C100: Pros and Cons of Dual Pixel Upgrade … Still deciding … Why/why not upgrade?

M

maddchase

Member
I'm curious to get people's input on the pros and cons of the dual pixel and the reasons why you may/may not be sending in your camera to be upgraded.

Personally I'm still on the fence, possibly just fear this unknown mystical beast known as autofocus, just haven't really used it ever. Thanks for your input.
 
Well I had the Dual Pixel Upgrade and I personally find it very useful. I shoot weddings and I struggle a bit with manual focusing. I tend to use the one push auto (which is quite fast) function more then the continuous auto focus . It would have been much better if one could change the auto focus points . The upgrade is a bit expensive but the auto focus function is very useful. Overall my footage is more in focus with the upgrade and that's what matters most to me
 
The only con is the $500 cost.
The AF works pretty well and although I doubt you'd just leave it on the whole time, it's really helpful to grab focus quickly. My footage has a whole lot less of the missed focus adjust back and then back a little moments that plague the DSLR shallow DOF videos. If you're shooting a sit down interview or a drama where you know what the shot will be and that it's not going to change, then you might not need it so much. If you're doing a lot of run n gun or following moving subjects with shallow DOF then it's a lifesaver!
I shot this the day I got my camera back as an AF torture test:
https://vimeo.com/90836328
 
Thank you for sharing!

I'll have to go back and watch the auto focus in detail. I was too busy watching the show the first time. Great test video !!! :)


Slightly OT, but I have 2 quick questions:

1.) Who wins - the one with the least "pie" on their face for each round?

2.) I saw the ABC news request to use the clip. For free of course. And "in perpetuity." At least they didn't add "exclusive worldwide rights" .... :) :)

Did you let them use it?


Cheers! I am still shooting Canon DSLRs, but I am hoping to learn for future use. Either on a 70D, or on other newer cameras announced at Photokina.

Best,
Michael
 
Is there a feature to move around the point of auto-focus?
Or is it centre only?
Does it offer some kind of face detection too?
While I can see the advantage of AF video cameras for video-journalist selfies, crane shots, random steadicam work (e.g. wedding-party dance), I still doubt how practical the feature is when following a subject.
If I had to keep my focus on a show host/reporter and suddenly the focus jumps to the background without motivation, I would hate the feeling of not being in control of MY picture.

@Andrius: Can you please ask ABC if you could use one of their vans for free once in a while in exchange for the footage? ;)
I remember that when those "funny home videos" shows where running in my country, they paid good money if they ended up using your stuff...
 
Spartacus said:
Is there a feature to move around the point of auto-focus?
Click to expand...
No.
Spartacus said:
Or is it centre only?
Click to expand...
Yes.
Spartacus said:
Does it offer some kind of face detection too?
Click to expand...
No.
Spartacus said:
While I can see the advantage of AF video cameras for video-journalist selfies, crane shots, random steadicam work (e.g. wedding-party dance), I still doubt how practical the feature is when following a subject.
If I had to keep my focus on a show host/reporter and suddenly the focus jumps to the background without motivation, I would hate the feeling of not being in control of MY picture.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's obviously got it's limitations, but if someone is walking (or riding a bicycle) up to the camera can you keep perfect focus the whole time? Without a dedicated AC/focus puller it's pretty tough for most run n gunners using EF photo lenses.

Spartacus said:
@Andrius: Can you please ask ABC if you could use one of their vans for free once in a while in exchange for the footage?
Click to expand...
:laugh:
 
unadog said:
Slightly OT, but I have 2 quick questions:

1.) Who wins - the one with the least "pie" on their face for each round?

2.) I saw the ABC news request to use the clip. For free of course. And "in perpetuity." At least they didn't add "exclusive worldwide rights" .... :) :)

Did you let them use it?
Click to expand...

1. The winner of each round is the person with less pie on their face. You are automatically disqualified if you duck.
2. No, I talked a bit with ABC and I didn't even have a problem with them showing it on Good Morning America for free, but I wasn't going to sign over rights in perpetuity for nothing. They wound up passing on it in the end.
 
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I got one of our C100s DPAF'd.

Will we get the other one done? Probably not.

I've used it a couple of times - but it hasn't been the game changer (yet, anyway) that I thought it might be.

If anything, I find it a hassle having to switch AF off whenever I power up and the lens starts twitching away.

Ben.
 
Every time I find myself with $500 I spend it on something else. Like the new Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART that is sitting on a UPS truck today.:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
it supposedly improves one-touch AF, and that alone might be worth the cost.

One consideration is that you'd probably not use this feature very often as a one-man band, shooting indoors in a quiet room.

Most of Canon's AF lenses are, for this day and age, uncommonly loud. You'd have to spend a lot of time in post-production replacing all those whirring sounds with room tone. And if you're capturing conversation, forget about it.

For the dollar, if you frequently need fast and quiet autofocus in a large sensor, you're much better off with a GH3 or GH4 and a 12-35mm lens, which is, FWIW, a totally silent combination.
 
There is a somewhat curmudgeonly Philip Bloom clip, with him figuring out DPAF on the C100, and coming around to liking it:

https://vimeo.com/89607288

+++

There are some excellent online reviews of the 70D auto focus performance for comparison.

DxO did a comparison of the 70D to the Sony A77 with the translucent mirror. For video autofocus, the 70D was at least as good. Better at low light:

http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Canon...sed-AF-perform


Here is another video with commentary by Petapixel:

http://petapixel.com/2013/08/26/vide...dual-pixel-af/


Here are some additional videos showing various aspects of the 70D auto focus compared to the Canon SL1 and the Nikon 7100. It looks pretty impressive for low light.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news...f-game-changer


+++

A lot of newer Canon L glass is fairly quiet.

The newer STM lenses are also very good quality for the approximately $300 price point, and are totally silent.

I have been using the 18-135 IS STM on my T4i for about 2 years. It is the only non-L lens I have used in more than 10 years, and I am happy with it.

There is also the 55-250 IS STM, which supposedly tests as well as the 70-200 4.0 IS L.

And the newly announced 10-18 IS STM that will be out soon and available for $299. The MTF charts on that look pretty good.
 
Spartacus said:
If I had to keep my focus on a show host/reporter and suddenly the focus jumps to the background without motivation, I would hate the feeling of not being in control of MY picture.
Click to expand...

The trick with the AF lock is the solution to that. However the fact that you can not move the focus point, like in the 70D, is a limiting factor. Im sure Canon will change that in the future but maybe in the next C model.
 
jbklynnyc said:
For the dollar, if you frequently need fast and quiet autofocus in a large sensor, you're much better off with a GH3 or GH4 and a 12-35mm lens, which is, FWIW, a totally silent combination.
Click to expand...

Or a 70D with a Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 :-)
 
The upgrade is VERY useful for one man band, event videography. I will post a video Monday that has some shots that would have absolutely not been possible without a crew during a soldier's return from deployment memorial.
 
For what its worth from a dealers perspective, most customers are opting for the C100 with the Auto Focus.

btw, we just sent our C300 off for the Auto Focus upgrade today.

There should be an announcement soon about when customer C300 cameras can be sent in for the AF upgrade.
 
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