Canon EOS-1D Mark IV AF Testing

[Photo-John]

On Saturday morning Jenni and I drove up to Powder Mountain ski resort. There was a reported five inches of fresh snow overnight so it looked like it might be a good day for photos. I had a new backpack (F-Stop Tilopa) and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV to test.

When we got there the snow looked good. There was indeed fresh powder to be had, although the parking lot was full and we had to get at it if we wanted our share. In the end, we had a bit of everything as far as snow and light conditions go. I'm not sure if I got any photos I'd consider great, but the testing went well. I shot in AI Servo continuous auto focus all day. The 1D Mk IV has a brand new "AI Servo II" continuos AF system so that's one of the main things that needs to be tested. Plus, for action shooting, continuous AF is usually the most problematic. I am happy to report that the 1D performed very, very well. I definitely got more sharp, useable images than I'm used to getting - even with the excellent EOS 7D. It would be interesting to test back-to-back with an EOS-1D Mk III. And I'm still waiting on a Nikon D3S for testing. But I have to say I am very pleased with the new 1D's AF abilities. So far I am giving it two thumbs up!

This photo is a good example to start with, I think. Jenni is a very small portion of this image and there are all kinds objects in front of and behind her for the auto focus to get screwed up on. Part of the responsibility is mine of course - I need to keep that AF point on her or I can't expect good results. The bottom line here is that the subject came out totally in focus on this. I actually shot a bunch of frames and not until she was right on top of me did the camera get any out-of-focus images. With the 7D I probably would have had a couple soft ones in the middle where the camera didn't keep up.

[Photo-John]

I am really impressed with this skier shot. I don't know this guy and I wasn't planning this shot. I'd just finished shooting Jenni when all of a sudden he came ripping over the slope above me. I just had time to lift the camera, get him in the frame and start shooting and then he was gone. I got off two shots in AI Servo and both were perfectly focused.

[Photo-John]

These two are both from the same line for Jenni. I wanted to test her coming right at me for a series of shots. Usually, that's where AI Servo has the most difficulty, since the focus changes so much from shot to shot. And like the first aspen shot I posted, the AF kept right up with this series until she was really close. I just set the camera to 10 FPS, kept the middle focus point on my subject and then picked the best images later, on the computer.

[Photo-John]

This last shot isn't a great one, but I like it a lot. The light was super flat and I cropped it a bunch. But what the hell, I like it! It took a ton of processing to pull out and hold detail in that snow spray. But I think it's a fun photo. Too bad it doesn't have a blue sky and too bad I underexposed it a stop (whoops). But I think it came out pretty good in the end.

All of the photos here have been processed pretty significantly in Lightroom and Photoshop. Part of that is because it's just the way I work and part of it is the tricky lighting requires extra effort if you want useable images. And in the case of this photo - all of the above and I blew the exposure. I think it speaks well for the camera that I was able to salvage this image as well as I did, though.

All of these images were shot RAW at ISO 400 with the 1D Mk IV and the 70-200 f/4L IS zoom lens. The 70-200 f/4L IS worked great because it delivers great image quality in a relatively small, light package. And that's important when you're skiing heavy powder with a bigger and heavier than usual pack on your back. Every ounce saved counts! My knees were pretty destroyed at the end of that day.

[ianjenn]

Nice John that body looks sick! I want one but do not have the funds. But I am ordering a 2010 SC V10 complete tomorrow to beat on for awhile until I get my bike for this year! Guess it is a trade off ya know. I will rent a 1Ds II if I do Hangtown and Glenn Helen again that way I dont have to learn a new body.

[Photo-John]

I can't afford one either, Ian. And it's bigger and heavier than I want to deal with, although I did ski all day with it and it was ok. The auto focus really is pretty sweet. I've don't recall the 1D Mk III being this good. Plus, the low light image quality is a big step forward. I've got a whole bunch of house party photos shot at ISO 6400 and 12,800 to process next. I think they look pretty damn good.

[ianjenn]

Cool yeah I understand. I will post some images up of the SC from the studio shoot I do. Will try and use 7D and 5D to do it.......to compare any differences. But there will basically be none. In studio!

You subject had no contrast versus the BG BTW. Thats impressive enough.

[Photo-John]

You subject had no contrast versus the BG BTW. Thats impressive enough.

Yeah, I was impressed with the one I underexposed because the light was so flat and Jenni's clothes are so close to the same tones as the snow. There was one sequence of about three images where she was coming towards me that were soft. She had been in sunlight and then gone into shadow. I think the change from bright contrasty light to flat shadow threw off the AI Servo. I'm not 100% sure, but that was the only anomaly that I could identify.

[JETA]

The continuous af system sounds amazing. I know with the Mark III having athletes right right at me (in front) of me is the hardest focusing issues I have.

I would so love a side by side comparison with the mark III. I'm most interested in the low light and af differences (even though I've ruled out upgrading)