1D Mark IV AF Settings?

I traditionally used center AF point and Servo with my trusty old Mark 2 - now sold. Since I got the Mark 4 this week I must say I am impressed. However I wanted to ask those who are shooting with it if they use AF expansion? Our 7D does very well with center point with AF expansion enabled. I have yet to get time/weather to test.

Does the MK4 work like the 7D in that the center point remains the primary unless it can't acquire AF and the assist points only kick in to track when the center point loses or doesn't acquire AF?

I had the feeling that with busy BGs, you are better off with the central sensor only. With smooth BGs the expansion worked quite well. However, I also didn't have much time/weather lately to test it intensively.

What are your other BIF settings?
I am currently play'n around wit C.Fn III - 3. Settings 0 is standard and setting 3 is the mode that was used in the Mark II and prior models to the Mark III. The Mark III didn't have that mode. Canon reintroduced in into the Mark IV...

http://gallery.me.com/koen.frantzen/100325

These are my settings.
I started experimenting with the "sets" option.
One set for "General P&S"
One set for "Landscape"
One set for active "Wildlife"

The yellow "remarks" I have included in the My Menu option, so I can change these settings quickly

Please let me know if somebody has better suggestions.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jan Wegener

I had the feeling that with busy BGs, you are better off with the central sensor only. With smooth BGs the expansion worked quite well. However, I also didn't have much time/weather lately to test it intensively.

What are your other BIF settings?
I am currently play'n around wit C.Fn III - 3. Settings 0 is standard and setting 3 is the mode that was used in the Mark II and prior models to the Mark III. The Mark III didn't have that mode. Canon reintroduced in into the Mark IV...

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Thanks to all for the responses.

Yes, I also have set to C.Fn III-3 to Release/Tracking Priority. I also have set the following:

C.FnIII 2 to Slow, C.Fn III 4 to Continuous AF track priority
C.FN III 5 to Focus Search On
C.FnIII 10 to 45 Points selectable
C.Fn III 15 to disable assist beam firing to avoid spooking perching birds with a pre flash
C.Fn III 16 to Same for both Vert/Horiz

I have Highlight Tone priority disabled
Auto Lighting Optimizer disabled
Peripheral Illumination Correction disabled
Long Exposure NR Off
High ISO Noise Reduction to Standard

Picture Style to Neutral

Ooievaar, I have also set My Menu Settings to include:

Mirror Lock Up - Allows me to quickly get to it
Format - Allows me to quickly get to it
Live View/Movie Function set - so I can quickly change standard Live View to Movie Mode
Record func+Media/folder sel - So I can quickly switch between the 2 card slots.

I am looking to learn more that will suggest changing these settings. So, any input is most welcome.

I've only had my 1D4 for a few days and about 5000 images, so the jury is still out, but my first impressions are that the 1D4 is the first camera that I've used where AF expansion may be more productive than center point only when shooting BIF on varied BGs. I spent 45 minutes late one afternoon in the boat photographing Tree Swallows against a variety of BGs. This is something I have done many times before with the 1D3. I used my 500mm with 1.4xTC attached to make it more challenging, and I used AF expansion to see how it performs compared to the 1D3 with center point only. The results were encouraging. I had noticably more success with the 1D4 in one 45 minute test than I have ever had in my many attempts with the 1D3.

Thanks for sharing guys... I was struggling with what to set these at down in Barnegat. I felt that single point if I would slip of the head of the sea ducks and lose AF and had to pump the AF to get it back. I missed a lot I think.

Lou

Thanks to all for the info. It will give me a heads up when the 1D4 arrives.

Jim,

Are you using, left right expansion, cluster or all 45 ??

Lou

I have been finding the surrounding AF points (III-8-2) expansion to be helpful.
Mike

For birds I never use all AF points. Most of the time central point, sometimes plus left and right, sometimes with surrounding points.

gotcha...