Incomparable Eos Autofocus, Now Even Better; Af System - Canon EOS 1D Mark III - Digital Camera SLR User Manual

V. INCOMPARABLE EOS AUTOFOCUS,
NOW EVEN BETTER

AF System

Canon EOS-1 series cameras are legendary for their superior autofocus ability. Many
professional photographers rate Canon's autofocus as one of the main reasons that they
use Canon equipment. The new autofocus system of the EOS-1D Mark III represents a
complete reconsideration of professional autofocus. In addition to a new sensor chip,
sophisticated new manufacturing technologies have made it possible to reconfigure the
concave submirror and the very clever secondary image formation lens. The result is
greater sensitivity, easier and more logical navigation, higher precision and significantly
better real-world performance.
In the 45-point AF system used by such cameras as the EOS-1v, 1D, 1Ds, 1D Mark II,
1Ds Mark II and 1D Mark II
around the center of the frame. Any of the 45 points could be selected by navigating
around the frame. This is the configuration of the previous 45-point AF array:
Here is the new
AF point layout:
Note that the 19 high-precision, cross-type points are no longer clustered solely in the
center of the frame. The 26 Assist AF points are horizontal-line sensitive at f/5.6, are not
user selectable, and operate not only in AI Servo AF mode, but in One-Shot AF as well
(C. Fn III-8, 1/2). The Assist AF points achieving focus light up with the super-imposed
display (SI).
The EOS-1D Mark III features higher precision AF with the 19 user-selectable, cross-type
AF points and improved lowlight AF performance. Also, to attain AI Servo AF for 10 fps,
the focus computing is faster and an AF adjustment option function is provided. The AF
sensor, AF algorithm, and AF-related electronic circuitry have been newly designed
especially for the 1D Mark III. Because of improved computing performance and faster
reading from the sensor, the AF speed, predictive AF performance, and matching accuracy
of the target subject are all the same as with the EOS-1D Mark II
continuous shooting speed of the 1D Mark III. Of course, at 8.5 fps, the 1D Mark II
was no slouch itself.
V. INCOMPARABLE EOS AUTOFOCUS, NOW EVEN BETTER
, there are 7 cross-type, high-precision sensors grouped
N
Previous 45-point sensor EOS-1D Mark III
: Cross-type AF points : Assist points
(Not user-selectable)
: f/2.8 sensors (Center AF point is f/4)
: f/5.6 sensors
despite the 10 fps
N
N
16