topic Re: Camera upgrade advice, please! in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Camera upgrade advice, please!

Cheila — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 11:58:02 GMT

Hi This is my first post here.

I have a Canon EOS 600D (Rebel T3i) and I recently got a Canon EF Lens 50mm and I love it! The problem is the camera takes a very long time to focus, even though I have a fast SD card. Should I upgrade my camera to a more recent one? I'm just an amateaur so I don't want to spend a lot. Which camera do you think I should get and why? Thanks a lot in advance!!

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Waddizzle — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 12:32:22 GMT

How long is it taking to focus? Are you using the camera indoors? Tell us how we can reproduce your issue.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Cheila — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 12:54:30 GMT

Both indoors and outdoors. I think it's just the way it is. I mean slow compared to my phone.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Waddizzle — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 13:02:16 GMT

@Cheilawrote:
Both indoors and outdoors. I think it's just the way it is. I mean slow compared to my phone.

It should focus fairly quickly with that lens. But, some circumstances can make focusing slow or impossible. Being too close can make focus impossible. The camera needs to see contrast where it focuses. For example, the camera will difficulty focusing on a blank wall.

[EDIT] Your new lens could be defective. Return it, or exchange it for a new one.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

RobertTheFat — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 14:26:19 GMT

@Cheilawrote:
Both indoors and outdoors. I think it's just the way it is. I mean slow compared to my phone.

Did you use the camera with other lenses before you got the 50 mm? What's the chronology here? Did you buy your equipment new or used?

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

MikeSowsun — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 14:39:13 GMT

Live View focusing using the LCD screen on the back of the camera can be slow.

When you use the optical viewfinder, is it also slow?

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Cheila — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 15:06:25 GMT

https://youtu.be/sRLq_FqTGVU I recorded this. The first 2 shots are with the lens that came with the camera. The second 2 shots are with the new lens. Both are slow, but I think with the new lens it's a little slower. I haven't tried using the viewfinder! Maybe I should try that!
The camera was new back when I got it, as well as the lens.
So you think getting a new camera will not make a big difference?

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Waddizzle — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 15:12:17 GMT

Yes, you should try using the viewfinder. The LCD screen uses a separate focusing system than the viewfinder.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Stephen — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 16:38:32 GMT

The T3i came out before our STM lens technology and before the advances we made in both Dual Pixel Auto Focus. That means that it has to hunt to focus and compare the contrast in the scene using the DIGIC IV processor (we're up to DIGIC 8). That means it can take a few seconds, using Live View (the LCD).

For best results, when taking photos, you want to use the viewfinder - it will use its separate focusing system (rather than the DIGIC processor) and will focus nearly instantly, given proper lighting.

When taking video, it will still use the phase contrast method of focusing and will hunt. We recommend using manual focus, or pre-focusing your subjects, otherwise you will lose focus and hear the lens during recording.

As a note, all of our newer Rebels that end in "i" like the T6i and T7i support our STM lenses, and the Rebel T7i has our groundbreaking Dual Pixel Autofocus technology that allows for near instant (and silent with an STM lens) focus, whether you're taking photos with the viewfinder, or shooting videos. You can even touch the LCD screen to manually focus on a specific item.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Cheila — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 17:05:30 GMT

Thanks a lot everyone! I will experiment using the viewfinder and hopefully it will help ☺️ Sorry I didn't even know that made a difference!

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

RobertTheFat — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 18:14:41 GMT

@Stephenwrote:
The T3i came out before our STM lens technology and before the advances we made in both Dual Pixel Auto Focus. That means that it has to hunt to focus and compare the contrast in the scene using the DIGIC IV processor (we're up to DIGIC 8). That means it can take a few seconds, using Live View (the LCD).

For best results, when taking photos, you want to use the viewfinder - it will use its separate focusing system (rather than the DIGIC processor) and will focus nearly instantly, given proper lighting.

When taking video, it will still use the phase contrast method of focusing and will hunt. We recommend using manual focus, or pre-focusing your subjects, otherwise you will lose focus and hear the lens during recording.

As a note, all of our newer Rebels that end in "i" like the T6i and T7i support our STM lenses, and the Rebel T7i has our groundbreaking Dual Pixel Autofocus technology that allows for near instant (and silent with an STM lens) focus, whether you're taking photos with the viewfinder, or shooting videos. You can even touch the LCD screen to manually focus on a specific item.

Huh?? Do earlier and "non i" Rebels not support the STM lenses? What happens if you try to use one?

