SL2 Autofocus Tracking

Hi Everyone,

I've been trying to decide between getting the M50 or SL2. I'm leaning towards the SL2 but the autofocus does worry me a bit.

DPAF is great for video but I would be shooting with the OVF most of the time when taking pictures. What has your experiences been with tracking subjects like dogs and kids? And maybe the rare bird or animal?

I love the price and small size of the SL2. I have the 6D as my main camera but want something with better live view autofocus, smaller and the tilty flippy screen. I would probably keep the 6D as my main body though.

I do have an old T3i that I have up on Ebay right now. Is the autofocus in the SL2 the same? It has the same number of points but I wasn't sure if Canon made any under the hood improvements. The 6D center point seems a lot better than the T3i. Even though they're both crosstype.

MikeJ9116 wrote:

I also have the 6D and would say that if its AF meets your needs then so will the SL2. They both perform about the same except the 6D can acquire focus in very low light conditions. The SL2 is no slouch for focusing in low light but not as fast at doing so as the 6D.

Thank you. Good to know. The 6D has worked pretty well for my needs. It's tough to have to keep the subject in the exact center of the frame but if you do it actually tracks very well. Plus with more depth of field with APS-C it may be even easier.

Overall I'd say the 6D is adquate for me.

rick9814911 wrote:  I've been trying to decide between getting the M50 or SL2. I'm leaning towards the SL2 but the autofocus does worry me a bit.

DPAF is great for video but I would be shooting with the OVF most of the time when taking pictures. What has your experiences been with tracking subjects like dogs and kids? And maybe the rare bird or animal?

DPAF is indeed great for Video, particularly vlog when the subject is a slow moving adult.  However, using PDAF Live View for shooting Action Oriented stuff like a running dog and you're be disappointment.

I thinks its important to clarify some different expectation:

• Video shooter need Smooth Focusing = slower pull-into-focus rather than jarringly fast pull into focus like USM lens that produce jerky video

• Still Shooter need Faster Focusing = as to Capture Dog chasing balls in fraction of a seconds.

Canon M50 is great as Video Vlog machine.  Its DPAF track subjects face like a glue in vlog.  However, if the subject is rapidly moving toward the camera like a dog is running toward you in rapid pace, you're quickly discover that DPAF isn't created for this kind of rapid tracking.

In the end, if you shoot DOG, I think you're still better off going with a Canon SL2 over M50, as you have the OVF + pure PDAF options to rely on.  If you go with M50, then you're out of luck here.

rick9814911 wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I've been trying to decide between getting the M50 or SL2. I'm leaning towards the SL2 but the autofocus does worry me a bit.

DPAF is great for video but I would be shooting with the OVF most of the time when taking pictures. What has your experiences been with tracking subjects like dogs and kids? And maybe the rare bird or animal?

I love the price and small size of the SL2. I have the 6D as my main camera but want something with better live view autofocus, smaller and the tilty flippy screen. I would probably keep the 6D as my main body though.

I do have an old T3i that I have up on Ebay right now. Is the autofocus in the SL2 the same? It has the same number of points but I wasn't sure if Canon made any under the hood improvements. The 6D center point seems a lot better than the T3i. Even though they're both crosstype.

I went down the same path as you. Bought the T3i and the 6D and have now bought the 800D.

The AF on the 800D is definitely superior and I think its natural upgrade to the 600D. If you can stretch that little extra over the SL2  I think it is worth it.