5D3 + AF assist beam = slower focus

[Carerra911]

Hello All,

While I am new on these forums I have been on the Canon Rumors Forums for a few years now, 

I really wanted to bring this too the attention of you and Canon as it is simply a highly important problem, those of you that don't know, the 5D3 suffers serious focus locking issues when a Canon speedite is attached in Low light, the AF assist beam causes lag with the AF from the 5D3, this makes it virtually impossible to achieve focus in low light when the speedlite is attached, I wanted to bring the topic to this forum, so I have pasted a link to all the discussion we have already had about this problem at Canon Rumors.com - see below

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=10275.0

Please help in letting Canon know this is a very serious problem and effects the cameras performance in most working environments when a speedlite is attached and working in low light, conferences, nightclub work, weddings etc, and can stop the photographer completing the job or task.

Regards

Louis

[ScottyP]

15. Eliminates competition from 3rd party battery makers by cutting communication between non-Canon batteries and the camera's battery meter. Please be good to the environment and take your non-Canon batteries to a battery disposal facility and do not put them in with your residential trash collection.

[echelonphoto]

Anyone install this update yet? Really want to know how the flash beam focus works now

[Crista]

Hi everyone,

Just to be clear, the firmware update does include an improvement to the AF speed when using the Speedlite’s AF-assist beam.  You can see the complete list of improvements and fixes in our product advisory by clicking here

Thank you Carerra911 for clarifying!

[dll1477]

Excellent;  thank-you Crista.  would you be at liberty to clarify the battery issue that appears to have been introduced with this revision?

[digital]

Should we start a new thread on user results in the the EOS category or just continue here? There were mutiple threads on this at one time.  

[Alfonz]

I have that issue with the 600 ex rt i rented. slight lag from the auto focus lock to the shutter release. but i havent had major issues with af while using a custom bracket. sometimes the flash and the camera arent aligned properly with eachother so i slightly shift the camera to align it with the af beam. i really wish canon would update their oc3 cord with a built in af beam like the nikons do. nikons imo have always outperformed canon in lowlight. 

[ChrisBurch]

Just installed the 1.2.1 firmware update in my 5D3 and it does seem to focus more quickly in low light with the IR assist.  I have a gig tomorrow and will be able to confirm after that.  

I would REALLY like to know when this will be fixed on the 1DX.  It's just as bad as the 5D3!

[digital]

Keep us updated.

[digital]

There is a pro wedding photographer at the POTN forums who is going to give the 5D3 a try this weekend. He has been shooting in AI Servo was a work around but prefers One Shot when Servo is not required. I'll update his findings as well.   

[glongstaff]

okay for us Brits:

http://www.canon.co.uk/Support/Consumer_Products/products/cameras/Digital_SLR/EOS_5D_Mark_III.aspx?f...

Have still to test out the update but all went easy yesterday