For years we've been telling all who inquired that Any EF or EF-S lens can be used on any of Canon's APS-C cameras. Have we been wrong to preach that sermon?

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Stephen — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 18:26:54 GMT

Hey Bob!

All EF/EF-S lenses work (fit, achieve focus and all normal functions) on our APS-C cameras (Rebels and XXD cameras).

If a lens has an STM motor, anything older than the T4i and non "i" models like the T5, T6 and T7 won't be able to take advantage of that technology (instant silent focusing during Live View or Video), but normal focusing will work just fine!

Sorry if I wasn't clear on that!

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

RobertTheFat — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 18:45:22 GMT

@Stephenwrote:
Hey Bob!

All EF/EF-S lenses work (fit, achieve focus and all normal functions) on our APS-C cameras (Rebels and XXD cameras).

If a lens has an STM motor, anything older than the T4i and non "i" models like the T5, T6 and T7 won't be able to take advantage of that technology (instant silent focusing during Live View or Video), but normal focusing will work just fine!

Sorry if I wasn't clear on that!

I'm still confused. Do STM lenses have two autofocus motors - one STM and one not? Or do the older cameras work with manual focusing only? Sorry to be such a blockhead, but I've had no experience with STM lenses. I graduated out of Rebels before they came along.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Stephen — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 19:00:09 GMT

Hey Bob!

The STM lenses just have the stepping motor. The difference is that the older and entry-level cameras can't take advantage of the stepping motor in video mode or Live View (whenever you're using the LCD). The stepping motor acts just like a DC motor when you use the viewfinder to take a normal photo. Auto focusing works just like any other non-STM lens on an older/entry-level camera.

What this means is that for normal viewfinder photo taking, an STM lens will work just like any other lens. When using for video or Live View, the camera doesn't know how to use the electronics of the STM motor, so it will treat it like a DC motor and it will still hunt for focus, and during the hunt you will hear the lens focusing. It seems odd, but I just tested it with an STM motor on a T2i. It's quieter, but you can still hear it, while you hear nothing with the same lens on a T7i. The T2i just doesn't know how to handle the STM electronic components, so it pretends they're not there.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

ScottyP — Wed, 23 May 2018 00:15:06 GMT

I had a T3i and I never used live view focusing, but it was still slow focusing I had the biggest issue with on that camera. Even using the viewfinder to focus it was slow to focus in indoor or dim light. Newer Rebels are now much much better at this, but the T3i would buzz and fire off focus assist bursts from the flash trying to focus. I think it was the T6i which received the upgraded dim light focus ability.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Cheila — Wed, 23 May 2018 08:45:40 GMT

Thank you Scotty! ☺️ Meanwhile I tried using the viewfinder instead of live view. It is faster but still has trouble focusing sometimes, even in bright daylight (maybe it was too bright). And I find that I just really like using the live view 😅 The screen is very flexible so I can shoot animals with the camera on the ground, behind fences and other crazy perspectives that would not be possible with my head and body on the way.
I think I'll look into cameras again ☺️ Thanks!!

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Waddizzle — Thu, 24 May 2018 00:39:14 GMT

@Cheila wrote:
Thank you Scotty! ☺️ Meanwhile I tried using the viewfinder instead of live view. It is faster but still has trouble focusing sometimes, even in bright daylight (maybe it was too bright). And I find that I just really like using the live view 😅 The screen is very flexible so I can shoot animals with the camera on the ground, behind fences and other crazy perspectives that would not be possible with my head and body on the way.
I think I'll look into cameras again ☺️ Thanks!!

If you like using the screen, then you might want to look at a Canon M Series camera body. With the Canon lens adapter you can even use the same 50mm lens that you are using now.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

Ana-Luis — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 18:42:07 GMT

Need more information about Canon EOS Rebel t3.

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

kvbarkley — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:12:48 GMT

Like what?

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/eos-dslr-and-mirrorless-cameras/dslr/eos-rebel-t3/eos-rebel-t3?cm_sp=CSO-_-PFListing-_-RebelT3

Re: Camera upgrade advice, please!

ebiggs1 — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:38:44 GMT

This is very simple to solve. First out of curiosity, the lens is Canon brand? OK, first reset the camera to factory. menu, tools, clear all settings and all custom settings. Now set the camera to P mode. ISO 200, Average WB, Set the lens switch to AF. On a nice sunny day go outside and take some shots. Do not change the settings. Use the VF and not the LV screen.

All should be as it should be. If not.......well if not that's bad. Something is broken, if it works everything is OK.