[Samsungian]

AF tracking w/ Canon 7D video & stills

Enjoy:

7D #2 In the Cold of Winter

[jensm]

That is just so amazingly impressive when being used to a K10D which can't track a snail...

I really hope that Pentax will be able to implement a brand new AF system rather than the same old Safox with new algorithms as in K7.

/Jens

[Jasvox]

To be honest, the conditions of this shoot are ideal for fast shutter speeds and fast AF. I'd like to see this in other conditions...

Jason

[heliphoto]

To be honest, the conditions of this shoot are ideal for fast shutter speeds and fast AF. I'd like to see this in other conditions...

Jason

True, but the last in focus photo a Pentax would have taken in those conditions is one of the dog sitting waiting .

[pcarfan]

That is just so amazingly impressive when being used to a K10D which can't track a snail...

I really hope that Pentax will be able to implement a brand new AF system rather than the same old Safox with new algorithms as in K7.

/Jens

K-7 has usable AF unlike the K10D. In the K10D the AF-C gets in the way of taking actions shots, I used the AF-S faster. In the K-7 you can actually use it, however it is still way behind Canikons.

[Eruditass]

I'd still love to see how well the K-7 and K-x perform in a similar test just to see how far behind we are.

[PentaxPoke]

I'd still love to see how well the K-7 and K-x perform in a similar test just to see how far behind we are.

About 19 years:

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-gfkUJA6dY[/YT]
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-TPzui2Oxs[/YT]

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Last edited by PentaxPoke; 01-08-2010 at 01:20 AM.

[dylansalt]

sad very sad:-( indeed

[KungPOW]

Can we assume that the EOS-1n has a better autofocus system then the EOS 700?

Eos 700, single line type autofocus point.

Eos-1n, 5 points, center is cross type.

My K10D has far better autofocus in a dark room then my EOS-1n did.

The Canon would easily give up, and just stop focusing. It also required a focus point with much greater contrast then the K10D does. The K10D on the other hand will continue to search for a lock, and usually get it.

So, although this youtube example looks like the Canon is handily beating the K-7, take it with a grain of salt.

From personal experiance, this is my list of autofocus systems with increasing "strength"

PZ-1p
EOS-1n
K10D
F100
D200

[PentaxPoke]

Can we assume that the EOS-1n has a better autofocus system then the EOS 700?

I don't know. This is just more ammunition regarding slow AF of Pentax DSLR's. No modern DSLR should be beaten by a 2-decades old AF system.
Regarding the PZ-1p, I have read from other Pentax users that they think it is the fastest Pentax AF system ever, and beat thier k10d and k20d.


Did you see this one as well? Compared with the 7D using 5 stops less available light, the 7D with 70-200 f/4 was still twice as fast as the k-7 50-135 f/2.8:

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngUcQUchHEU[/YT]

I'm sure we will see the response regarding the myth about Canon sacrificing accuracy for speed, yet no one has ever proven that. I also suspect pro sports shooters wouldn't put up with such a situation if it were true. The results of this video are consistent with the experiences I have had as well, in similar light. I don't think there was anything wrong with his 50-135.

[KungPOW]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Pentax's autofocus, I'm just pointing out that tests such as shown in this video are not the end all and be all acid test for an autofocus system.

The PZ-1p is louder, and it might appear to snap to its focus point faster, but it is a single horizontal focus point. It cannot focus on an item of horizontal lines. You need to tilt the camera 45° lock focus and then recompose. It is not as good as the K10D in low light or low contrast scenes. I have never used the PZ-1p tracking motion, so I can't comment here.

I agree that Pentax needs to fix its autofocus system. It is one of the reasons I have not added any lenses to my Pentax system since the summer of 2008. The last 5 lenses bought have all been Nikon.

[PentaxPoke]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Pentax's autofocus, I'm just pointing out that tests such as shown in this video are not the end all and be all acid test for an autofocus system.

You are correct. The thing that gets me though is that there is no simpler test than this. And a modern DSLR loses out to an old camera. I believe this is basically the way Pop Photography tests their cameras to get those AF speed vs. EV level plots. Pentax cameras always seem to peter out after EV6. Sure, it may be different under more challenging conditions.

Here is the Pop Photo tests for the K-7 and the Rebel! It is typical of thek10d, k20d, and now the k-7. The Pentax flagship is trounced by the entry level Canon once you get below EV6. Heck, my house indoors is typically EV4, so EV6 is pretty bright.

[Wheatfield]

I'd still love to see how well the K-7 and K-x perform in a similar test just to see how far behind we are.

I think my problem with it has more to do with tracking than with the AF.

Here's a little series I shot last fall. My hit ratio holds back the camera on at least one shot.

[Wheatfield]

Can only upload five files max.

[PentaxPoke]

I think my problem with it has more to do with tracking than with the AF.

Here's a little series I shot last fall. My hit ratio holds back the camera on at least one shot.

Nice sequence. These pictures just show that Wheatfield's skills are not limited by Pentax's weaknesses.

You can't expect the average photographer to get the same results. It is said that Wheatfield doesn't "take" a photo, he demands it.