Canon 50mm 1.4 focus issues

billythek wrote:

Ah! So you use AI servo. The story becomes more interesting.

AI servo is not great on the 5D2, but can work OK with the center point, especially if you are not trying to track something moving extremely fast, and you have good light.

Yes, I have heard that the 5D2 may have a few focus issues!

Back-button AF on the 5D2 is a little different than with the 5D3 that I'm using now, and I forget all the nuances of the menu settings on the 5D2. The video I pointed you to by Rudy Winston was done back in those days, though, so he should be able to cover the settings.

Anyway, you need to lock focus somehow if you recompose while using AI servo, otherwise the camera will just continue to focus using the AF point where you move it to. So maybe you can go into some details about how you go about doing that, since there are several possible ways.

I use the center point, I go half way the shutter and lock the focus with the AF-ON button, recompose and go all the way with the shutter button. I believe this is it. But sometimes I have doubts about if I should keep my finger on the AF-ON button until I press the shutter all the way, or if all I need is to click once on the AF-ON button to lock focus. I mean, my doubt is if I lose my finger on the AF-ON button after locking the focus, if the focus will still be locked or not.

Also, maybe you can give details on how you select the center point for focusing, and if you use AF point auto expansion.

I have no idea about this topic here "AF point auto expansion". The AF is selected manually with the center point. It is always there.

Any other relevant AF menu settings would be good to know, as well. What are CF III-3, CF III-7, CF IV-1, CF IV-2 set to? Do you have CF III-8 set to something other than disable?

CF III - 3: Multi-Controller direct

CF III - 7: Enable

CF IV - 2: Disable

CF III - 8: Disable

These are the functions that I think I need to learn more about. I have read about these in the past and have settled the camera for the settings I believed were the best, according to the several magazines I read on the 5D2.

But I'm all ears for more info and insight on these!

As I work as a wedding photographer as well, I just use the ONE-SHOT for static objects, like details on the decor, or just stills. Otherwise, as usually all my subjects are somehow moving, even if not running, nor anything, I believe that AI Servo works the best. I read a lot about not using ONE-SHOT on moving subjects, so... I use AI-SERVO.

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- Bill