My new EOS 3 seems to focus better on low light or low contrast subjects better than an A2 but not as well as the Elan II. Do I have to buy the 1V just to see if it will focus as good as the Elan II AND get a PC connection? Thanks in advance, Roger.

-- Roger Beck (roger@rogerbeck.com), March 29, 2001

Answers

I am assuming that you are using the same lens during all of your testing under the same lighting conditions. I have also found differnces in low light focusing, using the same camera, depending on which focus mode I use: "One-Shot" seems to work better than "AI Servo". Also, it is much more difficult for certain EOS bodies, the ones I have owned, to focus off center in low-light conditions. However, if you can justify buying a 1V just to see how good the AF is, go for it. Just be aware that the EOS 3 and the 1V are not miles apart from one another and that they should AF in virtually the same fashion. Also, be aware of the fact that the Elan II has a built in AF assist light, whereas the EOS 3 does not. This would make a difference in low light focusing. Mount a Canon flash on the EOS 3 and then see how it focuses. If you don't want the flash to fire, use the custom functions to disable the flash and only use the AF assist.

AM I rambling?

-- Roger Shrader (rashrader@hotmail.com), March 29, 2001.

I've spend considerable time fiddling with my EOS 3, 1N, A2, Elan II & Elan in low light conditions. The EOS 3 is a hands down winner in low light focusing over the my other EOS cams. However, there are a couple conditions for this to be true:

1. You must use a F2.8 or faster lens. The extra accurate cross senors in the EOS 1, 1N, 1V & 3 only work with F2.8 or faster optics. In the EOS 1V & 3, a single cross sensor still functions at F4.

2. For the test to be fair, you must disable the auto focus assist light in the A2 & Elan (they're only useful at 15 feet or less anyway).

Thus, with the auto focus assist light off and a fast lens, the EOS 3 locks on better than my other EOS cams (I hear the 1V is slightly better in low light). However, with a slow zoom and/or the auto focus assist light, all my other EOS cams focus better in low light than my EOS 3 & 1N. Heck, a slow zoom works better in any light on my A2 & Elans than my EOS 3 & 1N.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), March 29, 2001.

A friend was over a week or so ago and we did some quicky tests of low light focusing because he was curious about it. With the 28-135 IS lens mounted the camera focused virtually immediately even with all of my office lights off. It was really dim in here.

Paul

-- Paul Ferrara (paul@columbusoft.com), March 29, 2001.