M50, improved

Larry Rexley wrote:

RLight wrote:

Larry Rexley wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

RLight wrote:

If AF is a concern, you should have a hard look at the M6 Mark II

+1 Using Spot AF with Servo (doing the tracking myself), I’m confident that I could shoot anything on the planet with an M6ii. The (Spot) AF is lightning fast to acquire, and sticks like glue. Here’s a previous thread that details some of what it’s capable of…

I have found a case where the M6ii with spot AF and servo cannot reliably track and shoot... an Amtrak train moving towards you at 70 mph!

I have tried this multiple times, and most of the time the M6ii can't even lock on the nose of the train when its 100-200 feet away, either in spot or single-point AF. The train appears to be moving just too quickly. I have lost entire sequences as the M6ii sometimes never even locks on the train and the shutter won't fire.

In 'Tracking' AF mode with servo on, it works brilliantly. 14 fps drive mode - and every frame is sharp. The M50ii could do this as well in AF tracking mode.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64108171

IMHO RLight’s evaluation is right on the money.

R2

Side question; with the EF-S 55-250 IS STM in use?

I ask as I recently had a theory about AF and non-EF-M glass. Not adapted, just not EF-M, less pins, less bandwidth... AF on the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM was quite spotty, mind you this is both an IS enabled and USM driven lens. It was spotty on both the M6 II and M50 II, the former has more power, faster readout, the latter less battery power (USM is hungry) but slower readout, but newer software. I'm starting to think AF on adapted lens doesn't drive as well as native full pin EF-M glass.

Edit: Actually I think this may have to deal more with the legacy of the glass in question with the 17-55 f/2.8... The M6 II + 70-300 IS USM (nano-usm) actually had some of the highest, actually the highest hitrate of any combo, to date.

Still, curious what glass we're talking.

I just checked, the most recent two times it happened were with the EF-M 18-150 IS STM. I like that lens due to its range and sharpness at f5 and below, I can zoom and pan from quite a distance to when the train is very close to me.

The M6II focuses definitely faster than ef-m 18-150mm can handle, let alone the ef-s 55-250mm stm.  Tracking with the ef-s 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is crazy fast, also with the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Art, the 50mm f/1.4 Art, and with the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 Sports it's the same story.  USM or HSM lenses show what the little powerhouse really can do as it comes to fast tracking.  I wouldn't be surprised if it can handle the 70 Mph of those combustion engine powered trains. With an electric TGV or ICE running up to 200 Mph it will fail at some point, but I think 70 should be doable as long as you use a lens with capable focus motors.