Canon 5D mrk III focus system set up question

shaylou

shaylou

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Shayne
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Do you think this is a good way to set the focus system. What would you consider the advantages and disadvantages. The set up is turning off the 61 point auto focus point and turning on the 41 point focus points. The idea is to only use cross type focus points and increasing your focus accuracy. Really like to get your input. Thanks.
Here is the page i found it on.
http://fstoppers.com/five-great-ways-to-customize-your-5d-mark-iii

:canon:
 
Haven't clicked the link, but I have both of mine set to cross type only. They're more accurate, faster / work better in low light, and more than enough to scroll through on their own. I only use 3 focus points for 95% of the time, adding one or two more now and then. Scrolling through 61 points would be a pointless chore.
 
With reference to the article: it's all down to personal preference, I know, but I would never assign the Depth of Field button to another function. I'd say using it to assess depth of field was a pretty damn sensible thing to do in many situations..

One very useful short cut I found was how to select the focus point using only the toggle button - is that what it's called? - just above the Q button. Don't ask me how I did it, though!
 
jerry12953 said:
With reference to the article: it's all down to personal preference, I know, but I would never assign the Depth of Field button to another function. I'd say using it to assess depth of field was a pretty damn sensible thing to do in many situations..

One very useful short cut I found was how to select the focus point using only the toggle button - is that what it's called? - just above the Q button. Don't ask me how I did it, though!
Click to expand...

Now i find that very strange, you judge your DOF that way :thinking:
 
Jayst84 said:
Haven't clicked the link, but I have both of mine set to cross type only. They're more accurate, faster / work better in low light, and more than enough to scroll through on their own. I only use 3 focus points for 95% of the time, adding one or two more now and then. Scrolling through 61 points would be a pointless chore.
Click to expand...

agreed

i'd set mine to 15 point mode, ease of getting from bottom left to top right is more important than a million focus points
 
jerry12953 said:
With reference to the article: it's all down to personal preference, I know, but I would never assign the Depth of Field button to another function. I'd say using it to assess depth of field was a pretty damn sensible thing to do in many situations..

One very useful short cut I found was how to select the focus point using only the toggle button - is that what it's called? - just above the Q button. Don't ask me how I did it, though!
Click to expand...

You are the first person ive read that uses the DOF button for that. Im sure many do but in all the years ive had Canon cameras my 5DMKIII is the first camera ive used that button for, and not for DOF.
In fact looking around the various 5D thread it seems a lot of people use the button to switch between One shot and AI servo. It seems this button is now useful to a lot more people.

As for the selecting the AF points with the thumb stick, its just a menu setting.
 
Neil B said:
Now i find that very strange, you judge your DOF that way :thinking:
Click to expand...

:agree: agreed. I can't see much in the way of dof from that button. At most it gives me a ball park but heck if you understand dof you already should have a ballpark of how the dof will come out. When dof is very critical I take a shot and zoom in on it to see a more accurate view. Sure it takes an extra 3 seconds but life is not that short. lol

:canon:
 
Jayst84 said:
Haven't clicked the link, but I have both of mine set to cross type only. They're more accurate, faster / work better in low light, and more than enough to scroll through on their own. I only use 3 focus points for 95% of the time, adding one or two more now and then. Scrolling through 61 points would be a pointless chore.
Click to expand...

I too use only a few points most of the time so this seems like an easy choice. I just did not know if I was missing something that might make this a bad option to go with. I missed focusing on some shots of a life time and really never want to do that again. Part of me felt like it was because I was moving and shooting on the fly but I'm not sure if using the wrong focus points or focus setting could of contributed to the problem. Here is one of the shots I am referring to.View attachment 10189
 
And for those that might try it for the first time, yes, the screen/VF goes very dark. That's normal :)

I can see how useful it can be for close up or macro work, in fact that's the only time I have found it useful, but the way it let's you instantly switch AI servo on has been so useful I'll never re program that button.
 
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jerry12953 said:
Call me old fashioned, but - with the depth of field button......? Or is your sense of irony escaping me?

I don't use it very often but I would suggest to less experienced users that they try it!
Click to expand...

Do you really find it useful? I find my experience of using a camera is much more accurate than a small change in a tiny viewfinder.

I know you say less experienced users, but the viewfinder is such a poor representation of the final image for that use, I'm not sure how useful it can be.
 
Some nice suggestions - I'm also with Jerry on this one, use the DOF preview quite a bit myself and surely if you're using back button AF , then it kinda eradicates the need for an AF mode switch, just leave it in AI SERVO
 
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