Rangefinder v Auto Focus

[Paul J]

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I have had to trawl through some old work done with my Canons looking for an old shot. I used to shoot a lot with the 50mm 1.2L, wide open, with auto focus, and I am absolutely gobsmacked how little the shots have hit focus. The Canon AF system is thought as pretty good but, to me, it has been really revealing of how less accurate it is.

 

I would actually say that shooting the Noctilux, manually with the rangefinder, despite having a slither of DOF, there is at least 50%, maybe more like 75% more success in hitting the intended focus point.

 

I also set up a test and shot a tiny crumb on a bagel in my kitchen. I shot more than 5 frames on the Canon and did not get one where I wanted it. Shooting the Leica, the very first frame was dead on.

 

To me, this totally lays the fallacy, that AF is better or even faster, to rest

 

EDIT - still looking and I would say the hit rate is at least 75% better with the rangefinder and Noctilux and probably more.

[dwbell]

Too many caveats to be so sure, but I get that it's a personal opinion.

 

Which canon? Which focus point? Which shooting technique? Lens calibrated to body? and so on. Generally older canons are not really good more open than (I think I remember) f/2.8 The new systems in the 1DX and 5DIII have totally transformed peoples work with the 85L etc as they can shoot wider with more accuracy.

 

I could make an equally convincing post in a canon forum bashing the Leica for faster moving subjects at f/2.8 - totally laying the fallacy etc etc. It's so subjective and related to the shooting style as to be nothing more than personal shooting preference and opinion. I have stood in a room with my 5DII (not latest AF) and my M9 and 50 Lux, both at f/1.4 and shot predetermined targets and various ranges as fast as I could with both cameras. 6 targets in total, I repeated the tests 4 times with each camera (24 shots total). The canon came out considerably quicker in total time taken and equally in focus.

 

As we say on the webs .... YMMV

[suneohair]

I like knowing that I missed the shot. AF is great when it works, but as soon as it starts hunting or missing it quickly becomes a frustration.

 

I'd rather know that I can get better, rather than blame the camera.

[algrove]

Too many variables by the OP to know what really happened especially if it's a 5D3 where you can spot focus easily.

 

The camera can only focus on the spot you tell it you want in focus.

[ModernMan]

Use of the rangefinder is a developed skill, as we all know. So is use of autofocus -- although the opposite is sometimes assumed.