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Canon 80D Liveview AF with USM Lenses

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MikePriz

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Posted a similar question in the Canon SLR lens category, but reposting here to be more to the point.

I'm planning on switching to Canon from Nikon soon, mostly because of the video AF capabilities. Understand that STM lenses are designed for smooth focusing - especially the 18-135 kit lens that comes with the 80D.

I'd rather use better glass - thinking of the 24-105L F4, but because its a USM, will I still get smooth focusing on the 80D, or will it be too jerky while it snaps to focus?
 
It will be just as good but, in quiet places, it will be noisy when shifting focus, even with an external mic. Also be aware that not all STM lenses are quiet. The EFS 24, EF 40 and EF 50 stm lenses emit a loud squealing noise.
 
... in your other posting of the same question that there is no lens that meets your requirements.

(LURKERS, he wants fixed maximum aperture, silent focus, low price, impressive red ring - although he does not quite phrase it that way)

Those of us who are happy with the 80D and the "kit" 18-135mm nano lens obviously have lower standards.

And those of us willing to place microphones properly so they do not pick up any sound from lenses whether zooming or focusing, are willing to do more work that the poster wishes to do.

PLUS - sound editing. I'm in the process of learning a lot more than I already know about sound editing. I think I'll find that a lot of lens noise can be edited out with Adobe Audition fairly easily. ("fairly easily is at yet undefined by me.)

BAK
 
MikePriz said:
Posted a similar question in the Canon SLR lens category, but reposting here to be more to the point.

I'm planning on switching to Canon from Nikon soon, mostly because of the video AF capabilities. Understand that STM lenses are designed for smooth focusing - especially the 18-135 kit lens that comes with the 80D.
Click to expand...
the 80D 18-135 kit lens is nano USM not STM
MikePriz said:
I'd rather use better glass - thinking of the 24-105L F4, but because its a USM, will I still get smooth focusing on the 80D,
Click to expand...
probably not
MikePriz said:
or will it be too jerky while it snaps to focus?
Click to expand...
The 18-135 nano USM is very fast focusing, silent and vibration free designed for video autofocus.
 
Brian, thanks for the recap.

Sounds like the OP has set some tough parameters. I agree that the 18-135 IS USM is slow at the long end (and not particularly fast at the wide end). However, the lens is silent and fast focusing, and if capturing video mainly in the wide through normal FL range, the aperture shift maybe tolerable.
 
It is actually a hybrid. Although it is USM it also exhibits some of the qualities of STM lenses with its silent AF in video recording.
 
I've owned and used both the STM and nano USM versions of the 18-135 lens on dual pixel APS-C bodies (70 and 80D). The STM version focuses well and is extremely silent for video as are all of the STM zooms. The nano USM is equally as quiet, but is much faster focusing. It's as good as many L class USM lenses at focus speed on my 70 and 80D bodies. Certainly not as fast as the very best L lenses. That said, google focus noise for Canon lenses and you'll see that other than the nano USM lens, USM focus noise is very audible, even with an external mic mounted on the camera. Realistically, the IQ of the 18-135s might be a bigger issue, but for me, doing video with them gives more than adequate IQ and the focus sound, smoothness, and ease of focus using the touch screen is what I am looking for.
 
Thank you everyone for your comments. I guess I'm looking for something that doesn't exist.

I'm not so much worried about audible noise from a usm lens, but rather want to avoid the jerky focus transitions when it races to focus on new focus points (as opposed to smooth focus transitions from stm or the nano usm).

So I'd love the sharpness and bokeh of an L lens, but want to avoid the ultra fast focus transitions if using it for video.

I guess the compromise is going for the kit lens and supplementing it with fast sharp primes like the 24 1.8 and 50 1.8 when I need low light of shallow dof.
 
MikePriz said:
Thank you everyone for your comments. I guess I'm looking for something that doesn't exist.

I'm not so much worried about audible noise from a usm lens, but rather want to avoid the jerky focus transitions when it races to focus on new focus points (as opposed to smooth focus transitions from stm or the nano usm).

So I'd love the sharpness and bokeh of an L lens, but want to avoid the ultra fast focus transitions if using it for video.

