C100: C100 (gen 1): Was the Dual Pixel AF Upgrade worth it?

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debinatx

Member
Springing for a generation one C100 and going back & forth between spending the extra $500 for the dual pixel AF mode. I've never used AF in my life, as I just prefer to control my image. But I am an exclusively doc shooter and wonder if it'd make my life easier.

For those of you who upgraded, do you feel it was worth the extra money? (This would be mainly for hand-held verite type shooting---no Movi & such---and talking head interviews.) On my budget, that extra 500 bucks I'd spend on AF could buy me that Voigtlander 40mm/2.0 that I've been lusting after instead.

Appreciate any thoughts!

Deb
 
Just my opinion...the center focusing of the AF makes it utterly worthless to me. I think its a flawed feature. There is no way I would adjust my composition just to use this feature. The C300 Mark II is the first camera that has an AF feature that excites me. Its useable with all L glass. The limit of using STM lenses at center focus...to me...is comedic.

I would not opt for this feature in the C100. Not worth it to me....but thats just my option. It might work for others. Just not me.
 
ReelWorksMedia said:
Just my opinion...the center focusing of the AF makes it utterly worthless to me. I think its a flawed feature. There is no way I would adjust my composition just to use this feature. The C300 Mark II is the first camera that has an AF feature that excites me. Its useable with all L glass. The limit of using STM lenses at center focus...to me...is comedic.

I would not opt for this feature in the C100. Not worth it to me....but thats just my option. It might work for others. Just not me.
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Thanks for the feedback---good to know!

deb
 
the centre only box is restrictive in many ways for framing - I tend to use it for quick focus then switch to manual - but you don't need stm lenses to use the af on the c100 mk1, the stm lenses benefit from being silent when focusing but all Canon lenses have worked - my sigma 30mm 1.4 and sigma 105mm 2.8 only seem to work wide open
 
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ade4all said:
the centre only box is restrictive in many ways for framing - I tend to use it for quick focus then switch to manual - but you don't need stm lenses to use the af on the c100 mk1, the stm lenses benefit from being silent when focusing but all Canon lenses have worked - my sigma 30mm 1.4 and sigma 105mm 2.8 only seem to work wide open
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Interesting. I have the Sigma 30/1.4 as well and wondered about that.

I wonder, though, if the 'One Shot' AF is sufficient for me without the upgrades, yet in my research I hear people say it's much better after installing the Dual Pixel.

Overall though it sounds like this feature is limited and not worth the extra cash. (Hello Voigtlander 40!!!)
 
For $500...I'd just focus the thing myself...or use the "one shot." I think its heading in the right direction...and this was the first crack at it. That said, I think the C300II will be a much different story. I can see that working well in a lot of tough situations. Thats really the one I have my eye on. As far as the C100 goes...for me...I'd save the money.

Honestly, I think the most bang for the buck is still the original C100 without dual pixel. For $3k...its a killer camera.
 
It has been handy when running around at events with the 18-135 stm where focus is more important than classic framing - and its definitely much quicker and more accurate using the one shot which is how i use it. If you are doing as lot of run n gun or steadicam/gimbal it comes in handy but whether itsd worth $500 is specific to the individuals needs
 
Like you I questioned the value of this feature and if it would compliment my style of film making. My initial thought was since it was limited to the center it would be more of a handicap, but having used it for over a year, I feel confident in saying it can TRULY be a massive addition to anyone's toolbox.

If you know how and when to use it, you can perform moves that would be otherwise impossible for a single operator to accomplish. Its also dead accurate(even at a macro level) so tracking something like a pencil writing at extreme closeups is done with ease. When you begin combining this feature with pans, slides, tilts and gimbal moves you will quickly understand how valuable a tool it really is. Once you set the thumb grip's custom button to enable/disable the AF, you can pretty much do anything you want. Price wise, its an absolute steal for the cost!
 
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LeoGrey said:
Like you I questioned the value of this feature and if it would compliment my style of film making. My initial thought was since it was limited to the center it would be more of a handicap, but having used it for over a year, I feel confident in saying it can TRULY be a massive addition to anyone's toolbox.

If you know how and when to use it, you can perform moves that would be otherwise impossible for a single operator to accomplish. Its also dead accurate(even at a macro level) so tracking something like a pencil writing at extreme closeups is done with ease. When you begin combining this feature with pans, slides, tilts and gimbal moves you will quickly understand how valuable a tool it really is. Once you set the thumb grip's custom button to enable/disable the AF, you can pretty much do anything you want. Price wise, its an absolute steal for the cost!
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Interesting perspective....thank you for sharing.
 
Last year I had written my thoughts about the DPAF so sharing the link here: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/canon-c300-dual-pixel-af-upgrade/

It is important to understand the limitations of each technology and use it within the limitations. I have been using the DPAF in many situations in wildlife, sports and in other documentary situations. There are situations where I could not have got the focus locked on the subject without the DPAF. Having said that, I am waiting for the C300 Mark II with its next generation DPAF Version 2.0
 
I went back and forth on the dual pixel upgrade for a while, and then I just went ahead and did it. Got the camera back about two weeks ago. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a useful tool that I can toggle on and off with a quick press of button #7. For me, the ability to easily track people and objects coming towards the camera is worth the price of admission. Haven't used it on an actual shoot lately, but here's a recent handheld test with it (never touching the focus ring once):


Also, I've noticed that the racking on the Canon STM and USM lenses seems to be the smoothest. The Sigma, Tamron, and older non-USM lenses that I tried with it were pretty steppy.
 
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Thanks everybody! I'm still back-and-forth about it, but I actually may spring for it....you never know that situation in a doc setting where it may come in handy.

(Bye bye, Voigtlander 40mm.)
 
Like others have said, it's another tool and it can be useful depending on what and how you shoot. I find it pretty good if you work within the limitations. Worth the $500? Well... I bought it anyway.
This is a piece I shot the day I got my DPAF back. Challenging conditions to say the least, and I don't think I could have gotten half these shots without DPAF, or at least I would have had to put my beer down to get them.
https://vimeo.com/90836328
 
Hey, quick question...

Does anyone know if the iPhone app for the C100 mark II has the ability to control the zoom function of canon lenses? At events I will often need to throw a camera on a monopod and grab some wide shots. I'm not looking to achieve any type of smooth zoom....just the ability to change focal ranges without pulling the camera back down and do it manually.

I have a fantastic wireless FIZ unit...but I hate strapping all that crap on the camera for a few shots. Would love to know the answer to this. Currently one of my camera is a C100 M1...but would definitely give it a thought to upgrade if it had this functionality.

Thanks.
 
Thanks everyone for your feedback! I ended up ordering the camera with the dual pixel option. excited to go out and play when it arrives.
 
It's worth it for gimbal / steadicam / slider / jib focusing alone. It's the C100's killer feature.
 
debinatx said:
Thanks everyone for your feedback! I ended up ordering the camera with the dual pixel option. excited to go out and play when it arrives.
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Just to give you another thumbs up: It's totally worth it. Anyone who has shot stills with center focus, knows the drill of setting focus and then recomposing your frame.
Right now I would have bought the C100MII though, at least if you shoot for a living and can earn back the extra cost within a view gigs...
 
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