Do Canon DSLRs have a better autofocus than the M6 or 350d in low light?

Hello,

the Canon M6 has an extremely bad autofocus in low light at f/5.6 or f/6.3 (ef-m 15-45), actually completely unusable at dusk, it won't focus at all. Even average lighting conditions (Iso 2500, 3200 with f/5.6 or f/6.3) are very often problematic. I compared the autofocus with a 350D (Ef-s 18-55 at f/5.6) and my first impression is that the 350D's autofocus isn't really better in low light than the M6 (at f/5.6), maybe about the same.

So I would like to know:

Does the Canon 200D or Canon 77D have a better autofocus in low light at f/5.6 than the 350D or M6?

I mostly use single-point AF (using more AF points doesn't make a significant difference).

noisephotographer wrote:

Hello,

the Canon M6 has an extremely bad autofocus in low light at f/5.6 or f/6.3 (ef-m 15-45), actually completely unusable at dusk, it won't focus at all. Even average lighting conditions (Iso 2500, 3200 with f/5.6 or f/6.3) are very often problematic. I compared the autofocus with a 350D (Ef-s 18-55 at f/5.6) and my first impression is that the 350D's autofocus isn't really better in low light than the M6 (at f/5.6), maybe about the same.

So I would like to know:

Does the Canon 200D or Canon 77D have a better autofocus in low light at f/5.6 than the 350D or M6?

I mostly use single-point AF (using more AF points doesn't make a significant difference).

350D is pretty old tech. Any recent DSLR's PDAF will run rings around mirrorless though. I don't own a 77D or 200D, but I still use my 70D for fast action, and have used it on a lot of evenings and nights.

R2

I have the 400d and SL2. Low light focus on the SL2 is much, much better.

Allen

One option you have on your DSLRs (including your 350D)  in very low light is to use the AF lamp in one of the canon speedlights.

I use the original 580EX and It's much better than the AF lamps on the camera and gives really quick AF (for things not too far away) in any lighting conditions. 
There's a setting that you can make the camera use the AF Lamp but not have the flash fire.

Unfortunately none of the mirrorless cameras (not just the EOS-Ms but sony too) can take advantage of the extermal flash AF lamps.

I would say YES, based upon my past experience with both EOS-M & Canon DSLR:

I see a dramatic AF Speed & Reliability with every Digic CPU upgrades:

my Digic II cameras (20d, 30d, Rebel XT (350d), Rebel XTi (400d) all perform largely the same. It'll struggle in lowlight unless you use the Center-AF only with a fast prime

my Digic III camera (40d + Rebel XSi (450d) - AF is quicker & more assuring but still need to rely on center-AF only for lowlight

my Digic IV camera (50d + Rebel T1i (500d) + Rebel T2i (550d) - AF in lowlight is now super-reliable, even all 9 points AF is useable.

my Digic V camera (EOS-M1) struggle in AF regardless of day or night. This is Canon's 1st mirrorless so AF suck regardless. My friends SL1 (100d) focus noticeably quick than my M1 using the same Digic processor.

I switch out of canon after Digic V, but based on my experience, I would say YES, that:

• Canon DSLR outfocus Canon EOS-M by miles (even now)
• Canon AF is more reliable with each CPU upgrades

If Lowlight AF is important to you as it is to me, there are only 2 solutions:

• 1 buy a modern Canon dSLR with newest Digic processor (Canon SL2)
• 2. switch to Panasonic M43, where it focus down to -4 ~ -5 EV in the dark.

I shoot mainly in ultra-dark low-light and my cheapo Pansonic GF6 can focus @minus -4 EV that my Canon T2i cannot do.