I guess the compromise is going for the kit lens and supplementing it with fast sharp primes like the 24 1.8 and 50 1.8 when I need low light of shallow dof.
Click to expand...
I have that lens and on a 7DMKII focus is not silent but it is smooth. Mic it properly and you should be happy with the results.

--
Ben Boozer
Disagree without being disagreeable
 
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Some refurb kits have been with the STM version.
 
MikePriz said:
Thank you everyone for your comments. I guess I'm looking for something that doesn't exist.
Click to expand...
But maybe someday. I thing there is definitely a market for it.
MikePriz said:
I'm not so much worried about audible noise from a usm lens, but rather want to avoid the jerky focus transitions when it races to focus on new focus points (as opposed to smooth focus transitions from stm or the nano usm).
Click to expand...
Unfortunately all of the existing L class lenses will do this. Anytime the focal point changes or you pull focus it will be abrupt, jarring and unpleasant in video footage.
MikePriz said:
So I'd love the sharpness and bokeh of an L lens, but want to avoid the ultra fast focus transitions if using it for video.
Click to expand...
The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is somewhere in between other EF-S lenses and an L lens. The AF is lightening fast - as fast as all of my L's (which is everything else). And yet when shooting video, the focus transitions are as good as a great camcorder.

The construction is also solid. The IQ of the lens falls short of L class lenses for stills, but for video it is excellent (you cannot shoot at a high enough resolution to make it matter).
MikePriz said:
I guess the compromise is going for the kit lens and supplementing it with fast sharp primes like the 24 1.8 and 50 1.8 when I need low light of shallow dof.
Click to expand...
This is the main drawback of this lens. The slow f/3.5 aperture is frustrating for video, but especially for stills. And that it is variable through the focal length means that if you start with a faster Av than f/5.6, you can have exposure changes in the footage while racking the zoom (you can compensate for this with auto iso).

Personally, I would have wanted Canon to make this lens an L class EF mount (I'm sure 5DIV users would be interested) with an aperture of f/2.0 or at least f/2.8 rather than producing a replacement for the exact same STM lens (EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM).

How cool would it be if they updated the EF 24-70 f/2.8L II USM with an nano motor and IS?
 
Silvex said:
MikePriz said:
Thank you everyone for your comments. I guess I'm looking for something that doesn't exist.
Click to expand...
But maybe someday. I thing there is definitely a market for it.
Silvex said:
I'm not so much worried about audible noise from a usm lens, but rather want to avoid the jerky focus transitions when it races to focus on new focus points (as opposed to smooth focus transitions from stm or the nano usm).
Click to expand...
Unfortunately all of the existing L class lenses will do this. Anytime the focal point changes or you pull focus it will be abrupt, jarring and unpleasant in video footage.
Silvex said:
So I'd love the sharpness and bokeh of an L lens, but want to avoid the ultra fast focus transitions if using it for video.
Click to expand...
The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is somewhere in between other EF-S lenses and an L lens. The AF is lightening fast - as fast as all of my L's (which is everything else). And yet when shooting video, the focus transitions are as good as a great camcorder.

The construction is also solid. The IQ of the lens falls short of L class lenses for stills, but for video it is excellent (you cannot shoot at a high enough resolution to make it matter).
Silvex said:
I guess the compromise is going for the kit lens and supplementing it with fast sharp primes like the 24 1.8 and 50 1.8 when I need low light of shallow dof.
Click to expand...
This is the main drawback of this lens. The slow f/3.5 aperture is frustrating for video, but especially for stills. And that it is variable through the focal length means that if you start with a faster Av than f/5.6, you can have exposure changes in the footage while racking the zoom (you can compensate for this with auto iso).

Personally, I would have wanted Canon to make this lens an L class EF mount (I'm sure 5DIV users would be interested) with an aperture of f/2.0 or at least f/2.8 rather than producing a replacement for the exact same STM lens (EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM).

How cool would it be if they updated the EF 24-70 f/2.8L II USM with an nano motor and IS?
Click to expand...
You're spot on with these comments.

Now my current train of thought is purchase either the 40mm pancake or 50mm and use its STM for video and pair it with either the 17-55 2.8 EF-S or 24-105 4.0 for stills.

