C100 MKII Still Center AF??? at DVinfo.net

Danny Winn · December 27th, 2014, 12:47 PM

Does anybody know if the new C100 MKII still just features center AF, or can you now move your AF point around to were you want it (Like to the right or left for an interview type situation where the subject is not dead center)?

Thanks!

Andy Wilkinson · December 27th, 2014, 04:47 PM

Still in the centre only. Works really well on my Mki for run-n-gun (with use of AF Lock assigned to a button on the side grip). Rubbish for most interview situations though...I rarely want a speaker dead centre, especially in interview scenarios.

The Mkii does have a Face Detection focus feature, but only with the few, new Canon STM lenses (I believe).

Danny Winn · December 28th, 2014, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Wilkinson

Still in the centre only. Works really well on my Mki for run-n-gun (with use of AF Lock assigned to a button on the side grip). Rubbish for most interview situations though...I rarely want a speaker dead centre, especially in interview scenarios.

The Mkii does have a Face Detection focus feature, but only with the few, new Canon STM lenses (I believe).

That's great info Andy, thanks for responding!

Gary Huff · December 28th, 2014, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Wilkinson

Rubbish for most interview situations though...

Why would you use this for an interview situation? At most I use it to do a quick check on a run-and-gun standup interview before I start rolling. Nothing like have the AF track off to something else in the middle of a shot if you leave it active.

For sit downs, I frame center, fire the Dual Pixel AF, then toggle it off and reframe.

Andy Wilkinson · December 29th, 2014, 03:11 AM

Sometimes I need to "prime" or "prep" people who need to do a piece straight to camera - and that can look best with them dead centre/filling most of the frame. So it's not really an "interview" in the sense you think.

As always, AF is just one more tool the camera offers - knowing when to use it and when to stick with full manual focussing is what is key.

Michael Silverman · December 29th, 2014, 04:15 PM

Sometimes if shooting at a very shallow depth of field during a talking head interview the talent will lean forward and their face will be slightly out of focus. One solution is to stop down the iris and boost ISO to change depth of field, but if that's not the look I'm going for then it would be helpful to be able to move the continuous AF area to one side or the other. The 70D has this option and it can be helpful at times. Not something you'd always use, but there are times when it could be useful. It's not a big deal to me but just another thing that would be nice to have.

Danny Winn · December 30th, 2014, 09:12 PM

Great tips guys, thanks much!

Gary Huff · December 31st, 2014, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Silverman

The 70D has this option and it can be helpful at times.

Yeah, if the 70D has this option, then it is a shame the C100 Mark 2 does not. Even more of a shame that the Face Detection requires STM lenses, of which there's not really any that excite me at the moment.

Andy Wilkinson · December 31st, 2014, 10:41 AM

My guess is that we will see a moveable AF target on the C300mkii....

Also, I agree about those STM lenses.

Les Wilson · December 31st, 2014, 03:47 PM

In the interview with the Canon Rep in the "Waveform" C100 MKII thread, he talks about the face detection not being in the center.

Gary Huff · December 31st, 2014, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Wilson

In the interview with the Canon Rep in the "Waveform" C100 MKII thread, he talks about the face detection not being in the center.

The problem with face detection is that it requires STM lenses even if your other lenses work just fine with Dual Pixel AF.

Les Wilson · December 31st, 2014, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Huff

The problem with face detection is that it requires STM lenses even if your other lenses work just fine with Dual Pixel AF.

Utterly reasonable that it requires a lens designed for video and doesn't work with lenses for stills.

Danny Winn · January 2nd, 2015, 09:22 PM

I see that the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens is just $249.00, might be a good start. I prefer the 24/70 for overall shooting but I couldn't seem to find one that was STM.

Dan Wayne · January 5th, 2015, 09:28 PM

This is a shame. The center AF is one of the things I dislike the most about the C100. Maybe I should just start putting everything in the center.

December 27th, 2014, 12:47 PM	#1
Danny Winn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 291	C100 MKII Still Center AF??? Does anybody know if the new C100 MKII still just features center AF, or can you now move your AF point around to were you want it (Like to the right or left for an interview type situation where the subject is not dead center)? Thanks!

December 27th, 2014, 04:47 PM	#2
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: C100 MKII Still Center AF??? Still in the centre only. Works really well on my Mki for run-n-gun (with use of AF Lock assigned to a button on the side grip). Rubbish for most interview situations though...I rarely want a speaker dead centre, especially in interview scenarios. The Mkii does have a Face Detection focus feature, but only with the few, new Canon STM lenses (I believe). __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

December 29th, 2014, 03:11 AM	#5
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: C100 MKII Still Center AF??? Sometimes I need to "prime" or "prep" people who need to do a piece straight to camera - and that can look best with them dead centre/filling most of the frame. So it's not really an "interview" in the sense you think. As always, AF is just one more tool the camera offers - knowing when to use it and when to stick with full manual focussing is what is key. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

December 29th, 2014, 04:15 PM	#6
Michael Silverman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Charlottesville Posts: 255	Re: C100 MKII Still Center AF??? Sometimes if shooting at a very shallow depth of field during a talking head interview the talent will lean forward and their face will be slightly out of focus. One solution is to stop down the iris and boost ISO to change depth of field, but if that's not the look I'm going for then it would be helpful to be able to move the continuous AF area to one side or the other. The 70D has this option and it can be helpful at times. Not something you'd always use, but there are times when it could be useful. It's not a big deal to me but just another thing that would be nice to have.

December 30th, 2014, 09:12 PM	#7
Danny Winn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 291	Re: C100 MKII Still Center AF??? Great tips guys, thanks much!

December 31st, 2014, 10:41 AM	#9
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: C100 MKII Still Center AF??? My guess is that we will see a moveable AF target on the C300mkii.... Also, I agree about those STM lenses. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

December 31st, 2014, 03:47 PM	#10
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: C100 MKII Still Center AF??? In the interview with the Canon Rep in the "Waveform" C100 MKII thread, he talks about the face detection not being in the center.

January 2nd, 2015, 09:22 PM	#13
Danny Winn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 291	Re: C100 MKII Still Center AF??? I see that the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens is just $249.00, might be a good start. I prefer the 24/70 for overall shooting but I couldn't seem to find one that was STM.

January 5th, 2015, 09:28 PM	#14
Dan Wayne Tourist Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2	Re: C100 MKII Still Center AF??? This is a shame. The center AF is one of the things I dislike the most about the C100. Maybe I should just start putting everything in the center.