Full Version: Canon 5D focus issues
Does anyone else have issues with focus with their 5D? What focus mode do you perfer?
i dont have a 5D but i know it's A LOT slower than the 1D bodies, and has issues using AI-Servo (which you really don't need anyway on a camera like that)
use one-shot AF... that should give you the best results.
use one-shot AF... that should give you the best results.
what are your issues? One shot is the fastest, ai-servo is not the most accurate, ai-focus takes longer to think, therefore is slower than both.
I would need a bit more info on what your specific problems are, but I can tell you my problems and solutions --
I got tired of my 5D trying to determine for me which focus point it thought was best. So I kept it on center-focus and re-framed for a while. But that doesn't work if you have a large aperture and you are very close to the subject (unless it's perfectly centered). So now I have switched the focus point to the joystick on the back of the camera. I can't remember the Cfn to do that, but PM me and I'll find it. So now I keep the focus on the center, but if I need to change it to one of the other focus points, I have that options and it's fairly easy to do (but you must practice a lot -- it's not always easy to change the points when you are first starting out).
One thing to keep in mind is that if the focus point is off to the side, sometimes it simply can't find the focus. Center focus is always the fastest and most accurate (if your subject remains at the center). If you are far enough away or if you are using a fairly small aperture, center focus and reframing works the best/fastest.
I also switched my focus lock to the * button on the back. It was a simple switch and I was used to it after just a day or two of shooting. I forgot about it the next day, but I haven't had any problems since. I find that it locks the focus better than the shutter. I have the shutter set to lock the exposure, but I shoot manually so that doesn't really matter. This is anoter Cfn that I can PM you if you need.
As was stated before, the fastest focus mode is one-shot. I have a dreadful time focusing with my 70-200 f/2.8 IS in darker venues. Ugh, it takes forever. Even with the flash focus assist beam. Hope that helps a little!
I got tired of my 5D trying to determine for me which focus point it thought was best. So I kept it on center-focus and re-framed for a while. But that doesn't work if you have a large aperture and you are very close to the subject (unless it's perfectly centered). So now I have switched the focus point to the joystick on the back of the camera. I can't remember the Cfn to do that, but PM me and I'll find it. So now I keep the focus on the center, but if I need to change it to one of the other focus points, I have that options and it's fairly easy to do (but you must practice a lot -- it's not always easy to change the points when you are first starting out).
One thing to keep in mind is that if the focus point is off to the side, sometimes it simply can't find the focus. Center focus is always the fastest and most accurate (if your subject remains at the center). If you are far enough away or if you are using a fairly small aperture, center focus and reframing works the best/fastest.
I also switched my focus lock to the * button on the back. It was a simple switch and I was used to it after just a day or two of shooting. I forgot about it the next day, but I haven't had any problems since. I find that it locks the focus better than the shutter. I have the shutter set to lock the exposure, but I shoot manually so that doesn't really matter. This is anoter Cfn that I can PM you if you need.
As was stated before, the fastest focus mode is one-shot. I have a dreadful time focusing with my 70-200 f/2.8 IS in darker venues. Ugh, it takes forever. Even with the flash focus assist beam. Hope that helps a little!
LOL Trevor - everything about the camera is slower than a 1D - that's just how it is. 
I use back button focus and ai-servo - it works for me. I also almost never put a lens slower than a f1.8 lens on there, so that might be part of the reason I don't have focus issues with the 5D (lots of practice helps too).
I use back button focus and ai-servo - it works for me. I also almost never put a lens slower than a f1.8 lens on there, so that might be part of the reason I don't have focus issues with the 5D (lots of practice helps too).
I never had issues with the center focus point on my 5D, but the outside points being non-cross type sensors sucked....so I got a 1DMK3 
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.