Reading mode: Light Dark

How does 5D2 AF compare to 40D or 50D?

Go to last post
JackM

JackM

Veteran Member
Messages
9,009
Solutions
1
Reaction score
2,784
Location
Portland, US
Better? Worse? Same? How about in servo?

Usual subjects would be my 7 and 4 year old kids. I have a 40D now, am considering selling it while it's still worth something to finally move up to FF. I have a 24-70L and 70-200/4LIS.
 
JackM said:
Better? Worse? Same? How about in servo?
Click to expand...
About the same.

However, the individual AF points cover a smaller area of the frame in the 5D2. I believe that this is the main reason that my success rate with the 5D2 and moving targets (birds in flight) in servo is slightly better than with all my crop cams (50D, 40D etc).
 
JackM said:
Better? Worse? Same? How about in servo?

Usual subjects would be my 7 and 4 year old kids. I have a 40D now, am considering selling it while it's still worth something to finally move up to FF. I have a 24-70L and 70-200/4LIS.
Click to expand...
with more distant sports players it seemed to AI Servo noticeably better

tentatively better when they are close too but didnt test it enough yet to say with any true certainty

seems to be a bit more precise in one shot too

not perfect though

seems to be about the same speed until the lighting gets bad and then a bit slower
 
bronxbombers said:
with more distant sports players it seemed to AI Servo noticeably better

tentatively better when they are close too but didnt test it enough yet to say with any true certainty

seems to be a bit more precise in one shot too

not perfect though

seems to be about the same speed until the lighting gets bad and then a bit slower
Click to expand...
Nice, sounds good. Man, you would have thought from all the hand-wringers around here that the 5D2 AF was bad . XXD AF is quite good, actually. Not 1D good, but good! So I'm glad to hear the 5D2 AF is at least as good and sometimes better!
 
mattr said:
JackM said:
Better? Worse? Same? How about in servo?
Click to expand...
About the same.

However, the individual AF points cover a smaller area of the frame in the 5D2. I believe that this is the main reason that my success rate with the 5D2 and moving targets (birds in flight) in servo is slightly better than with all my crop cams (50D, 40D etc).
Click to expand...
That's an interesting and encouraging point.

However would you say that when shooting portraits it makes more sense to focus-recompose using the central cross-type high precision sensor due to this? Or is it still better to choose an outer line-type sensor to reduce recomposing?
 
JackM said:
However would you say that when shooting portraits it makes more sense to focus-recompose using the central cross-type high precision sensor due to this? Or is it still better to choose an outer line-type sensor to reduce recomposing?
Click to expand...
I don't know because I focus-recompose and basically never use the outer points.

I use the center point only (with the assist points in servo). The outer points are not very far out in the 5D2 frame anyway. In my experience the center point in the 40D/50D is more easily thrown off from the target, perhaps because it measures phase contrast over a larger percentage of the frame. The 5D2 seems to do a better job for example tracking a bird in front of a busy background. I remember that Romy (liquidstone) also reported this and he actually thought the 5D2 compares very favorably to the 1-series cams for birds in flight.

For portraits from a tripod I use live view focusing which works like a charm and is incredibly useful for all my photography from a tripod.
 
JackM said:
Better? Worse? Same? How about in servo?

Usual subjects would be my 7 and 4 year old kids. I have a 40D now, am considering selling it while it's still worth something to finally move up to FF. I have a 24-70L and 70-200/4LIS.
Click to expand...
I have both (50D and 5DII) and do not notice a large difference in the preformance for the types of things that I shoot which is a little bit of everything (but not kids unfortunately). I find that both cameras produce good well focused images for me despite the balogna you ocasionaly see here.

The 5D II has the assist points around the CP which operate in the AI servo mode which might add some performance following little ones.

One thing you should be ready for is that the focus points on the 5DII are clustered more around the center than they are on the 50D/40D because of the larger sensor space. I think they use the same general focus point layout for both cameras which makes the FP seem clustered toward the center in the 5DII. Doesn't bother me though since I tend to be a focus and recompose guy anyway.
 
I have the original 5D wich is suposed to have the same Af as 5dII, i also have a 40D. My take, the 5D AF is more precise, nothing worlds apart but you can feel it. (center point).

I have seen people stating the same since the 5D was introduced regarding XXD cameras.
--
Nature and Landscape Photographer
http://www.pbase.com/jdf
 
JackM said:
mattr said:
JackM said:
Better? Worse? Same? How about in servo?
Click to expand...
About the same.

However, the individual AF points cover a smaller area of the frame in the 5D2. I believe that this is the main reason that my success rate with the 5D2 and moving targets (birds in flight) in servo is slightly better than with all my crop cams (50D, 40D etc).
Click to expand...
That's an interesting and encouraging point.

However would you say that when shooting portraits it makes more sense to focus-recompose using the central cross-type high precision sensor due to this? Or is it still better to choose an outer line-type sensor to reduce recomposing?
Click to expand...
do keep in mind that all the AF points are vastly farther away from the edges than on the APS-C cams
 
The 50D has a newer autofocus unit than the 5DmkII (apparently it was too large to go in the 5DII and keep it a reasonable size!!) which is apparently better.
Of course with the higher pixel density it needs to be...
 
I have a 40D and 5D MK II. I find the 5D MK II AF to be as good as the 40D and I use the outer points as well. I was a bit concerned about the smaller area they cover on the 5D II, but I actually find they work out great for portraits. I don't think you will be disapointed with the upgrade, especially since you already have FF glass. In fact, I find the difference from 40D to 5D II to be quite substantial when it comes to IQ.
 
Thanks, good to hear from a fellow 40D owner.

And thanks to everyone for the comments, sounds like I have nothing to worry about.
jrscls said:
I have a 40D and 5D MK II. I find the 5D MK II AF to be as good as the 40D and I use the outer points as well. I was a bit concerned about the smaller area they cover on the 5D II, but I actually find they work out great for portraits. I don't think you will be disapointed with the upgrade, especially since you already have FF glass. In fact, I find the difference from 40D to 5D II to be quite substantial when it comes to IQ.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top