Auto focus accuracy. Is there a website where i can compare cameras?

[Paul B - UK]

I want to compare different cameras for auto focus accuracy. My reason is that I've bought 2 cameras recently and sold them due to be being disappointed with them in that respect.

I'm aware that the lens used is a big factor etc etc. There must be a website where you can easily compare the different cameras for auto focus accuracy, but i cant find one.

Do you know of any?

Thanks

 

[m1ks]

If you're dealing with any ILC the lens will have a bearing on it.

Currently SLR have the advantage over Mirrorless due to the technology required for af to work on each system.

It might help if you stated your requirements for the af system and where it's letting you down in practise then it would be easier to make recommendations.

I don't know of any site meanwhile that directly compares af tests.

 

[Paul B - UK]

If you're dealing with any ILC the lens will have a bearing on it.

Currently SLR have the advantage over Mirrorless due to the technology required for af to work on each system.

It might help if you stated your requirements for the af system and where it's letting you down in practise then it would be easier to make recommendations.

I don't know of any site meanwhile that directly compares af tests.

 

[Doug Haag]

If you're dealing with any ILC the lens will have a bearing on it.

Currently SLR have the advantage over Mirrorless due to the technology required for af to work on each system.

It might help if you stated your requirements for the af system and where it's letting you down in practise then it would be easier to make recommendations.

I don't know of any site meanwhile that directly compares af tests.

--
https://www.youtube.com/user/spidiq8
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/144414191@N05/

Yes i should of realised. My requirements are basically just shooting images around the home with my family. I don't really need moving subject's (although it would be nice as my child is a runner). So just focus accuracy on still subject's around the home/garden etc. My daughter is hyperactive so i only get a second or so to focus and shoot. Accuracy is my main concern though, as i do pixel peep.

Assuming that you already realize you can get inaccurate results if you rely on the camera to select to part of the scene to focus on and that it is best if you personally control which focus point is active and take care in where it is aimed when you initiate the auto focus process (like with the half-press of the shutter release), there is an additional factor you should be aware of. Some lens and camera combinations are "a little off" in their through-the-viewfinder auto focus. They may be focusing a little ahead of (called, front focus) or a little behind (called, back focus) of where you think they are aimed.

This can be corrected in some cameras through an auto-focus calibration process. The error is not related to a specific camera brand or model number. One copy of the Nikon DXXX may need calibration while the one bought by the next customer may not. And it varies from lens to lens with the same camera.

 

[Chris Malcolm]

If you're dealing with any ILC the lens will have a bearing on it.

Currently SLR have the advantage over Mirrorless due to the technology required for af to work on each system.

Generally speaking (there are some exceptions) DSLRs AF more quickly, AF in dimmer light, and are better at tracking moving subjects. That's because they use specialized AF sensors which are designed for best AF performance. But also because they use separate AF sensors, whereas mirrorless cameras use the image sensor, AF on mirrorless cameras is inherently more accurate.

Another factor to note is that some exchangeable lens DSLRs have a facility where the use can tune the AF for each individual lens, often known as microfocus adjust (MFA). That improves the accuracy of the AF, but not quite to the accuracy standard of mirrorless.

 

[D Cox]

If you're dealing with any ILC the lens will have a bearing on it.

Currently SLR have the advantage over Mirrorless due to the technology required for af to work on each system.

It might help if you stated your requirements for the af system and where it's letting you down in practise then it would be easier to make recommendations.

I don't know of any site meanwhile that directly compares af tests.

--
https://www.youtube.com/user/spidiq8
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/144414191@N05/

Yes i should of realised. My requirements are basically just shooting images around the home with my family. I don't really need moving subject's (although it would be nice as my child is a runner). So just focus accuracy on still subject's around the home/garden etc. My daughter is hyperactive so i only get a second or so to focus and shoot. Accuracy is my main concern though, as i do pixel peep.

It sounds like your problem is with speed rather than accuracy. You need a camera that can focus in about a tenth of a second.

In general, DSLRs focus faster, while mirrorless can be more accurate when they reach focus. But there is much variation amomg both cameras and lenses. Sony have been working very hard to improve focussing speed on their mirrorless cameras in recent years, trying to make them fast enough for shooting sports or kids.

You don't say which cameras you tried.

 

[golfhov]

There are so many factors in an af system it is very hard to objectively give figures. The best you can do is take summaries written from similar time periods, reviews hopefully authored by the same reviewer or publication, or find direct head to head comparisons.

You were never specific on models tried. Also examples and your settings would help. Most all cameras can focus acceptably on slow subjects.

The generalization included here are mostly true. Mirrorless focus on the sensor itself and tend to be more accurate BUT the off sensor systems used in many DSLRS can track better and in lower light. BUT those generalizatons do not hold much truth if you look at vastly different cameras. A D500 uses the same technology as a D3400 but offer VASTLY different performance

 

[Mike -]

As has been "sort of" noted, there is much more to it than JUST the camera bodys capability's.

