5D performance in low light

Hi all,

Would like to ask about 5D performance in low light. Heard some not-so-good comments about it and would like to clarify before i purchase my 5D.

And for 5D, can i use my 580EX AF without firing the flash?

Thanks!

http81,
Welcome to the forum
In performance do you mean AF? or exposure?

Yes you can use your 580ex AF assist beam without firing the flash, its done by selecting C.fn-07 in the camera menu custom functions.

With my 5D I've taken shots in dark churches which have been quite amazing. The 1600 ISO is superb. I've also got IS lenses though. This allows slower shutter speeds. The combination of the two factors makes for great pictures. I don't notice the noise at all hardly.

Hi, i am refering to the AF speed.

Thanks for your quick response. It certainly made me want to make the jump even faster.

John_B wrote in post #3329439
http81,
Welcome to the forum
In performance do you mean AF? or exposure?

Yes you can use your 580ex AF assist beam without firing the flash, its done by selecting C.fn-07 in the camera menu custom functions.

http81,
Go for it, its a great camera
For AF, well its superior to my 10D if that helps. Having a faster (larger aperture lens) will also have some influence.

eh, i am not too sure of how good the AF in 10D is, but i will assume its good.

I'm using 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200. Got a few primes too.

Most prob will head down to my local store tomorrow to get the 5D. Just pray the replacement doesnt come out so soon!

John_B wrote in post #3329460
http81,
Go for it, its a great camera
For AF, well its superior to my 10D if that helps. Having a faster (larger aperture lens) will also have some influence.

I will make this statement from experience. I have the 10D, 20D, 5D. The 20D is a remarkable improvement for IQ and quick AF than my 10D. The AF in dim light was so much better, I stopped using my 10D all together. Then the 5D came out and I wanted to try it in low light because I shoot concerts. I was amazed again how wonderful the improvement was. Very little noise with 1600 ISO. I also have to add that the lens does matter. If you have anything smaller than f2.8, the camera isn't going to like it much. The lens does matter no matter which camera you use.

5D will hunt in low light, forget about using non-center focusing spot ...using automatic (closest subject ) helps a bit ...very low light on my 24-70 works so so ...AF wise ...but the whole rest is stellar

SuzyView wrote in post #3329517
I will make this statement from experience. I have the 10D, 20D, 5D. The 20D is a remarkable improvement for IQ and quick AF than my 10D. The AF in dim light was so much better, I stopped using my 10D all together. Then the 5D came out and I wanted to try it in low light because I shoot concerts. I was amazed again how wonderful the improvement was. Very little noise with 1600 ISO. I also have to add that the lens does matter. If you have anything smaller than f2.8, the camera isn't going to like it much. The lens does matter no matter which camera you use.

You mean like my EF 24-105L and 100-400L?

Low light autofocus is problematic in all cameras. The 5D is no worse than and any other consumer camera, and is slightly better than the 20D/30D.

Mark

if i want for normal print, and in low light, does the picture quality from 5D comes out to be better than 30D and 400D?

http81 wrote in post #3334140
if i want for normal print, and in low light, does the picture quality from 5D comes out to be better than 30D and 400D?

Larger sensor with more MPs and better ISO performance.....what do you think? Sometimes Measurebating does work

davesrose wrote in post #3334156
Larger sensor with more MPs and better ISO performance.....what do you think? Sometimes Measurebating does work

I agree.

lately i had shooting at ceremony in church. i took flash along but after couple shots with it i put it back to sack. at iso1600 and f4,5 images came out fine.

In single-shot AF with the center point, it's as good as (if not slightly better) than the 1D II bodies. The 5D's AF has a working EV range that extends to -1 EV, whereas the 1DII's stop at 0 EV.

Servo tracking is a different story, and that's where the 1's pull ahead. As for using off-center points - of course they'll hunt, they aren't cross-type sensors. The ONLY camera with x-type AF sensors that aren't clumped in the center is the 1D Mk. III.

The 5D's AF is great in low light. I have no problems, especially with fast primes (i.e. 35L, 85L, 85 1.8)