Tag: autofocus

Canon R6 Mark II: First Look In The Field

Pine Warbler photographed with the Canon R6 Mark II at ISO256000.

File Size

R6 Mark II files are 33 to 39MB in CR3. In 16-bit, these files are 4000 pixels wide by 6000 high.

R5 files are 42 to 61MB in CR3. In 16-bit, theses files are 5464 wide by 8192 high.

R3 files are 29 to 35MB in CR3. In 16-bit, these files are 4000 pixels wide by 6000 high.

So we get a smaller file than the R5 but the same size as the R3.

High ISO

Eastern bluebird photographed at 25,600 ISO
Same photo enlarged to 100%
Eastern bluebird photographed at 400 ISO
Same photo enlarged to 100%
Eastern bluebird, photographed at 640 ISO
Same photo enlarged to 100%
Orange-crowned warbler in low light at 25,600 ISO
Same photo enlarged to 100%
Orange-crowned warbler, enlarged to 100% and noise reduction added to background
Orange-crowned warbler in low light at 25,600ISO
Same photo enlarged to 100%

Pine warbler photographed at 25,600ISO. Enlarged to 100%. Nice feather detail.

High ISO in low light is grainy. There’s no getting around it. The grain in a high ISO photo is no worse with a R6 MarkII than with an R5 or R3. To my eye, each camera is about the same. The files are usable to illustrate the bird while still retaining nice feather detail.

Low ISO and good light is always better, though.

Eastern bluebird in good light at ISO 800. (Ignore the line through his head. This is only a test.)

Auto Focus

I’ve used the Canon R6 Mark II on three outings of an hour each. In each test, the camera locked on the bird quickly. Then it never lost focus once it got on the bird.

The auto focus stayed on the pine warbler’s eye even when the bird moved behind the leaf.

The camera found a small bird. The camera found the bird on perch.

In only one instance did the camera change auto focus to a distant background.

The auto focus was quick, stayed on the bird’s eye, and adjusted as the bird moved.

I haven’t had a chance to use the Canon R6 Mark II on flying bird, yet. Stayed tuned for that test.

Conclusion

So far, I’m impressed. The Canon R6 Mark II handles high ISO well and the auto focus is outstanding. I thought I’d find something lacking but this camera is living up to my expectations.

Thanks for reading. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Canon EOS R7 — Autofocus

I was eager to try the autofocus on the R7 with a variety of subjects.

I used the same settings on all the photos: Servo, AF[1], Subject Tracking, Subject to Detect is Animals, Eye detection is Enabled. Servo AF is on Case 2 which is “Continue to track subjects, ignoring possible obstacles.”

For those of you new to AF[1], it is a wide zone where the camera looks for a subject based on face and/or motion. Once the camera has found a subject, the focus point lights up with blue dots. Then we can move the camera around to compose the shot while the camera stays on the subject.

Northern mockingbird. The R7 found the bird without hesitation and locked on to the eye.
Great-tailed grackle. I didn’t push the focus button until the bird’s face came into view. Once the eye was clear of the pine needles, then the R7 found the eye and locked on.
Gray Hairstreak. Tiny butterfly. The Flexible Zone AF 1 (AF[1]) was not the best choice for this small butterfly. The R7 found the subject because it was moving. The focus point bounced between the butterfly’s real eye and the fake eye at the base of the tails. I should have changed to 1-point AF and put that point on the butterfly’s eye. Not bad, though.
Gray Hairstreak. Same as above with a slight change in my angle to get a green background.
Clouded Skipper. The R7 found the butterfly’s eye without a problem. It locked on and held focus.
The same clouded skipper perched on a purple passionflower. The R7 stayed on the butterfly but I confused the camera. The R7 tried to focus on the structure on the passionflower. This camera is smart but the photographer has to remember to give clear directions. My error in not changing to the 1-point AF area. Then the camera would have known exactly where to focus.
Honeybee on bee bush. The AF[1] focus area stayed with bee without any effort.

I found the Autofocus on the R7 quick and precise. The R7 is not a mind reader (though it does amazing things) so we have to remember to change AF Areas based on the subject.

The only time the R7 failed to acquire focus was on a tiny subject at the top of a stick. I moved the camera down the stick until it acquired focus. Then I moved the camera back up to the subject and the R7 held. This is not unusual with AF in mirrorless but not as bad as I’ve seen in earlier cameras.

All photos in this post were taken with the 100-500mm RF lens, 1.4x extender. All the insects were at the edge of the minimum focusing distance of 3.94 ft.

All photos are uncropped.

Questions? Post below. I’d love to hear your comments and feedback. Thanks for reading.

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