1. The "adjustments" the user makes within the camera... Most newer SLR cameras have a lot of adjustability within them. For some reason, most people don't seem to get that. Depending on the brand, there are a hand full of adjustments...that if not set properly will give...so-so speed/accuracy results. BUT, if adjusted properly, can provide impressive results. Don't figure that ANY camera right out of the box will be perfect for "YOUR" needs..! Won't happen. Adjustments and experimentation IS required for ALL cameras, all brands to work the way YOU want it to.

2. The lens(s). Accuracy wise, there are VERY good lenses, there are good lenses, there are so-so lenses, and the rest..! Pick the design/style you like, then do a general internet search for how others like that lens. DO NOT go by 2 or 3 personnel reviews. You need to read 15 or 20, or more on the same lens to get any even sort of realistic information. Even the "Pro" reviews like here on DP Review, should be only "one" of the places you read-to-learn.

Mike

 

[dwalby]

There are so many factors in an af system it is very hard to objectively give figures.

Agreed, you can take 10 shots of the same subject, with the same camera/lens, and you will not get 10 identically focused shots. Its a system with some inherent error, which fluctuates from shot to shot. Expecting 100% accuracy on every shot is unrealistic.

You were never specific on models tried. Also examples and your settings would help. Most all cameras can focus acceptably on slow subjects.

and there could be some user error involved, like focus and recompose with narrow DoF, not realizing that the camera focused on something other than the intended subject, camera shake, etc.

 

[Paul B - UK]

There are so many factors in an af system it is very hard to objectively give figures.

Agreed, you can take 10 shots of the same subject, with the same camera/lens, and you will not get 10 identically focused shots. Its a system with some inherent error, which fluctuates from shot to shot. Expecting 100% accuracy on every shot is unrealistic.

You were never specific on models tried. Also examples and your settings would help. Most all cameras can focus acceptably on slow subjects.

and there could be some user error involved, like focus and recompose with narrow DoF, not realizing that the camera focused on something other than the intended subject, camera shake, etc.

Can you not focus and recompose with a shallow depth of field then? I.e with a DSLR using the centre AF spot to focus then recomposing to move the subject more to the rule of thirds spot.

 

[golfhov]

There are so many factors in an af system it is very hard to objectively give figures.

Agreed, you can take 10 shots of the same subject, with the same camera/lens, and you will not get 10 identically focused shots. Its a system with some inherent error, which fluctuates from shot to shot. Expecting 100% accuracy on every shot is unrealistic.

Partly true but check out the newer hybrid, CDAF, and dual pixel systems. They ARE punching pretty much 100% on static targets. Not so much in tracking

You were never specific on models tried. Also examples and your settings would help. Most all cameras can focus acceptably on slow subjects.

and there could be some user error involved, like focus and recompose with narrow DoF, not realizing that the camera focused on something other than the intended subject, camera shake, etc.

Correct. I often see users(almost always new) blame other problems/user error as poor focus systems. That is why I tend to put the most faith in direct extended comparisons or opinions of users who spent a long time using competing products concurrently or back to back. I owned a 6d and an a7 concurrently for a year. Hearing a usere vastly praise one over the other without qualifications I find silly.

 

[golfhov]

You "can" and many do. Often the small shift or subject movement can change the plaNE enough that your shot is off.

 

[Paul B - UK]

There are so many factors in an af system it is very hard to objectively give figures.

Agreed, you can take 10 shots of the same subject, with the same camera/lens, and you will not get 10 identically focused shots. Its a system with some inherent error, which fluctuates from shot to shot. Expecting 100% accuracy on every shot is unrealistic.

Partly true but check out the newer hybrid, CDAF, and dual pixel systems. They ARE punching pretty much 100% on static targets. Not so much in tracking

You were never specific on models tried. Also examples and your settings would help. Most all cameras can focus acceptably on slow subjects.

and there could be some user error involved, like focus and recompose with narrow DoF, not realizing that the camera focused on something other than the intended subject, camera shake, etc.

Correct. I often see users(almost always new) blame other problems/user error as poor focus systems. That is why I tend to put the most faith in direct extended comparisons or opinions of users who spent a long time using competing products concurrently or back to back. I owned a 6d and an a7 concurrently for a year. Hearing a usere vastly praise one over the other without qualifications I find silly.

I know the PDAF points in the viewfinder are tiny dots but do each of them sense many pixels from the final image, i.e how large an area? Let's say you wanted to focus on the eye area, would there be a better part of the eye to place the AF point on compared to other parts?

 

[golfhov]

There are so many factors in an af system it is very hard to objectively give figures.

Agreed, you can take 10 shots of the same subject, with the same camera/lens, and you will not get 10 identically focused shots. Its a system with some inherent error, which fluctuates from shot to shot. Expecting 100% accuracy on every shot is unrealistic.

Partly true but check out the newer hybrid, CDAF, and dual pixel systems. They ARE punching pretty much 100% on static targets. Not so much in tracking

You were never specific on models tried. Also examples and your settings would help. Most all cameras can focus acceptably on slow subjects.

and there could be some user error involved, like focus and recompose with narrow DoF, not realizing that the camera focused on something other than the intended subject, camera shake, etc.

