topic Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

crockny — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 14:59:50 GMT

I am using my relatively new 5D Mark III with my old 400mm 5.6 lens for bird photography. It often will not grab focus. I have to manually focus closer before it focuses. It doesn't seem to matter which distance setting I use on the lens.

So I am missing quite a few bird shots. I have no problem when using my old 7D.

I don't know if this is a full-frame issue, my particular copy of the camera issue, the combination of lens and camera, or something in my setup, even though I followed an online tutorial for setting up the 5D Mark III for bird photography.

Anyone have experience with this issue?

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

kvbarkley — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 15:35:10 GMT

Are you sure you are using the f/5.6 focus points?

Do you have a teleconverter installed?

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

ebiggs1 — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 16:57:24 GMT

"Anyone have experience with this issue?"

This type thing is almost always the lens. If you have other lenses, do they focus OK on the 5D3?

I would for sure turn off all the other focus points and use just the center one. That could be the problem right there.

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

Waddizzle — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 17:07:10 GMT

"I don't know if this is a full-frame issue, my particular copy of the camera issue, the combination of lens and camera, or something in my setup, even though I followed an online tutorial for setting up the 5D Mark III for bird photography."

Remember your settings, and clear them out of the camera, or reset the camera. I suspect you're just climbing the learning curve with the camera, which is a big jump in auto focus over a 7D. They could conduct a class at a junior college on how to use it.

Go back to square one [green square mode], back to the basics, and see how well the lens performs on static subjects.

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

diverhank — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 17:56:39 GMT

I have the 5d3 and the 400mm f/5.6L and often shoot with the combo and I never had any problems like yours. There is one thing you should check...the option called "Lens drive when AF impossible" -purple AF4 - make sure this option is set to ON:continue focus search. Setting it to off will often stall the focusing

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

Waddizzle — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 18:25:36 GMT

@diverhank wrote:
I have the 5d3 and the 400mm f/5.6L and often shoot with the combo and I never had any problems like yours. There is one thing you should check...the option called "Lens drive when AF impossible" -purple AF4 - make sure this option is set to ON:continue focus search. Setting it to off will often stall the focusing

Personally, I like setting it to OFF. It makes a difference when the lens is lost, and cannot lock focus. It saves battery life, as it continues hunting. You get less noise from the lens, as it continues hunting. It saves time.

I don't mind giving the lens the manual assist. Just about the only time it happens is when I am switching from one extreme to the other, meaning very close subject at close to the shortest focal length, to one at near infinite focus at close to the longest focal length.

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

diverhank — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 18:29:58 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
@diverhank wrote:
I have the 5d3 and the 400mm f/5.6L and often shoot with the combo and I never had any problems like yours. There is one thing you should check...the option called "Lens drive when AF impossible" -purple AF4 - make sure this option is set to ON:continue focus search. Setting it to off will often stall the focusing
Personally, I like setting it to OFF. It makes a difference when the lens is lost, and cannot lock focus. It saves battery life, as it continues hunting. You get less noise from the lens, as it continues hunting. It saves time.

I don't mind giving the lens the manual assist. Just about the only time it happens is when I am switching from one extreme to the other, meaning very close subject at close to the shortest focal length, to one at near infinite focus at close to the longest focal length.

I hear you but not when the difference is make or break getting a once in a season shot... there's simply no time to nudge the lens

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

ebiggs1 — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 21:51:32 GMT

"... not when the difference is make or break getting a once in a season shot."

And who gives a ---- about battery life. Take two batteries for pete's sake.

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

Waddizzle — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 22:04:30 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"... not when the difference is make or break getting a once in a season shot."

And who gives a ---- about battery life. Take two batteries for pete's sake.

Changing batteries takes time, too. More time than nudging the lens.

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

ebiggs1 — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 12:44:12 GMT

"Changing batteries takes time ..."

That's why most folks do it at home 'after' the shoot. Not during the shoot. Must be a trick to charge your battery in the field shooting a BIF. You have my permission, nudge away!

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

crockny — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 22:57:09 GMT

1. I never had this issue with the 7D so I don't think it's the lens. But you are right - the focusing options are beyond belief on the 5D ... that's why I followed a birding tutorial when setting them.

2. I use the center focus single spot except when close to a bird when I move the single spot around..

3. I did have the "lens drive when autofocus impossible" set to "off". I remember I had it on "on" but was getting blurry shots ... apparently you can't win ... !

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

crockny — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 22:58:05 GMT

Not sure what you mean by the 5.6 focus points...
No teleconverter - it wouldn't work with this lens.

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

crockny — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 22:59:32 GMT

I most often have the issue when focusing on something small in the distance ...

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

kvbarkley — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:00:44 GMT

From the online specs:

"61-point (up to 41 cross-type points)
* One to five cross-type AF points at f/2.8, 10 to 20 cross-type AF points at f/4, and 15 to 21 cross-type AF points at f/5.6. (The number of cross-type AF points will differ depending on the lens.) "

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

crockny — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:03:41 GMT

Interesting - I did try auto and had no problem going from a "close" subject to "far" and vice versa. But in manual with my settings I had to "nudge" them both ...

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

crockny — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:07:11 GMT

It may be as simple as that ... I did the same experiment twice on static subjects and had trouble with my regular settings but not when I switched the "lens drive when AF impossible" to ON ... go figure. I know I changed this setting for a reason ... probably too much "hunting" at some point ...

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

Waddizzle — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:28:18 GMT

@crockny wrote:
It may be as simple as that ... I did the same experiment twice on static subjects and had trouble with my regular settings but not when I switched the "lens drive when AF impossible" to ON ... go figure. I know I changed this setting for a reason ... probably too much "hunting" at some point ...

I hear ya about the too much hunting. Exactly why I have it turned OFF. I use the center point for focusing, with assist points when I use AI Servo.

BTW, I think your 400 f/5.6 can tolerate a 1.4x extender on a 5D3, provided you use the center AF point. AF points have set upper limits on f/stop that they can still focus. Some high end cameras can go to f/8.

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

Waddizzle — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 18:05:49 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"Changing batteries takes time ..."

That's why most folks do it at home 'after' the shoot. Not during the shoot. Must be a trick to charge your battery in the field shooting a BIF. You have my permission, nudge away!

Yup, I do it at home. But, some guy just told me to do change them in the field.

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

diverhank — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 00:38:26 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
@crockny wrote:
It may be as simple as that ... I did the same experiment twice on static subjects and had trouble with my regular settings but not when I switched the "lens drive when AF impossible" to ON ... go figure. I know I changed this setting for a reason ... probably too much "hunting" at some point ...
I hear ya about the too much hunting. Exactly why I have it turned OFF. I use the center point for focusing, with assist points when I use AI Servo.

BTW, I think your 400 f/5.6 can tolerate a 1.4x extender on a 5D3, provided you use the center AF point. AF points have set upper limits on f/stop that they can still focus. Some high end cameras can go to f/8.

Turning this option on does not affect hunting at all in my experience. This option is designed for larger lenses not the 400/5.6. Even for the 600 f/4, it never hunts. Personally that option is out dated, designed for old super teles. All it does now is stalling your focusing

Re: Focussing issue with 5D Mark III

RobertTheFat — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 01:09:24 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:
"... not when the difference is make or break getting a once in a season shot."

And who gives a ---- about battery life. Take two batteries for pete's sake.
Changing batteries takes time, too. More time than nudging the lens.

I'm not a fan of battery grips; but that, after all, is what they're for.