Canon EOS 5D Mark III Manual Book page 19

EOS 5D Mark III 61-Point High-Density Reticular AF Cross-type Points
The 61-point AF has numerous cross-type points for
great tracking performance
Multi-point cross focusing is possible even using lenses with a maximum
aperture f-number of f/4
Up to 41-point cross-type AF with f/4 lenses, enabling superior tracking performance with most lenses
*The colored AF points are for illustrative purpose only. This does not represent the
actual viewfinder display.
Newly developed 61-point AF sensor
By increasing number of AF points greater
freedom of composition is possible. The large
number of cross-t ype AF point s improves
tracking performance. And as a result of two-
line AF sensors in a zigzag pattern, tracking
per formance is improved for low contrast
subjects as well.
The AF system of the EOS 5D Mark III has many
attractive features such as the high level of
composition freedom with 61 different AF
points, AF area selection modes that utilize the
merits of the multi-point AF system, and
implementation of the AF Configuration Tool
which takes advantage of the improved AI
Servo AF. In addition to these, is the high
precision and improved tracking performance
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T h i s d i a g r a m s h o w s t h e
distribution of the 61-point
cross-type AF points in the EOS
5D Mark III. The five AF points at
the center operate as dual cross
type AF points at f/2.8, 41 cross-
type AF points are available for
f/2.8-f/4 lenses and the centre
21 AF points serve as cross type
with f/5.6. This makes it possible
to focus with high precision and
high tracking performance with
the many AF points.
f/2.8 and f/5.6 cross-type AF
(dual-cross AF)
f/5.6 cross-type AF
f/4 (vertical-line focusing) + f/5.6
(horizontal-line focusing) cross-type AF
f/5.6 (horizontal-line focusing) AF
f/2.8
cross-type AF
f/4.0
vertical-line
focusing AF
f/5.6
vertical-line
focusing AF
f/5.6
horizontal-line
focusing AF
of each AF point to capture the subject. With
the EOS 5D Mark III AFfocusing system, most
f / 2 . 8 - f / 4 l e n s e s c a n u t i l i z e t h e h i g h -
performance 41-point cross-type AF points. As
C a n o n p ro d u c e a l a r g e n u m b e r o f h i g h
performance f/2.8 and f/4 AF points, this makes
it possible for larger aperture lenses to achieve
an even higher level of focusing precision with
these AF points than ever before.
61-point AF (1) The number and placement of cross-type points used by the f/2.8 lenses
EF400mm F2.8L IS II USM
41-point cross-type AF points and 5 Dual Cross -f/2.8 AF points can be used with many lenses
Most large-aperture lenses with a maximum
aperture of f/2.8, (or lower f-number values) are
in Group A. With this group, the five f/2.8 dual-
cross AF points, and the left and right f/4 and
f/5.6 cross-type AF points (20 points) can be
Group A
41-point cross-type AF, with five f/2.8
dual-cross AF points at the center
AF focusing is possible with 61 points. All
AF area selection modes can be chosen.
Major lenses
EF24mm f/1.4L USM EF24mm f/1.4L II USM EF28mm f/1.8 USM
EF50mm f/1.0L USM EF50mm f/1.2L USM EF50mm f/1.4 USM
EF85mm f/1.2L USM EF85mm f/1.2L II USM EF85mm f/1.8 USM
EF135mm f/2L USM + Ext EF1.4x EF135mm f/2.8 (with soft focus)
EF200mm f/1.8L USM + Ext EF1.4x EF200mm f/2L IS USM
EF200mm f/2.8L USM EF200mm f/2.8L II USM EF300mm f/2.8L USM
EF400mm f/2.8L USM EF400mm f/2.8L II USM EF400mm f/2.8L IS USM
TS-E90mm f/2.8* EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF28-70mm f/2.8L USM EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM
Group B
41-point cross-type AF, with one f/2.8 dual-cross
AF point at the center
Major lenses
EF14mm f/2.8L II USM
EF20mm f/2.8 USM
EF24mm f/2.8
EF24mm f/2.8 IS USM
EF28mm f/2.8 IS USM
EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM
AF focusing is possible with 61 points. All AF area selection modes
are available.
* Focus confirmation light works during manual focus (without any tilt or shift movements).
"Ext EF1.4x" is an abbreviation of various EF 1.4x Extenders.
EF85mm F1.2L II USM
used. There are a total of 41 cross-type points
including the f/5.6 cross-type points. Lenses
with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 in Group B,
will only have a single f/2.8 dual-cross AF point
in the center.
EF35mm f/1.4L USM EF35mm f/2
EF50mm f/1.8 EF50mm f/1.8 II
EF100mm f/2 USM EF135mm f/2L USM
EF200mm f/1.8L USM
EF200mm f/2L IS USM + Ext EF1.4x
EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM EF300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM TS-E45mm f/2.8*
EF17-35mm f/2.8L USM EF20-35mm f/2.8L
EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Group D
31-point cross-type AF, with one f/2.8 dual-cross
AF point at the center
Lens
EF28mm f/2.8
AF focusing is possible with 61 points. All AF area selection modes
are available.
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