I like the extra stop that 2.8 gives me, but the range of the 105 is appealing also. And if I use one of those for video I'll try my hand at manual focus pulls.

i wish I would be happy with the 18-135 nano usm, but just worried I'll be disappointed with stills quality compared to better glass.
 
MikePriz said:
Silvex said:
MikePriz said:
Thank you everyone for your comments. I guess I'm looking for something that doesn't exist.
Click to expand...
But maybe someday. I thing there is definitely a market for it.
MikePriz said:
I'm not so much worried about audible noise from a usm lens, but rather want to avoid the jerky focus transitions when it races to focus on new focus points (as opposed to smooth focus transitions from stm or the nano usm).
Click to expand...
Unfortunately all of the existing L class lenses will do this. Anytime the focal point changes or you pull focus it will be abrupt, jarring and unpleasant in video footage.
MikePriz said:
So I'd love the sharpness and bokeh of an L lens, but want to avoid the ultra fast focus transitions if using it for video.
Click to expand...
The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is somewhere in between other EF-S lenses and an L lens. The AF is lightening fast - as fast as all of my L's (which is everything else). And yet when shooting video, the focus transitions are as good as a great camcorder.

The construction is also solid. The IQ of the lens falls short of L class lenses for stills, but for video it is excellent (you cannot shoot at a high enough resolution to make it matter).
MikePriz said:
I guess the compromise is going for the kit lens and supplementing it with fast sharp primes like the 24 1.8 and 50 1.8 when I need low light of shallow dof.
Click to expand...
This is the main drawback of this lens. The slow f/3.5 aperture is frustrating for video, but especially for stills. And that it is variable through the focal length means that if you start with a faster Av than f/5.6, you can have exposure changes in the footage while racking the zoom (you can compensate for this with auto iso).

Personally, I would have wanted Canon to make this lens an L class EF mount (I'm sure 5DIV users would be interested) with an aperture of f/2.0 or at least f/2.8 rather than producing a replacement for the exact same STM lens (EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM).

How cool would it be if they updated the EF 24-70 f/2.8L II USM with an nano motor and IS?
Click to expand...
You're spot on with these comments.

Now my current train of thought is purchase either the 40mm pancake or 50mm and use its STM for video and pair it with either the 17-55 2.8 EF-S or 24-105 4.0 for stills.

I like the extra stop that 2.8 gives me, but the range of the 105 is appealing also. And if I use one of those for video I'll try my hand at manual focus pulls.

i wish I would be happy with the 18-135 nano usm, but just worried I'll be disappointed with stills quality compared to better glass.
Click to expand...
As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, the 40 and the 50 stm emitvloud squeals during focusing in video, especially the 40. The 24 stm also does but it seems less pronounced to me.
 
MikePriz said:
Thank you everyone for your comments. I guess I'm looking for something that doesn't exist.

I'm not so much worried about audible noise from a usm lens, but rather want to avoid the jerky focus transitions when it races to focus on new focus points (as opposed to smooth focus transitions from stm or the nano usm).

So I'd love the sharpness and bokeh of an L lens, but want to avoid the ultra fast focus transitions if using it for video.

I guess the compromise is going for the kit lens and supplementing it with fast sharp primes like the 24 1.8 and 50 1.8 when I need low light of shallow dof.
Click to expand...
Not all L lenses are equal. Dont get hung up on the red ring. If you want the best get soemthnig like the 24-70 f/2.8 mkii, not a lens that costs less than half the price. and doesn't have great (in comparison) bokeh.

For what its worth i'd take (and did take) the 18-135 IS USM Nano over the 24-105L any day on a crop camera. AF is fast, but also smooth. IQ is nothing short of more than usable for anyone not hung up on specs and graphs. If you want more reach and like the 24-105 range there is a STM version, although its not f/4 throughout the range.
 
I've already said nothing meets your elevated standards.

Buy a video camera with nice fast (aperture and focus both), smooth, high quality lens.

You'll probably complain that the background is too sharp, but there's some control available for this by managing focus distance, focal length, and distance from camera to subject and distance from subject to background.

BAK
 
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