immediately made me dismiss any consideration of the Zone focus modes for all but flying birds in the blue sky. (After all, just how often is your subject literally 'the nearest object' within a zone vs. how often there is something a bit closer?! The camera cannot 'know' what your subject is in a viewfinder full of crowd, Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, and Cowboys clustered around the coach specifying tactics during a time out.)
Even when the pole vaulter is outlined against the sky and is the only thing in the frame, if you are closer to his feet as he sails over the bar, his feet are the closest part of him, not the bar and not his body arching over.

digital paradise wrote in post #18306767
Between 2 bodies in for over $5000. I paid for the one shot beep and I want to hear it Actually the reason I used both was due to weddings and events. It was just too tiring to look through the viewfinder for 8 hours and try to see if my subject was in focus. One shot provides focus confirmation.

I find that the 'AF' appearing at the lower right can be readily noticed even while concentating my attention on a centered AF zone (and when I have not noticed the green dot), for one-shot....SILENT, no beep.
But I think that during AI Servo continuous tracking of the in-focus (vs. out of focus) subject being indicated with a beep would be useful to have AUDIBLE alert of in-focus status.
So my preference would be if a Menu choice permitted that to be set up, rather than always-silent vs. always-chirping!
(Maybe I am to much the product of some military training...'beeeeep' (locked on target!)...FIRE.)

Wilt wrote in post #18306927
When I read the description of the Zone focus settings, "the camera will always focus on the nearest subject, or part of a subject, within the zone", that immediately made me dismiss any consideration of the Zone focus modes for all but flying birds in the blue sky. (After all, just how often is your subject literally 'the nearest object' within a zone vs. how often there is something a bit closer?!

And IMO, that's precisely the place where zone AF is so effective. It gives you the latitude to simply get some portion of the bird within this large frame and the camera does the rest.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18306945
And IMO, that's precisely the place where zone AF is so effective. It gives you the latitude to simply get some portion of the bird within this large frame and the camera does the rest.

I do not disagree. But then again, a few moments ago I added the comment about the pole vaulter sailing over the crossbar.

Wilt wrote in post #18306951
I do not disagree. But then again, a few moments ago I added the comment about the pole vaulter sailing over the crossbar.

With things that are relatively close by, I think there is that danger of getting the wrong part of the object in focus, but with smaller birds that are farther away, I think the difference in best focus between a wingtip and the head might be of less consequence.

"the camera will always focus on the nearest subject, or part of a subject, within the zone" ... There are so many " if's " in that statement it should not be taken to heart. I think your car should beep but your camera should remain silent at all times. Like mirrorless guys with the shutter sound lol really lol I only wish I could turn off the little speaker

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18306918
Same as Teamspeed here.

I thought the whole point of BBF is to separate focusing from metering and shutter operation. If you retain focus on the shutter button, that kinda defeats the whole point, IMO.

I would bet in the heat of the moment DP has that shutter half pressed the entire time and the BBF is of no consequence. its burned into him and theres not getting it out. Short of that its like bumping the BB to require the target.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18306955
With things that are relatively close by, I think there is that danger of getting the wrong part of the object in focus, but with smaller birds that are farther away, I think the difference in best focus between a wingtip and the head might be of less consequence.

The reason why most of us go to centre point in any configuration when the pressure is on. If theres to much subject in the view finder anything goes and then your focus is not where you want it. If your to far back and the higher contrast is the sign on the building... well there ya go. If your focus is pre focused closer to the sign than the people the sign has it. I shoot absolutely everything in spot most of the time. even out to 100's of feet. and the same apply's but I have more control.

So wheres the benefit in the 7DII... The metering and the speed and the AF systems that get the focus on target. I expect the camera to be in focus I don't check the little light. Although you can see the focus right through the view finder if your looking right through the camera at the subject your shooting.

It is the best option. I just use everything else just for something else to do. I'm not under pressure to produce for a client. I find it fun to see what it can do and it helps me learn about what everything is doing. You never know what you may need down the road. Just like cropping. I pushed my 7D classic as hard as I could to learn what it could handle. I really enjoy pushing limits of all the stuff they give me.

This 7D classic will never go on the wall but in a pinch it could save the day.

I hear ya DP, I shoot for myself and have never offered much for sale. But we shoot so much it feels like a job...

I think this is as good as one could expect handheld with a 400mm at that distance.

How many of you guy's expect focus to be achieved and how many check focus as you shoot using the green dot ?? And can you see the focus plain say on a face or animal as you shoot ?? looking through the viewfinder.

Pondrader wrote in post #18307076
How many of you guy's expect focus to be achieved and how many check focus as you shoot using the green dot ?? And can you see the focus plain say on a face or animal as you shoot ?? looking through the viewfinder.

I frankly don't need the beep at all, and rarely even look for the green acquisition light when I'm in One Shot. Whether I'm using the shutter button for focus, or using BBF, I can't fire it unless I achieved focus anyway so the only purpose the light serves for me is to tell me through it's absence that focus has not been achieved when I try to press the shutter. And even then it's often a result of hunting for a low contrast subject in low light and I can hear and feel the AF struggling.

Pondrader wrote in post #18307076
How many of you guy's expect focus to be achieved and how many check focus as you shoot using the green dot ?? And can you see the focus plain say on a face or animal as you shoot ?? looking through the viewfinder.

Sort of an answer that may not be an answer.
I need glasses but can't use the VF while wearing them. I have adjusted the diopter setting to be able to read the info in the VF but it is unlikely that it is fine tuned to the point that I can determine how well the camera did regarding focusing.

So: I expect/hope the camera will focus correctly; I sometimes pay attention to the green dot. I mostly can't tell how accurate focus really was until the shots are brought up on my computer.

Rod

Guy i work with said for $30 he replaced the eye piece and a -3 i think it was worked for him. He can shoot without his glasses on now. It focuses. I know the adjuster has like 1 click left for me b4 my eyes r too off for the view finder....