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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Fastest Autofocus response - with accuracy (Canon)
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 06/05/2007 12:24:16 AM · #1
Hey, was just toying with some thoughts in my brain and I was wondering what you all would say is the fastest lens in your arsenal for ACCURATE autofocus.

Got a call to go shoot another kid performance and I don't want to end up with 80% of my shots ruined by poor autofocus performance like what happened last year with the 50mm f/1.8.

I will very likely be picking up the 50mm f/1.4 USM in the next week or so.

Shot a handful of shows lately and have been very impressed with the accuracy of the 80-200 f/2.8L and the Tamron 17-50 with 'knee-jerk' shooting which can end up making up as much as a quarter of the shots in a long show where the content is unknown and changes rapidly.

comments?
 06/05/2007 12:27:51 AM · #2
Anything L, 2.8, USM and you're good to go.

Message edited by author 2007-06-05 00:28:52.
 06/05/2007 12:28:29 AM · #3
Definitely my 70-210, but it's my only USM lens. It can search the entire range in a split second, but it generally jumps right to the correct focus with no hunting.
 06/05/2007 12:29:57 AM · #4
Originally posted by routerguy666:
Anything L, 2.8, USM and your good to go.


Ditto. 2.8 (and faster) is the key to Canon's fast/accurate focusing system. And USM will get you there in a hurry.

Some interesting information on Canon's focusing system here.
 06/05/2007 12:31:38 AM · #5
My fasted one would be My 85mm f/1.8 USM, then probably my "nifty fifty".
06/05/2007 01:17:50 AM · #6
yup. of course that link does not explain why an f/2.8 without USM - namely my Tamron focuses faster and more accurately than my old 50mm f/1.8.

of course, this is also why i don't own a lens slower than f/2.8.

love to hear your experiences about lenses in heavy use.

06/05/2007 01:38:33 AM · #7
my 24-70mm is soooo fast and NEVER miss focuses
 06/05/2007 02:48:47 AM · #8
cool. have a friend that has one of those.

here's a question for all, how often do you just push the button and let the camera do its thing?

I had not done this much until recently, but i am quite happy with the results since improving my lens collection.
 06/05/2007 06:45:45 AM · #9
My experience of the 24-70 is that 90%+ of my shots are in quickly in focus. I can understand why most Canon photo-reporters in NYC use this one. I let it do its thing. I'm sure on a 30D or a 5D it would be even more accurate (speaking from experience on the 350D). But I can't speak for the 35mm f/1.4 or the 24mm f/1.4 which I will rent soon. These might be interesting for indoors work.

Message edited by author 2007-06-05 06:52:10.
 06/05/2007 08:23:11 AM · #10
Thanks Pineapple dude! I've yet to get my hands on her 24-70, she's a bit possessive still ;). Her daddy bought her the 24-70 and a 30D for grad present. Lucky girl I say.

Anyhoo. It'd be interesting to see how those wide lenses do. I'm still trying to decide if I am going to try to shoot with the f/1.4 as it will be stopped down a fair bit comparatively... I really appreciate the Bokeh too. Didn't really appreciate how much I liked bokeh until I was forced to use f/2.8. Somehow it just isn't the same.

I am going to need to count faces as the same requirement is in place as last time... 2-3 images each of around 150 kids.

Would be really nice to shoot f/2 and have accuracy and sharpness, and not have to keep chimping to make sure that I actually got something usable.
 06/05/2007 08:58:47 AM · #11
Originally posted by eschelar:
yup. of course that link does not explain why an f/2.8 without USM - namely my Tamron focuses faster and more accurately than my old 50mm f/1.8.

of course, this is also why i don't own a lens slower than f/2.8.

love to hear your experiences about lenses in heavy use.


The 50 1.8 isn't USM and is a very slow focuser.
 06/05/2007 09:44:39 AM · #12
My 18-55 2.8 is lightning fast and almost always spot on. Little expensive though...
 06/05/2007 09:47:08 AM · #13
Originally posted by eschelar:
Thanks Pineapple dude! I've yet to get my hands on her 24-70, she's a bit possessive still ;). Her daddy bought her the 24-70 and a 30D for grad present. Lucky girl I say.

Anyhoo. It'd be interesting to see how those wide lenses do. I'm still trying to decide if I am going to try to shoot with the f/1.4 as it will be stopped down a fair bit comparatively... I really appreciate the Bokeh too. Didn't really appreciate how much I liked bokeh until I was forced to use f/2.8. Somehow it just isn't the same.

I am going to need to count faces as the same requirement is in place as last time... 2-3 images each of around 150 kids.

Would be really nice to shoot f/2 and have accuracy and sharpness, and not have to keep chimping to make sure that I actually got something usable.

30D and 24-70 as a grad present?! i have to work min. wage at Tim Hortons to buy my 20D, then for 3 months only live off noodles and frozen dinners to save up for my 24-70!
 06/05/2007 10:25:48 AM · #14
you need a better job...


06/05/2007 12:26:01 PM · #15
Originally posted by noisemaker:
i have to work min. wage at Tim Hortons to buy my 20D, then for 3 months only live off noodles and frozen dinners to save up for my 24-70!


Ah, but you'll appreciate it that much more... and take care of it that much better too.
 06/05/2007 12:33:05 PM · #16
Originally posted by ExcaliburVT:
My 18-55 2.8 is lightning fast and almost always spot on. Little expensive though...


You mean 17-55 2.8; and yes its magnificant! 18-55 is the kit lens. :)
 06/05/2007 04:52:52 PM · #17
Originally posted by soup:
you need a better job...

I have an awesome job now.
I work at London Drugs selling cameras. $10.64/hr
 06/05/2007 09:03:01 PM · #18
heh the work conundrum. not to worry, i reacted appropriately to her in your stead. took me nearly three years to save enough to go dslr. her one lens cost more than all three of mine... heh.

good to hear more lens experiences. keep em coming.



Message edited by author 2007-06-05 21:04:37.
 06/12/2007 12:32:06 PM · #19
just thought I would update this a bit...

Picked up the 50mm f/1.4 this evening and wow. Wow.

That is a serious mover for AF! my 30d locked on in just the briefest moment. It's maybe around 50% faster than the Tamron 17-50 (which is no slouch) and hit rate is easily better than 95%. The only time I was able to get it to miss focus was being just plain mean... low light with low contrast and no lines... aside from that though... Zambo, even in rather low light (ISO 200, f/1.8, 1/6s if you want to compare notes... i checked sharpness at ISO 1600 to shoot a bit faster). Tested with 100 frames all taken randomly around the room, but making sure that the lens was well out of the focal range (alternating from nearby to distant subjects) and simply pressing the shutter button with no thought to composition or giving the lens a moment to catch up.

Also tested 60 frames on a 300D with similar results in similar conditions.

Note that the 50mm f/1.4 also has full time MF override if I'm not mistaken, which pushes this up above the Tamron for versatility if you need that sort of thing.

Excellent indeed.

Message edited by author 2007-06-12 12:34:38.
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