Reading mode: Light Dark

5D Mk III AF Case Setting, Tweaks Required

Go to last post
R

riknash

Veteran Member
Messages
6,874
Reaction score
5,453
Location
CA
In this situation, an owl is leaving it's perch and flying directly towards us before leveling out and flying directly overhead. This type seems to simply drop off the perch and catches the air in its outstretched wings. Likely this is a perfected silent stealth technique to catch its prey off-guard. Accurately predicting the timing of when the drop will occur along with the flight path is the challenge since there is no external stimulus but rather a whole lot of patience by the photographers waiting for the event to happen. The problem is that the tracking isn't 100% perfect even with a center AF point and adjacent points set to assist. The focus tracking seems to always be a bit behind the face of the bird. Without upgrading all the equipment and the photographer, what settings can you suggest that would help improve the AF tracking?

Equipment Used:

Canon 5D Mk III and Canon 500mm f/4 IS USM (Not the Mk II). The 5D Mk III was set to use Case 6 (no tweaks from default) with AI-Servo.




Barred Owl Buzzing the Photographers
 

Attachments

  • 2687282.jpg
    2687282.jpg
    92.2 KB · Views: 0
Maybe this article will help, if you've not seen it: Custom Cases for Canon 5DIII

I'm pretty new to the 5DIII myself, but tried the recommended settings and had some success with birds flying against background trees and buildings. But more practice and experimentation needed. :)



Mike
 
mikero said:
mikero wrote:

Maybe this article will help, if you've not seen it: Custom Cases for Canon 5DIII

I'm pretty new to the 5DIII myself, but tried the recommended settings and had some success with birds flying against background trees and buildings. But more practice and experimentation needed. :)

Mike
Click to expand...
Thanks! I will have a read through that again. I do wonder how much of the commentary is really only achieved with the combined effects of using all of the newest hardware where statements like " ...the 1D X is like a 5D III on steroids. The higher voltage battery drives AF faster and the 12 fps that stays mighty close to that in AI Servo AF...", make me wonder.
 
riknash said:
riknash wrote:
riknash said:
mikero wrote:

Maybe this article will help, if you've not seen it: Custom Cases for Canon 5DIII

I'm pretty new to the 5DIII myself, but tried the recommended settings and had some success with birds flying against background trees and buildings. But more practice and experimentation needed. :)

Mike
Click to expand...
Thanks! I will have a read through that again. I do wonder how much of the commentary is really only achieved with the combined effects of using all of the newest hardware where statements like " ...the 1D X is like a 5D III on steroids. The higher voltage battery drives AF faster and the 12 fps that stays mighty close to that in AI Servo AF...", make me wonder.
Click to expand...
If I was seeing some back focus on approaching flyers, I think I would stop down the lens while trying to fine tune the AF system. I have that lens, not that it matters. I also have a 1DX not that that matters. It does exactly what your 5DMkIII does on occasion. Focus doesn't update quick enough during short tracking scenarios. I will have to give art's suggestion a try, and see if it makes any difference. That 800f/5.6 probably makes quite a difference in AF accuracy given the magnification delta between it and the 500f/4.

Your owl shot doesn't look bad at all. Just sharpen the eyes more, and it will look about like most of the shots Art has in that article. That is not sarcasm, it's what I think about those web size shots.
 
riknash said:
riknash wrote:

... The problem is that the tracking isn't 100% perfect even with a center AF point and adjacent points set to assist. The focus tracking seems to always be a bit behind the face of the bird. Without upgrading all the equipment and the photographer, what settings can you suggest that would help improve the AF tracking?

Equipment Used:

Canon 5D Mk III and Canon 500mm f/4 IS USM (Not the Mk II). The 5D Mk III was set to use Case 6 (no tweaks from default) with AI-Servo.
Click to expand...
That's an impressive shot! Congratulations on the shot, and having the patience to wait for the event.

I have the 500 F/4L IS and normally use it on a 1D Mk IV without problems, but did have problems using a "big white" on my 5D some years ago. The temporary drop in battery volts as the lens drew what it needed froze the 5D, but all was OK again, after removing and inserting the battery, as soon as a normal lens was attached, so I concluded that battery volts and size of battery can matter. (Perhaps my battery contacts weren't perfectly clean.)

In your case, if owls regularly drop from their perch in your direction, could you try adjusting the AF MA forwards (on a temporary basis) to a negative setting? Me? I've only shot owls well into the dusk, and flying across my view.
 
I've read that using the 5DIII with a battery pack helps here. The two batteries can generate bigger bursts of power to drive the AF system. Seems plausible.



I've also heard the battery pack may improve the frame rate, though I'm skeptical about that one.



Mike
 
I think your picture is fine, maybe a little more tweak in the post?

I had similar dilemma when I first started with 5D3. After some experimentation I started this thread.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3213926

My examples are different than yours, they are against clear background, it is much easier that way. But you can try my settings. I haven't changed my settings since that thread.
 
Interesting, and thanks for posting. You are suggesting -2, 1, 2. Art Morris (see link in my first reply) suggests -2, 2, 2.



Within the limits of experimental error, you're effectively proposing the same, which is great to hear.



Mike
 
mikero said:
mikero wrote:

I've read that using the 5DIII with a battery pack helps here. The two batteries can generate bigger bursts of power to drive the AF system. Seems plausible.

I've also heard the battery pack may improve the frame rate, though I'm skeptical about that one.

Mike
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure the manual also states that if battery power drops below 1/3 then fps drops slightly. I've not put it to the test though.
 
riknash said:
riknash wrote:

Without upgrading all the equipment and the photographer, what settings....
Click to expand...

Hilarious way to focus responses.
 
Thinking about this a little more, if higher battery power drives the autofocus more quickly, then it will take less time to achive focus, and if the AI Priority is set to 'focus' then you should get a slightly faster frame rate. I think.



Mike
 
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