jerryg Loc: NE Pa

I have a 5D MkII and would like to know what does "slow focus" mean with re: to the 5D MkII.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

It all depends on the lens.
It also depends on the available light and contrast.
I'm not aware of any reason outside of processor speed why a 5d mkII would be much different from a 5D MkIII if both were using the same lens.
To me, slow is when I have to wait to press the shutter. Period. If everything else is right, the autofocus is usually faster than you can compose.

Coolcameragirl Loc: Bradenton, FL

I don't know. I also have a Mark II5D. Have you experienced slow focus problems, or just heard about it? I've had my camera over 2 years and haven't had a problem.

jerryg Loc: NE Pa

coolcameragirl Just seem to read about it on UHH. Have not experienced it and was wondering what they all mean. Only have my MkII about 2 months.

Coolcameragirl Loc: Bradenton, FL

Well, I think you're going to love it and hopefully no slow focus problems.

jerryg Loc: NE Pa

coolgirl Thanks and I'm sure I will

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

JG,

Slow focus is a relative term. Autofocus speed depends on the subject. Whne shooting landsca[es or portraits, the 5D MKII is plenty fast enough. When phographing moving subjects such as sports, the 5D MKII' focus usually seems to be playing catch-up. The 5D's claim to fame is it's full frame sensor/pixel count, low light capability and low noise.

Cameras such as the EOS 7D with its faster processors and sensor/pixel count make it a much better choice for fast action.

I have both. For pure image quality, I'll use the 5D MKII. For speed, I use the 7D.

PD

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I have both cameras. The 5dm3 seems to focus faster.

jerryg Loc: NE Pa

photodog - I also have the 7D and don't shoot sports so I don't really find the 5D focuses slow. Not sure what they all mean except if it relates to having to take multiple shots at a very rapid rate. Thanks

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

JG,

I've found that when using the 5D MKII during action events, the focus points are "juggling" the subject. If you get lucky, you get the shot. If you're tracking accurately and the camera isn't, your subject may be out of focus whereas some other area of the composition may be in focus depending on where you were looking when your finger was on the shutter at half-press (or Back Button Focus) just prior to shooting.

The beauty of the 7D is that it has so many customizable focus settings, you almost have to work at getting a moving subject out-of-focus. Not so with the 5D MK II. It's easy to focus on a subject, have it move unexpectedly and end up with a blurry shot.

PD

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I've shot thousands of sport pictures with my 5dm2 and haven't experienced your problems.
What lens are you using. Is autofocus on? Are you using IS? What distances are you shooting the subject? Are you using multiple frames per second.

Since the 7D has more focus points, I can understand the flexibility. The 5dm3 has 64. I've learned to customize both on the fly. I've been doing that for a few weeks. However, I still use manual focus in many situations because the camera's computer still can't make human decisions.

But using the same lens, you haven't had any problem with the 7D? Interesting. I just never have seen that problem with the 5dm2.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Jer,

I often use the 24-70mm f2.8L which doesn't have IS. On the 7D I'm using the AI Servo mode along with Manual Focus Point Expansion & usually manage to get the shot. With the same lens on the 5dm2 in AI Servo, sometimes I get the shot, sometimes I don't.

PD

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Ok, probably it's the additional focus points. The 7D and 5dm3 are far more forgiving because they have so many focal points.
I have the 24-70 with IS. However, IS has serious limitations but I think it may have compensated for the lace of focus points. However, on many photos I still use manual focus, even on the 5dm3. Not as often, however. I've been practicing moving the focus points on the fly. But like I said, the focus points on the 7d and 5d3 are much better and gives you more options.

On the IS issue, which I'm rethinking. At a long distance, IS doesn't work well. I was shooting a high school championship game for a local newspaper. I was on the 3d base side. The play was at 1st with a player advancing from 2nd to 3d. With a 300mm IS lens, handheld, the image was fuzzy. The reason, as it turns out, is because the IS can't reconcile an image of a fast moving object. It tries. It takes the most current images and tries to create one. But there is too much movement. I tried it at a track meet a few days later, thinking it was an IS and lowlight issue. Nope. Bright Arizona day but too much movement. Took off the IS and with the same 1/300 sec shutter speed, it came out tack sharp.

Anyway, thanks for the response. Learning the limits of these new high tech cameras is a constant learning curve.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Jer,

I'm with you. The more I see, the more I find that IS has it's uses but it's not a panacea. For instance, on a tripod with long exposures (moon shots, etc), it's actually detrimental because it causes the lens focus to jump around too much. Hand held shots at high ISO and reletively small apertures, it's a God send. I guess you just have to experiment & find out when to leave it on and when to turn it off.

PD