Canon announces Dual-Pixel AF upgrade for C100

[Andy Wilkinson]

Just trying to clear something up in my mind. Am I right in assuming this Dual-Pixel Autofocus upgrade coming in Feb 2014 will only work with (most) Canon EF and any Canon STM lenses, i.e. but NOT with any Canon EF-S lenses?

Reason I ask is because my Canon EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS happens to be my main run-n-gun lens with the C100.

[Bob Ohlemann]

I can't see any reason it wouldn't work with EF-s lenses. Works just fine on my 70D, including 3rd party crop-only lenses like the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8.

Bob

[Nicholas de Kock]

Centre AF is very disappointing, about as useful as centre magnification, the subject is rarely in the centre :(

[Andy Wilkinson]

Bob, thanks for the reply. That all makes perfect sense, of course. But I am sure I saw a table of "supported lenses" somewhere in the last day or so and there were no EF-S lenses on the list (and a few EF lenses missing too).

Now, I sure wish I could find that web link that I had stumbled upon to check if it was a legit source!

[Bob Ohlemann]

This link says it will autofocus with all EF lenses except for manual focus lenses. I can see where someone might interpret the text as not including EF-S but, when I look at Canon's website, EF-S lenses are included under the umbrella of EF lenses.

Canon U.S.A. : EOS C100 Feature Upgrade

Bob

[Matt Davis]

Thanks to Mike Bishop for posting Dan Chung's interview from InterBee.

This is just speculation of course, but Mr Onda (sic) infers that the C100 always had this ability, but it requires individual lining up and adjustment - the upgrade fee is mostly 'Service' rather than hardware such as a new sensor. I could imagine that if every camera needed fettling in the hands of an engineer for an hour or two before sale, it would add significantly to the cost (to a very price sensitive market).

Hence, it's up to the end user whether it's worth $500 for the functionality (around the base cost of a Follow Focus unit, LOL).

But that also highlights the new firmware - if, for example, the AF area was tied to the now movable MAGN. area, that would be awesome. After all, that's obviously the 'focus of interest'.

[Nate Haustein]

Originally Posted by Bob Ohlemann

I can't see any reason it wouldn't work with EF-s lenses. Works just fine on my 70D, including 3rd party crop-only lenses like the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8.

Bob, how consistent is the performance with the 11-16mm? That is one lens I think I'd really like having autofocus on.

[Bob Ohlemann]

Originally Posted by Nate Haustein

Bob, how consistent is the performance with the 11-16mm? That is one lens I think I'd really like having autofocus on.

It is very good. Not quite as silent as an STM lens but it focuses quickly with virtually no hunting even with a 6-stop ND. It is really fun with the 70D because you can maintain focus on a subject at the far edge of a very wide field of view.

Bob

[Jim Snow]

Bob, how reliable is autofocus on the 70d in low light?

[Michael Bishop]

Jim I thing the auto focus work well in low light. Now if something moves in front of what you focus it will focus on that subject. I'm a little new to shooting. I started back in Dec 2012 with a Canon ViXIA HF G10 witch I still have but pick up a 70D a few months ago. So I'm learning to get expose right and stuff. But here a post I made with a video I shoot at night. Frist time have it out at night. I was using the 50mm 1/8 lens for it. No lens hood on it. I was picking up green reflections I think from the led light that they had on the trees. Plus I might need to cover the view finder when shoot down there. So not the best shooter yet.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-eo...oot-night.html

[Bob Ohlemann]

Originally Posted by Jim Snow

Bob, how reliable is autofocus on the 70d in low light?

I would say the low light focus capability of the dual-pixel AF is the best of any DSLR I've used. I currently own a 7D, 5DII, and a 1DIII in addition to the 70D so, yeah...pretty good.

Bob

[Jim Snow]

How does it handle shallow depth of field with a wide open aperture?

[Bob Ohlemann]

Originally Posted by Jim Snow

How does it handle shallow depth of field with a wide open aperture?

Very well but, you can get into trouble if there is a lot of material under the focus point. If the DOF is really thin and the area under the focus point has significant depth, the camera will not know what you want in focus. That said, the 70D has excellent facial recognition that locks on and holds focus very well.

Bob

[Andy Wilkinson]

This video from Dan Chung has some great shots showing Dual Pixel AF in action on a C100 with an EF-S lens.

Inter BEE 2013: Testing the Canon C100 Dual Pixel CMOS AF on Vimeo

[Nicholas de Kock]

Give us face tracking & the upgrade might be worth the money. I don't understand why pro bodies don't have face tracking? I mostly film people for a living, what is this centre focus crap?