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08/29/2012 12:32:41 PM · #1 |
Hi,
I've heard that the 5d mkii has difficulty focusing in low light. Would focusing at faster apertures such as 1.4 & 1.8 improve focus lock speed as opposed to focusing at f/2.8? Also! Would would the AF issue introduce back and front focus problems, at this shallow DOF?? |
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08/29/2012 01:01:58 PM · #2 |
| From my understanding, the 60d is superior in terms of focusing ability. So it may seem like a bit of a downgrade from where youre at now. |
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08/29/2012 01:07:19 PM · #3 |
| A faster aperture does usually help. But the camera will always focus at the fastest aperture that the lens supports. So If you have a 50mm 1.4 attached, it will always focus at 1.4 even if the camera has the lens stopped down to 2.8 |
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08/29/2012 01:14:50 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by bhuge:
A faster aperture does usually help. But the camera will always focus at the fastest aperture that the lens supports. So If you have a 50mm 1.4 attached, it will always focus at 1.4 even if the camera has the lens stopped down to 2.8 |
I'm not sure that's right, I think the focussing screen is also in play and as a consequence you get no improvement beyond f/2.8. I could be wrong and it might just relate to perceived brightness through the viewfinder - but I suspect the two are connected.
In terms of 5D MKII focussing speed; it's alright to a particular threshold level and then it hunts like crazy. If you make me think about it, I'd say that faster lenses (mechanically faster not optically faster) seem to work a bit better, though I might be imagining that. |
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08/29/2012 01:15:03 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Devinder:
From my understanding, the 60d is superior in terms of focusing ability. So it may seem like a bit of a downgrade from where youre at now. |
I must admit! I'm stunned at how accurate the 60d focuses in low light.
"it will always focus at 1.4 even if the camera has the lens stopped down to 2.8" hmmm I like that [: |
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08/29/2012 01:19:37 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by dmadden:
Originally posted by Devinder:
From my understanding, the 60d is superior in terms of focusing ability. So it may seem like a bit of a downgrade from where youre at now. |
I must admit! I'm stunned at how accurate the 60d focuses in low light.
"it will always focus at 1.4 even if the camera has the lens stopped down to 2.8" hmmm I like that [: |
You can verify that very easily, set your camera for F11, look through the viewfinder and hit the Depth of Field preview button on the front of the camera right next to the lense mount. Your viewfinder will get darker and you can actually see the DOF that will be captured. |
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08/29/2012 01:26:02 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Paul:
Originally posted by bhuge:
A faster aperture does usually help. But the camera will always focus at the fastest aperture that the lens supports. So If you have a 50mm 1.4 attached, it will always focus at 1.4 even if the camera has the lens stopped down to 2.8 |
I'm not sure that's right, I think the focussing screen is also in play and as a consequence you get no improvement beyond f/2.8. I could be wrong and it might just relate to perceived brightness through the viewfinder - but I suspect the two are connected.
In terms of 5D MKII focussing speed; it's alright to a particular threshold level and then it hunts like crazy. If you make me think about it, I'd say that faster lenses (mechanically faster not optically faster) seem to work a bit better, though I might be imagining that. |
Good point, the focus screen does usually have a minimum aperture. I have no idea what it would be on a 5D II, but 2.8 sounds about right. |
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08/29/2012 01:26:16 PM · #8 |
| If you can get a good deal on it, the mkiii is better still at tracking in the dark. |
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08/29/2012 01:34:31 PM · #9 |
I shoot a lot in dark clubs or recording studios with my 5ds and 1.4 sigma it's ok in dull but no chance on the dark obviously I use my 550ex on 1/128 aimed backwards to aid focussing.
Or go old school and manual focus, my old ae1 program 15mm and iso 1600 bw film were awesome in the dark :) |
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08/29/2012 03:29:40 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Giles_uk:
I shoot a lot in dark clubs or recording studios with my 5ds and 1.4 sigma it's ok in dull but no chance on the dark obviously I use my 550ex on 1/128 aimed backwards to aid focussing.
Or go old school and manual focus, my old ae1 program 15mm and iso 1600 bw film were awesome in the dark :) |
I could consider the off camera flash AF assist. Good idea. |
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08/29/2012 04:44:34 PM · #11 |
| Manual focus in low light, |
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