A Pro At Work

[corkyg]

Last November, I was doing my thing in church, covering an event (Kirkin o' the Tartans) and I noticed a news photographer from our local paper. I found it interesting to note he was using a Canon EOS 5D and the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS lens. I had a little fun shooting him waiting for a shot.

Pro

I admired his respect for the service by not using a flash. That is a good rule for weddings - you want to avoid being intrusive.

 

[Aharami]

nice candid shot. sheesh, that's at ISO 3200!? S3 produces similar noise at ISO 200

 

[corkyg]

Yeah - anything away frfom the altar is pretty much ISO 3200. That is the only way one can maintain at leat 1/40th sec shutter speed at f/4.

Anyway - he was waiting for the same shot I was waiting for - except I had A better angle so that the big window backlight was not directly in the focus path. Here I could cut the ISO to 800.

Consecration

 

[soydios]

Nice shots, corkyg. In your consecration shot, I can definitely pick out what the camera autofocused on.

 

[jpeyton]

The Consecration shot would probably benefit from a B&W (or other desaturated tone) conversion; the chroma noise is distracting. Good pictures.

 

[Jawo]

Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

 

[alfa147x]

Yay a canon!

 

[Fardringle]

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

Do any DSLR cameras have a Face Detection feature? I love the way my Fuji S6000fd will automatically focus on human faces no matter where they are in the frame, even if there are other more prominent objects in the field of view such as the big candlesticks in that Consecration photo. Granted, the Face Detection chip in my camera wouldn't do as well with faces in profile like that shot, but its "evolution" the S100FS will detect side profiles as well as horizontal (lying down) profiles. (Fuji doesn't specifically say the S100FS is an S6000 replacement but they are VERY similar in many ways.)

I want a true SLR eventually, but I take a lot of candid shots of people (mostly my kids and their cousins) and the face detection helps keep the kids in focus even when they won't hold still.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Yeah - anything away frfom the altar is pretty much ISO 3200. That is the only way one can maintain at leat 1/40th sec shutter speed at f/4.

Anyway - he was waiting for the same shot I was waiting for - except I had A better angle so that the big window backlight was not directly in the focus path. Here I could cut the ISO to 800.

Consecration

Nice pic of a candlestick

I think you focused on it, or your camera did.

If you don't already, setup the camera to focus with just the center focus point. Then you can control exactly where it focuses.

EDIT - Oooops...I just realized...wait maybe you don't have a DSLR, Canon or otherwise. I'm so used to posting on Canon Photo forums that advice pops out automatically for Canon stuff

So...what camera? heh.

 

[soydios]

Originally posted by: Fardringle

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

Do any DSLR cameras have a Face Detection feature? I love the way my Fuji S6000fd will automatically focus on human faces no matter where they are in the frame, even if there are other more prominent objects in the field of view such as the big candlesticks in that Consecration photo. Granted, the Face Detection chip in my camera wouldn't do as well with faces in profile like that shot, but its "evolution" the S100FS will detect side profiles as well as horizontal (lying down) profiles. (Fuji doesn't specifically say the S100FS is an S6000 replacement but they are VERY similar in many ways.)

I want a true SLR eventually, but I take a lot of candid shots of people (mostly my kids and their cousins) and the face detection helps keep the kids in focus even when they won't hold still.

the D3/300 advertises something like it, but it uses the 1000-pixel color meter. FYI, you can guess at face colors with that many pixels, but can't pick out eyes.

 

[SKORPI0]

Originally posted by: OdiN

So...what camera? heh.

Saved the pic, Consecration and properties shows this info.

Camera model --------------Canon EOS 5D
F-stop ----------------------- f/4
Exposure time---------------1/50 sec.
ISO Speed ------------------1SO-800
Exposure bias----------------0 step
Focal Length----------------- 105 mm

Nice, wish I had that instead of my XTi.

