-= Canon EOS R owners unite! Post photos and discuss.

mccamli wrote in post #18778618
Nicely done Dennis.

I'm interested to know what the camera was like in that situation. I've seen so much about the slow FPS and poor tracking but on the contrary side, much has been said about its quick autofocus.

I've just been gifted a 100-400 Mk II and am considering dumping both my 7D ii, 6D and original Tamron 150-60mm for the R, primarily for the focus accuracy. I really don't want to invest any more funds in my camera gear but this would give me enough to trade.

I do like taking pictures of birds in flight and things like dragonflies but I think I am willing to trade that for in focus shots of stationary/slow moving subject (like my family)...I get so frustrated by the inaccuracies of my current setup, I do have a nasty habit of shooting closer to wide open most of the time.

It'd be nice to have a one fits all camera. I had a terrible experience with an a7r and no way I'm ever going that direction again...

Although I am getting some reasonably good shots of subjects such as Dragonfly's in flight (another couple attached) using the EOS R, I am still getting used to handling the camera compared to the 5D Mk III that I traded it for, as well as the 7D Mk II that I still have.

In my hands, I felt that the 5D Mk III (and 5D Mk IV) and 7D Mk II were more like scientific instruments in that once you had them set up and operated them correctly for the subject matter, you generally got very good results.

With the EOS R, I am getting some wonderful results but the camera does occasionally stutter where the 5D/7D would likely get the shot, most of the time. An example is that sometimes, the AF does not lock onto a static Dragonfly on a bunch of reeds whereas I cannot recollect the same type of issue with the 5D/7D. This might well be a SW/HW issue and could be fixed in a future Firmware upgrade?

But, having the almost full frame to select for AF points, the rich customisation along with the quick change-setting capability (e.g. M-Fn Bar, Touch & Drag Focus, Control Ring, etc.) and the amazing viewfinder, I am getting keepers which I likely would have missed with the 5D/7D. I have a feeling that I am being more successful with the EOS R and 100-400mm Mk II at lowish shutter speeds than I was with the DSLRs, but this might just be a personal quirk rather than some property of the combination, but I am happy to take the benefits.

As I have become more familiar with the EOS R I have become a more competent user and the controls "disappear" in that they become part of muscle memory and you don't have to think. I am careful with what I customise to keep it simple and relevant otherwise it is easy too go to far and forget what Functions you have allocated to which Button, etc.

Right now, if I had to go out and shoot Birds in Flight or Bees in Flight and had to promise some results, I would likely pack the 5D Mk IV or 7D Mk II as they have been dependable workhorses (high FPS, etc.) and I have a few years practice under my belt with them. However, if I only had the EOS R, I feel that I could make it work and maybe after a few months I would feel as comfortable with it as I would the 5D/7D.

What I can say, is that for some reason as yet unknow to me, I am having more fun and enjoyment with the EOS R that I had with my 5D/7D when I purchased those.

Cheers

Dennis

Further to my comments above, here is an example of an AF stutter from today. Canon DPP shows the single, centre AF point over the bird's eye (where I placed it) yet the bird is OOF with the foliage in focus.

I think the 5D/7D may have nailed this shot?

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks Dennis,

I do worry a little about the lack of a 'spot' focus, letting the camera decide which part of the scene in the box should be sharp...in your case, possibly the grass in the top right corner?

I find the AF on the 7Dii to be generally good, especially with moving subjects but I'd always shoot a burst to increase the chance of getting a nailed focus. It's still shots that give me most dramas, the 7Dii never feels completely locked in and seems to rock backwards and forwards slightly so I'm never confident in it.

I'd love to have one system rather than the two I currently have. The 7Dii is my preferred camera but for landscapes seascapes and astroscapes I prefer the 6D due to the lenses available. However, I really dislike having to use the two different layouts.

It's great to hear that so many people here are enjoying using this new camera despite it's restricted specifications

I could not get my R to focus on this subject. Tried a few times aiming at different parts. Finally I MF'd then hit AF and it locked on.
Failed attempts it was racking back and forth full extent of AF travel. (I do have 'Lens drive when AF impossible' enabled.)

