> Unless I don't understand what lag really is, shouldn't such tests be done
> with the lens at MF? I would have thought that AF time would be a highly
> variable thing.
Yes, you are correct. But the same lens also performs differently
on different cameras, performing better on the 1D series than on the
consumer series. In action photography, several factors are important
for recording the action: low shutter lag, fast autofocus, fast
tracking of focus, and focus accuracy. Imagine you are a sports
photographer following a receiver about to catch the football.
As the runner changes distance toward you, the camera must
track the subject and not only change focus, but project
the focal point at the time the shutter actually fires, compensating
for shutter lag. Same with tracking birds in flight or a
grizzly bear charging you. My experience with the 10D and 20D
cameras is they fail pretty quickly as speed picks up. The 1D Mark II
does well at much higher velocities (large birds in flight
are tracked very well even when they fill the viewfinder).
At 8.5 frames per second, the 1D Mark II tracks and maintains
focus on large birds filling the frame.
My dogs are too fast even for the 1D II when running towards
me when they fill the frame of a 300 mm lens. Small birds can
appear totally at rest and then mostly out of the frame
when shooting at 8.5 frames per second(!) so are too fast
of the 1D Mark II. I've not had problems tracking bears
in action (moving 1,000 pounds takes time, even for a grizzly).
Bird photos:
http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.bird
Bears:
http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.bear
>>In real world action conditions, I would have two problems with
>>the 10D: 1) erratic action (e.g. bird in flight) with a complex
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> that when it's hunting (and I'm hand holding) it's impossible to keep the AF
> point on the subject because it's so blurry.
That's the difference with the 1D series. By the time the 20D
has hunted, the bird is usually landed or gone. You really
have only a few seconds of optimum position: frame filling
frontal view. A couple of seconds later and all you get is the
bird sitting in a bush, or the tail and back as it flies away.
The 1D II, however, is able to reacquire the bird in a tiny
fraction of a second in my experience. I've tracked many
birds as they come in for a landing, and lost the focus more
than once but got it back as soon as I got the focus point back on
the bird's eye (typically using a 500 mm f/4 lens, sometimes
with 1.4 or 2x TCs).
> I'd just LOVE to try this on a 1D class machine :(
It was hard for me to spend the money on the 1D Mark II
($4500 in 2004; now about $3500), but I have never
regretted spending that money. The performance
difference between the 1D II and consumer DSLRs to me
feels like the difference in consumer DSLRs and a
slow point and shoot camera.
Roger
C J Southern - 30 Jul 2006 11:29 GMT
> Imagine you are a sports
> photographer following a receiver about to catch the football.
Nah - who'd wanna photograph those nancy-boys who have more padding than a
king-sized mattress ;)
Can I imagine I'm protographing the All Blacks kicking Australia's butts
again?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_blacks
> I've not had problems tracking bears
> in action (moving 1,000 pounds takes time, even for a grizzly).
If I ever get to photograph a grizzly I hope it's the rear end I'm shooting
as it's going away from me!
> It was hard for me to spend the money on the 1D Mark II
> ($4500 in 2004; now about $3500), but I have never
> regretted spending that money. The performance
> difference between the 1D II and consumer DSLRs to me
> feels like the difference in consumer DSLRs and a
> slow point and shoot camera.
OK - I'm jealous.
I think I'll wait for the next revision and see what I can justify spending
from there - I need to start thinking about my retirement savings, damn it
:(
I'd love to get my hands on one for a trial though.
Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) - 30 Jul 2006 20:20 GMT
>>It was hard for me to spend the money on the 1D Mark II
>>($4500 in 2004; now about $3500), \
> I think I'll wait for the next revision and see what I can justify spending
> from there - I need to start thinking about my retirement savings, damn it
> :(
>
> I'd love to get my hands on one for a trial though.
My idea for anyone nearing retirement and wanting to get
into serious photography (works for any fun stuff as you
reach retirement):
Set your retirement date. Then decide how much you
want to spend on the fun stuff (e.g. $20,000 in photo
gear). At your retirement date, start a lifestyle and
spending as if you are retired, but don't retire.
As you continue to work, put the difference into
savings for those fun toys. Once your savings reach
your goal, then retire, buy the toys and
start having fun.
But if you are young and just starting retirement savings,
it's a long haul. (second job?) It's not easy when trying
to raise a family too.
(been there)
Roger