 

[rudder]

200mm f/1.8 prime FTW.... $3000+ cost of said lens FTL

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: soydios

Originally posted by: Fardringle

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

Do any DSLR cameras have a Face Detection feature? I love the way my Fuji S6000fd will automatically focus on human faces no matter where they are in the frame, even if there are other more prominent objects in the field of view such as the big candlesticks in that Consecration photo. Granted, the Face Detection chip in my camera wouldn't do as well with faces in profile like that shot, but its "evolution" the S100FS will detect side profiles as well as horizontal (lying down) profiles. (Fuji doesn't specifically say the S100FS is an S6000 replacement but they are VERY similar in many ways.)

I want a true SLR eventually, but I take a lot of candid shots of people (mostly my kids and their cousins) and the face detection helps keep the kids in focus even when they won't hold still.

the D3/300 advertises something like it, but it uses the 1000-pixel color meter. FYI, you can guess at face colors with that many pixels, but can't pick out eyes.

I think you may be confusing "AF engine" and "metering system". The 1005-pixel color meter, utilized in many of Nikon's offerings (I think since back to the D70), is used in the matrix metering mode to evaluate the scene and compare it to a database of sample shots to come up with the best settings. The AF engine in the D3 and D300 will focus track by color, but it's not the same thing as the matrix metering system.

 

[soydios]

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: soydios

Originally posted by: Fardringle

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

Do any DSLR cameras have a Face Detection feature? I love the way my Fuji S6000fd will automatically focus on human faces no matter where they are in the frame, even if there are other more prominent objects in the field of view such as the big candlesticks in that Consecration photo. Granted, the Face Detection chip in my camera wouldn't do as well with faces in profile like that shot, but its "evolution" the S100FS will detect side profiles as well as horizontal (lying down) profiles. (Fuji doesn't specifically say the S100FS is an S6000 replacement but they are VERY similar in many ways.)

I want a true SLR eventually, but I take a lot of candid shots of people (mostly my kids and their cousins) and the face detection helps keep the kids in focus even when they won't hold still.

the D3/300 advertises something like it, but it uses the 1000-pixel color meter. FYI, you can guess at face colors with that many pixels, but can't pick out eyes.

I think you may be confusing "AF engine" and "metering system". The 1005-pixel color meter, utilized in many of Nikon's offerings (I think since back to the D70), is used in the matrix metering mode to evaluate the scene and compare it to a database of sample shots to come up with the best settings. The AF engine in the D3 and D300 will focus track by color, but it's not the same thing as the matrix metering system.

I vaguely remember that the AF tracking pulls the tracking information from the 1005-pixel metering CCD, to figure out where in the frame the subject moved to. I don't think that a 51-segment phase-detect AF system could track a subject alone.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: soydios

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: soydios

Originally posted by: Fardringle

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

Do any DSLR cameras have a Face Detection feature? I love the way my Fuji S6000fd will automatically focus on human faces no matter where they are in the frame, even if there are other more prominent objects in the field of view such as the big candlesticks in that Consecration photo. Granted, the Face Detection chip in my camera wouldn't do as well with faces in profile like that shot, but its "evolution" the S100FS will detect side profiles as well as horizontal (lying down) profiles. (Fuji doesn't specifically say the S100FS is an S6000 replacement but they are VERY similar in many ways.)

I want a true SLR eventually, but I take a lot of candid shots of people (mostly my kids and their cousins) and the face detection helps keep the kids in focus even when they won't hold still.

the D3/300 advertises something like it, but it uses the 1000-pixel color meter. FYI, you can guess at face colors with that many pixels, but can't pick out eyes.

I think you may be confusing "AF engine" and "metering system". The 1005-pixel color meter, utilized in many of Nikon's offerings (I think since back to the D70), is used in the matrix metering mode to evaluate the scene and compare it to a database of sample shots to come up with the best settings. The AF engine in the D3 and D300 will focus track by color, but it's not the same thing as the matrix metering system.

I vaguely remember that the AF tracking pulls the tracking information from the 1005-pixel metering CCD, to figure out where in the frame the subject moved to. I don't think that a 51-segment phase-detect AF system could track a subject alone.

