Canon C300 + 40mm pancake Mfr# 6310B002 at DVinfo.net

July 18th, 2012, 04:59 PM

Auto focus doesn't work... yet?

pancake | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Mark Dobson · July 19th, 2012, 06:26 AM

Hi Philip,

Great photo!

Looks like a fancy lens cap!

Bit fiddly to focus manually on a C300 so autofocus would be a great addition to the firmware wish list.

Can't be that difficult?

Incidentally I bought the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM to add to my kit. It's very useful for those situations where you just need a bit more throw on your lens such as filming a meeting or group of people.

Very smooth focus, good IS and pleasing bokeh. Not quite as sharp as the 17-55mm F/2.8.

Jon Fairhurst · July 19th, 2012, 05:38 PM

I have to admit, the pancake on the C300 made me giggle. :)

Nigel Barker · July 20th, 2012, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Dobson

Bit fiddly to focus manually on a C300 so autofocus would be a great addition to the firmware wish list.

Can't be that difficult?

We won't ever see proper auto-focus on the C300 as it doesn't have the necessary hardware like the XF105/305 or even the T4i/650D for using the new STM lenses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Dobson

Incidentally I bought the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM to add to my kit. It's very useful for those situations where you just need a bit more throw on your lens such as filming a meeting or group of people.

Very smooth focus, good IS and pleasing bokeh. Not quite as sharp as the 17-55mm F/2.8.

The Canon 17-55mm F/2.8 is what I generally have on my C300 just about the only other lens I use is the 70-200mm F/2.8L IS II. I have however contemplated buying the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS for that extra reach for run'n'gun situations. For even greater reach there is the Sigma 18-250mm & the Tamron 18-270mm but I have always been so disappointed with off-brand lenses that I will probably stick to the Canon.

Mark Dobson · July 20th, 2012, 07:11 AM

Hi Nigel,

I agree with what you say " We won't ever see proper auto-focus on the C300 as it doesn't have the necessary hardware like the XF105/305 or even the T4i/650D for using the new STM lenses"

The hardware you refer to is presumably the sensor?

The actual mechanical focus adjustment is achieved within the lens either with USM ( UltraSonic Motor ) or the new STM.(Stepping Motor Technology)

The T4i/650D has the hybrid CMOS sensor that has a phase detect capabilities built on the image sensor itself to enable it to constantly auto focus.

Now I'm not clever enough to really understand how that all works and all I would ever want would be to to electronically spot check the focus. Just like I do with my Canon 7D.

So could a firmware update enable the C300 to utilise the contrast detection autofocus method?

This is achieved by measuring contrast within a sensor field, through the lens. This method of autofocus is implemented in software.

Nigel Barker · July 20th, 2012, 08:00 AM

I suspect that the C300 doesn't even have the hardware necessary to talk control the focus motor within the lens.

Mark Dobson · July 21st, 2012, 01:28 AM

The C300 is able to focus a lens through the wireless controller or a Lanc controller so that end of the equation is there.

All it needs now is the firmware to be tweaked to enable the sensor to be used to measure focus . . . or not.

This is a question for someone like Alan Roberts.

David A. Fisher · July 21st, 2012, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

I suspect that the C300 doesn't even have the hardware necessary to talk control the focus motor within the lens.

Then how is it the WFT can pull focus?

Nigel Barker · July 21st, 2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

I suspect that the C300 doesn't even have the hardware necessary to talk control the focus motor within the lens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David A. Fisher

Then how is it the WFT can pull focus?

Of course you are absolutely correct I had forgotten that I had actually read a review of the WFT-E6 used on the C300 describing the ability to remote focus.

Josh Dahlberg · July 21st, 2012, 09:36 PM

Speaking of 40mm lenses, my favourite lens on the C300:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/534437-REG/Voigtlander_BA229DN_Ultron_40mm_f_2_0_SL_II.html
A bit pricier but a stop faster than the Canon, close focussing, wonderful build quality, tactile focus ring.

July 18th, 2012, 04:59 PM	#1
Guest Posts: n/a	Canon C300 + 40mm pancake Mfr# 6310B002 Auto focus doesn't work... yet? pancake \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! Attached Thumbnails

July 19th, 2012, 06:26 AM	#2
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: Canon C300 + 40mm pancake Mfr# 6310B002 Hi Philip, Great photo! Looks like a fancy lens cap! Bit fiddly to focus manually on a C300 so autofocus would be a great addition to the firmware wish list. Can't be that difficult? Incidentally I bought the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM to add to my kit. It's very useful for those situations where you just need a bit more throw on your lens such as filming a meeting or group of people. Very smooth focus, good IS and pleasing bokeh. Not quite as sharp as the 17-55mm F/2.8. Squirrel & Grasshopper on Vimeo

July 19th, 2012, 05:38 PM	#3
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Canon C300 + 40mm pancake Mfr# 6310B002 I have to admit, the pancake on the C300 made me giggle. :) __________________ Jon Fairhurst

July 20th, 2012, 07:11 AM	#5
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: Canon C300 + 40mm pancake Mfr# 6310B002 Hi Nigel, I agree with what you say " We won't ever see proper auto-focus on the C300 as it doesn't have the necessary hardware like the XF105/305 or even the T4i/650D for using the new STM lenses" The hardware you refer to is presumably the sensor? The actual mechanical focus adjustment is achieved within the lens either with USM ( UltraSonic Motor ) or the new STM.(Stepping Motor Technology) The T4i/650D has the hybrid CMOS sensor that has a phase detect capabilities built on the image sensor itself to enable it to constantly auto focus. Now I'm not clever enough to really understand how that all works and all I would ever want would be to to electronically spot check the focus. Just like I do with my Canon 7D. So could a firmware update enable the C300 to utilise the contrast detection autofocus method? This is achieved by measuring contrast within a sensor field, through the lens. This method of autofocus is implemented in software. Last edited by Mark Dobson; July 20th, 2012 at 07:12 AM. Reason: typo

July 20th, 2012, 08:00 AM	#6
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Re: Canon C300 + 40mm pancake Mfr# 6310B002 I suspect that the C300 doesn't even have the hardware necessary to talk control the focus motor within the lens.

July 21st, 2012, 01:28 AM	#7
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: Canon C300 + 40mm pancake Mfr# 6310B002 The C300 is able to focus a lens through the wireless controller or a Lanc controller so that end of the equation is there. All it needs now is the firmware to be tweaked to enable the sensor to be used to measure focus . . . or not. This is a question for someone like Alan Roberts.

July 21st, 2012, 09:36 PM	#10
Josh Dahlberg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 513	Re: Canon C300 + 40mm pancake Mfr# 6310B002 Speaking of 40mm lenses, my favourite lens on the C300: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/534437-REG/Voigtlander_BA229DN_Ultron_40mm_f_2_0_SL_II.html A bit pricier but a stop faster than the Canon, close focussing, wonderful build quality, tactile focus ring.