Correct. I often see users(almost always new) blame other problems/user error as poor focus systems. That is why I tend to put the most faith in direct extended comparisons or opinions of users who spent a long time using competing products concurrently or back to back. I owned a 6d and an a7 concurrently for a year. Hearing a usere vastly praise one over the other without qualifications I find silly.

I know the PDAF points in the viewfinder are tiny dots

DSLR? That is just a represent at ion

but do each of them sense many pixels from the final image,

Nothing to do with pixels usually. The DSLR uses a special PDAF sensor (usually) and the meter for certain things

i.e how large an area?

Bigger is usually better. Also the type. More sensitive to light usually

Let's say you wanted to focus on the eye area, would there be a better part of the eye to place the AF point on compared to other parts?

Depends on how close. The eye usually has enough contrast BUT if really close you may want to do the edges or edge of iris

 

[Donald B]

There are so many factors in an af system it is very hard to objectively give figures.

Agreed, you can take 10 shots of the same subject, with the same camera/lens, and you will not get 10 identically focused shots. Its a system with some inherent error, which fluctuates from shot to shot. Expecting 100% accuracy on every shot is unrealistic.

Partly true but check out the newer hybrid, CDAF, and dual pixel systems. They ARE punching pretty much 100% on static targets. Not so much in tracking

You were never specific on models tried. Also examples and your settings would help. Most all cameras can focus acceptably on slow subjects.

and there could be some user error involved, like focus and recompose with narrow DoF, not realizing that the camera focused on something other than the intended subject, camera shake, etc.

Correct. I often see users(almost always new) blame other problems/user error as poor focus systems. That is why I tend to put the most faith in direct extended comparisons or opinions of users who spent a long time using competing products concurrently or back to back. I owned a 6d and an a7 concurrently for a year. Hearing a usere vastly praise one over the other without qualifications I find silly.

I find it pretty funny to, my em5mk2 is like lightning focusing and extremely accurate their isn't a dslr that could match it for both. go to image resourse and check the performance tests , don't know where everyone thinks dslr are faster .

Don

 

[golfhov]

Those figures are shutter lag and operational speed. There is a subjective AF summary but they do not do a standardized test

Olympus E-M5 II Review - Performance - Imaging Resource

Olympus E-M5 II Review - E-M5 II Performance

www.imaging-resource.com

I am glad you like your em5ii but if you think it is the fastest and most accurate focuser you should tell all those em1ii purchasers that are throwing their money away ........

 

[Donald B]

Those figures are shutter lag and operational speed. There is a subjective AF summary but they do not do a standardized test

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m5-ii/olympus-e-m5-iiA6.HTM

I am glad you like your em5ii but if you think it is the fastest and most accurate focuser you should tell all those em1ii purchasers that are throwing their money away ........

go and read dpr review on focus speed, saying its the fastest camera af they had tested.

cheers Don

 

[Donald B]

Those figures are shutter lag and operational speed. There is a subjective AF summary but they do not do a standardized test

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m5-ii/olympus-e-m5-iiA6.HTM

I am glad you like your em5ii but if you think it is the fastest and most accurate focuser you should tell all those em1ii purchasers that are throwing their money away ........

go and read dpr review on focus speed, saying its the fastest camera af they had tested.

cheers Don

 

[golfhov]

Those figures are shutter lag and operational speed. There is a subjective AF summary but they do not do a standardized test

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m5-ii/olympus-e-m5-iiA6.HTM

I am glad you like your em5ii but if you think it is the fastest and most accurate focuser you should tell all those em1ii purchasers that are throwing their money away ........

go and read dpr review on focus speed, saying its the fastest camera af they had tested.

No they didn't. Here is the quote from the first paragraph

"Our experience with the camera's autofocus has been mixed. In single-acquisition mode, the EM-5 II is one of the fastest-to-focus cameras we've shot with. This is aided by a lens system almost entirely composed of lenses designed for fast contrast-detection autofocus: meaning there is impressive consistency of performance between lenses."

That was when it was released in 2015. The d500 is the fastest thing out there right now. The em1ii is a recent m43 camera and it comes really close but doesn't pass it

cheers Don

 

[Donald B]

Those figures are shutter lag and operational speed. There is a subjective AF summary but they do not do a standardized test

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m5-ii/olympus-e-m5-iiA6.HTM

I am glad you like your em5ii but if you think it is the fastest and most accurate focuser you should tell all those em1ii purchasers that are throwing their money away ........

go and read dpr review on focus speed, saying its the fastest camera af they had tested.

No they didn't. Here is the quote from the first paragraph

"Our experience with the camera's autofocus has been mixed. In single-acquisition mode, the EM-5 II is one of the fastest-to-focus cameras we've shot with. This is aided by a lens system almost entirely composed of lenses designed for fast contrast-detection autofocus: meaning there is impressive consistency of performance between lenses."

That was when it was released in 2015. The d500 is the fastest thing out there right now. The em1ii is a recent m43 camera and it comes really close but doesn't pass it

cheers Don