Given that the D3 and D300 are stated as being able to focus track based on color, I'd guess that you're right in that some information from the color metering system is being translated by the AF system. Other than that, the AF system can easily track subjects without the color recognition aspect. As far back as the F100/F5, the AF system in the top-line Nikon models has been able to track moving objects at ridiculous speeds (i.e., race cars). I'd assume the color aspect makes it able to ignore random objects crossing between camera and subject and stealing the focus.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

That's why cameras have multiple focus points. Just throw the AF system into single-point AF, choose the AF point you want to use, and place that AF point on what you want to focus on. Easy as that (very easy on a Nikon, I know Canon's method is a little more convoluted).

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: SKORPI0

Originally posted by: OdiN

So...what camera? heh.

Saved the pic, Consecration and properties shows this info.

Camera model --------------Canon EOS 5D
F-stop ----------------------- f/4
Exposure time---------------1/50 sec.
ISO Speed ------------------1SO-800
Exposure bias----------------0 step
Focal Length----------------- 105 mm

Nice, wish I had that instead of my XTi.

With this camera-lens combo, (I'm guessing the lens in question is the 24-105 f4 IS), a combo worth probably $3500 at least, not understanding the AF options is shocking to me. I can understand if the AF was set to "Dynamic" or "Closest Subject Priority" or something from the last gig and the photog forgot to change it (who hasn't done that with the metering mode or the AF mode), so I'm hoping that's what happened here. Still, I would have picked an example pic with a "correctly" focused image, assuming the photog didn't want a candlestick as the focused subject. Given that, I would have to say the vantage point could have been chosen better so that the candlestick isn't so prominent.

If the OP could get ISO-800, so could the news photog with no issues, even with the window directly behind the alter, which would have been a more compelling image with the two candlesticks framing the subjects performing the ceremony.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

That's why cameras have multiple focus points. Just throw the AF system into single-point AF, choose the AF point you want to use, and place that AF point on what you want to focus on. Easy as that (very easy on a Nikon, I know Canon's method is a little more convoluted).

Canon's method isn't convoluted at all.

There is a 9-way joystick on my 20/40D's and I just press it in the direction of the AF point that I want, or press down to select the center point - there is another button near there which goes back to the default of all of them selected.

Very simple.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

That's why cameras have multiple focus points. Just throw the AF system into single-point AF, choose the AF point you want to use, and place that AF point on what you want to focus on. Easy as that (very easy on a Nikon, I know Canon's method is a little more convoluted).

Canon's method isn't convoluted at all.

There is a 9-way joystick on my 20/40D's and I just press it in the direction of the AF point that I want, or press down to select the center point - there is another button near there which goes back to the default of all of them selected.

Very simple.

I don't want to get into a Nikon v Canon debate, as both cameras offer great things to their users, but when I went into Best Buy last week and played with the 5D and 40D, I couldn't figure out how to move the focus point, or change the AF method, for that matter. With Nikon, I was able to do this the very first time I picked one up. Maybe I missed something on the Canon.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

That's why cameras have multiple focus points. Just throw the AF system into single-point AF, choose the AF point you want to use, and place that AF point on what you want to focus on. Easy as that (very easy on a Nikon, I know Canon's method is a little more convoluted).

Canon's method isn't convoluted at all.

There is a 9-way joystick on my 20/40D's and I just press it in the direction of the AF point that I want, or press down to select the center point - there is another button near there which goes back to the default of all of them selected.

Very simple.

I don't want to get into a Nikon v Canon debate, as both cameras offer great things to their users, but when I went into Best Buy last week and played with the 5D and 40D, I couldn't figure out how to move the focus point, or change the AF method, for that matter. With Nikon, I was able to do this the very first time I picked one up. Maybe I missed something on the Canon.

The way I use my Canon is enabled via a custom function.