Choderboy wrote in post #18778662
I could not get my R to focus on this subject. Tried a few times aiming at different parts. Finally I MF'd then hit AF and it locked on.
Failed attempts it was racking back and forth full extent of AF travel. (I do have 'Lens drive when AF impossible' enabled.)

Hosted photo: posted by Choderboy in
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forum: Canon Digital Cameras

Using the 100-400LII at just a few feet the focus plain is very thin.. and I can see leaves that look in focus... well as best a guy can with what is offered.

This is a normal condition we've seen over and over.. I recommend you just get to know the camera just a little bit... This is exactly what I was talking about back a couple pages... Its as different to use as the 7DII was back in the day with everyone snapping at stuff and wondering just what they have missed.

Its true the centre AF point is way to large for us 7DII to 1DxII guys. I think its 143 points for centre AF point on the camera. For me thats way to many.. I'm not sure what one shot small is... less I would assume. I'm use to moving a very small point over my intended target but this camera is not exactly like that. But rest assured it is a good focuser on about everything you can point it at.

To me this point is super big as well, but there is no doubt this camera can focus very well and is more consistent in my hands than the 7DII was shot to shot.

But it is way different to shoot.. That is for certain.

It would be nice to shoot something in nicer light but this is what I got right now.

Just as an example.....In focus I would say the tip of his nose to his eye and the tip of his tail... the rest is out of sharp focus.

A 7 inch round flower is gona be tough to use as an example...

DOF I understand.
It just would not focus, at all. Lens would rack back and forth but never even paused on the subject.
The only way I got it to get any focus at all was to manually focus first. Then it would pick different parts.

smythie wrote in post #18778346
From what I've read I think you'll be a bit disappointed in the original 400DO. The 100-400 mkII seems to be just about as good as the DO II

At f/5.6, maybe they are close in sharpness, but the DO II goes down to f/4 and is pretty much diffraction-limited there, making it sharper and more tele-convertable.

A larger aperture does have some usefulness. It always allows shallower DOF, and it can make the difference in AF and noise in very low light.

Being able to zoom out and focus at 3.5 feet, however, may be more valuable to many people.

Choderboy wrote in post #18778683
DOF I understand.
It just would not focus, at all. Lens would rack back and forth but never even paused on the subject.
The only way I got it to get any focus at all was to manually focus first. Then it would pick different parts.

The one thing I have found with all my cameras is the contacts can and are a problem at times. I take an eraser to them from time to time.. I did it to the adapter in the R as well.

Pondrader wrote in post #18778680
Just as an example.....In focus I would say the tip of his nose to his eye and the tip of his tail... the rest is out of sharp focus.

A 7 inch round flower is gona be tough to use as an example...

Hosted photo: posted by Pondrader in
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Again. I understand DOF.
I posted the pic to show the subject that I was unable to Autofocus on.
Inability to achieve focus was the point.

Pondrader wrote in post #18778697
The one thing I have found with all my cameras is the contacts can and are a problem at times. I take an eraser to them from time to time.. I did it to the adapter in the R as well.

Rack back and forth is what I described. ie, the lens was trying to focus.

Simple problem. Not contacts. Not DOF.
Inability to achieve focus. Despite the lens elements travelling from minimum to infinity and back, repeatedly, focus was not achieved.

Exactly what would happen if I hit AF button in total darkness.

I hear ya Dave... Theres always a reason... just a bit impossible to explain it from our end.

I am not looking for an explanation.
I was posting my experience. (Thread title Post photos and discuss)

Look everyone, I was unable to AF on this subject. And here is the subject so you can get an idea.

I have the User Manual on my Kindle so I will be RTFMing the next few days.
If anyone can help in the meantime that would be good.

Regarding lens IS always on. Today I noticed the 100-400 II IS spinning continually. My first attempt trying to stop that failed - I switched to Mode 3 IS which "only activates during exposure". That description is out dated now I think (ie it was a pre mirrorless description)

I found that if I closed the flippy screen, the IS activates for approx 5 seconds if I hit the AF-ON button. (press momentarily, not hold)

I'd like to have the IS behave like above when I have the flippy screen open, ie screen facing me.