Macro Servo AF with the 7D

Has anyone got experience with this feature of the 7D? I jsut saw it described in a B&H video and I did know it existed. (The 7D manual does not say anything about this, afaics.) The feature supposedly kicks in at 1/3 of life size or closer when shooting with a Canon macro lens under AI Servo AF. It is meant to improve focus on objects moving back and forth (e.g. leaves in wind) during macro shooting. Has anyone tested this? Thanks.

try and get hold of Anders P, if does not know about it - it does not exist

I read about it quite a wile ago. Have tested it myself but didn't see much difference from my 40D to be sincere...

I've tried it too. I used the Canon EF-S 60 mm f/2.8 macro USM. But as said above, it's virtually impossible to tell if there's any difference when you are using the camera.

Supposedly, this feature should give up predictive Servo AF, i.e. the capability of tracking the speed of a moving target, so that the camera can pre-focus where it thinks the subject will be, when the picture is taken. Instead, the thus free computing power should instead be used to double the update rate of the focus, to better handle the small vibrations you usually suffer from, at close range. That's why it doesn't kick in until you go as close as a 1:3 reproduction ratio.

Thanks Anders. I found it rather strange that it does not say anything in the manual about this. How many other features are in there that do not appear in the manual?

This is something everyone with a 7D should know! I had mine for months before I learned about "macro servo AF" and it works great with the 7D and 100mm macro 2.8 USM lens.

By the way....this is on http://www.video.bhpho​tovideo.com/

If you search for "canon 7d" the find the series called "a balance of features and performance" at 12:00 of part 2 of 3 you will find Rudy Winston from Canon USA telling you about the feature.

I tried this feature out and there is no way I can tell one way or the other, but to me it looks like it does work. These shots were handheld w/IS on.

https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=12544884#po​st12544884