For changing the AF mode, there is a button right on the top labled "AF". Doesn't seem too difficult.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

That's why cameras have multiple focus points. Just throw the AF system into single-point AF, choose the AF point you want to use, and place that AF point on what you want to focus on. Easy as that (very easy on a Nikon, I know Canon's method is a little more convoluted).

Canon's method isn't convoluted at all.

There is a 9-way joystick on my 20/40D's and I just press it in the direction of the AF point that I want, or press down to select the center point - there is another button near there which goes back to the default of all of them selected.

Very simple.

I don't want to get into a Nikon v Canon debate, as both cameras offer great things to their users, but when I went into Best Buy last week and played with the 5D and 40D, I couldn't figure out how to move the focus point, or change the AF method, for that matter. With Nikon, I was able to do this the very first time I picked one up. Maybe I missed something on the Canon.

Stop saying Canon's is convoluted if you don't understand it. There are a few ways to pick the AF point via custom functions and what not. You pick one that is easier for you.
You can pick AF points with a button and a wheel, or use the joystick. AF mode is done using one button and wheel over to one of the three modes.

 

[warmodder]

Cool. I have the non-is version of that lens, it works really really well.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: Jawo
Nice pictures! Now if they could only develop an AF that focuses on what you want it to focus on....

That's why cameras have multiple focus points. Just throw the AF system into single-point AF, choose the AF point you want to use, and place that AF point on what you want to focus on. Easy as that (very easy on a Nikon, I know Canon's method is a little more convoluted).

Canon's method isn't convoluted at all.

There is a 9-way joystick on my 20/40D's and I just press it in the direction of the AF point that I want, or press down to select the center point - there is another button near there which goes back to the default of all of them selected.

Very simple.

I don't want to get into a Nikon v Canon debate, as both cameras offer great things to their users, but when I went into Best Buy last week and played with the 5D and 40D, I couldn't figure out how to move the focus point, or change the AF method, for that matter. With Nikon, I was able to do this the very first time I picked one up. Maybe I missed something on the Canon.

Stop saying Canon's is convoluted if you don't understand it. There are a few ways to pick the AF point via custom functions and what not. You pick one that is easier for you.
You can pick AF points with a button and a wheel, or use the joystick. AF mode is done using one button and wheel over to one of the three modes.

Don't feed the Noink fanboys

 

[soydios]

the Nikon/Canon debate is one of users only. pros using Canon or Nikon equipment can make equally good pictures (well, maybe except for the D3 at ISO6400, but I can guess what the 1DmkIIIN will bring!). personally, as a Nikon user, I cannot understand how you people use Canon controls. an on/off switch on the back, requiring another hand to just turn the camera on? a top-panel light switch that requires moving your finger from the shutter? On Nikon D70 or better bodies, the power and backlight are controlled via a ring around the shutter. But, I guess that if any Canon user picked up a Nikon camera, they would find the same roadblocks (until they realized how much better it is!).

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: soydios
the Nikon/Canon debate is one of users only. pros using Canon or Nikon equipment can make equally good pictures (well, maybe except for the D3 at ISO6400, but I can guess what the 1DmkIIIN will bring!). personally, as a Nikon user, I cannot understand how you people use Canon controls. an on/off switch on the back, requiring another hand to just turn the camera on? a top-panel light switch that requires moving your finger from the shutter? On Nikon D70 or better bodies, the power and backlight are controlled via a ring around the shutter. But, I guess that if any Canon user picked up a Nikon camera, they would find the same roadblocks (until they realized how much better it is!).

I love the controls on my Canon.

As for the on-off switch - this is moot.

Why turn it off? When I'm shooting something, I turn it on when I start, and it stays on until I'm done. No need to turn on/off during a shoot, so it's a non-issue.

It goes into sleep mode and just a half press of the shutter button and they spring to life (.19 seconds Canon says, and I believe it - it's FAST).

I've never used the controls on newer Noinks, but I probably wouldn't like them - because I'm not used to them. I am familiar with my Canon and everything is seamless to me. You're the same way with the Noink.