Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Once again, Arthur Morris of BirdsAsArt.com has provided a great set of information on the 1DIII.
So I'm taking the liberty of reformatting the information without changing a word! (except AFSP to AFPS to have the abbreviation matching its use as reported by Artie)
CHUCK WESTFALL’S AF COMMENTS
Chuck Westfall is one of Canon’s top tech reps. Below are a selection of his comments that might prove helpful to many of you.
There are several ways to select focusing points on the 1D Mark III:
A. Manual Selection
B. Automatic focusing point selection mode (AFPS), camera selects focusing point automatically.)
The information below is accurate for all Canon 1D class cameras (including the EOS 1D MII).
Thanks Chuck, and Artie for sharing this valuable information. This alone is a good start to either getting things right or else to get it totally screwed up!
Asher
So I'm taking the liberty of reformatting the information without changing a word! (except AFSP to AFPS to have the abbreviation matching its use as reported by Artie)
CHUCK WESTFALL’S AF COMMENTS
Chuck Westfall is one of Canon’s top tech reps. Below are a selection of his comments that might prove helpful to many of you.
There are several ways to select focusing points on the 1D Mark III:
A. Manual Selection
- Manual selection of a single focusing point.
- Manual selection of single focusing point, with C.Fn III-8-1 (selected point plus 1 point on either side when possible, for a total of up to 3 active points).
- Manual selection of single focusing point with C.Fn III-8-2 engaged (selected point plus 1 point in all available directions, for up to 7 active points).
- When the focusing point is manually selected, the 1D Mark III can be set up to allow selection of
[*]9 inner points plus center point,
[*]9 outer points plus center point, or
[*]18 points plus center point.
B. Automatic focusing point selection mode (AFPS), camera selects focusing point automatically.)
The information below is accurate for all Canon 1D class cameras (including the EOS 1D MII).
Automatic Focusing Point Selection:
- The camera selects a focusing point for you, choosing from all 45 points. AFPS behavior varies according to your choice of focusing modes:
- When One-Shot AF is combined with AFPS, the camera typically selects the closest subject with readable contrast. Since the subject may be large enough to cover several focusing points simultaneously, the viewfinder’s focusing point display may illuminate as many as 13 points simultaneously.
- If focus cannot be achieved, the in-focus indicator below the picture area blinks.
- When AI Servo AF is combined with AFPS, the camera shuts off all focusing points except the central one until the subject has been identified. (Important note: my ignorance of the preceding statement may explain some or all of the problems that I have had with 45-point AF over the years… I just asked Robert O’Toole if he consciously acquired focus with the central sensor when using 45-point and he said, “Of course; that’s how you have to do it otherwise it won’t work.” Duh…)
- Once the camera has started to track the subject with the center point, all 45 points are activated and the camera is able to track movement not only towards or away from the camera, but anywhere the subject moves within the 45-point coverage area.
Thanks Chuck, and Artie for sharing this valuable information. This alone is a good start to either getting things right or else to get it totally screwed up!
Asher