I just picked up a Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro for a great price (the non-IS version), and I mounted it today for the first time and saw something weird: in the viewfinder of my 5D3, I always normally see the area filled with the 61 AF points: a tall section in the center and two shorter "stacks" on the left and right whenever I mount one of my L lenses. When I mount this 100mm macro, I only get the center column of AF points showing. If I pop on my 50mm L, all three sections return. Is that normal? I'm a long-time 5D and 5D2 user who never knew that a complicated AF system even existed, so with this 5D3 and it's 60 bazillion AF points, I'm a total noob in that area. Any ideas?
I hope this question makes sense, not even sure how to explain it, lol! The lens shoots fine, images look great, but 2/3 of the AF points disappear when I mount it to shoot. I might brave the manual, but if anyone knows what's going on, it'd be much appreciated. Thanks!
Paul: I believe it may have to do with options you have set for your AF system. On page 80 of the user manual it describes it series of Groups of lenses and what AF sensors are active and in what configuration (dual cross type, cross type, horizontal, etc). Sounds like you have the option on to show the AF sensors in the viewfinder all of the time. I'm not sure why you would get only the center column of sensors with that lens. I have it, tried it and saw all 61 AF points when I switched to the mode to see them all them time. You may also have options turned on to only use a subset of the total AF points. A little hard to diagnose over the internet
That's exactly it, Keith, thanks! I should have looked at the manual. I had the camera set to show "Only cross-type AF points" in the Selectable AF point menu selection. Once I changed that setting to "61 points", the two outside columns of AF points reappeared.
Evidently a perk of L lenses is more cross-type AF points, who knows... the only time I move the AF point is for portraits and weddings anyway, which I do way less than landscape work. When shooting in manual at 16mm on a tripod and zoom-focusing on the LCD, and selectable AF point is as useful as a heated steering wheel in Phoenix.
(just saw a Buick commercial touting heated steering wheels, lol.)
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2 repliesI hope this question makes sense, not even sure how to explain it, lol! The lens shoots fine, images look great, but 2/3 of the AF points disappear when I mount it to shoot. I might brave the manual, but if anyone knows what's going on, it'd be much appreciated. Thanks!
Evidently a perk of L lenses is more cross-type AF points, who knows... the only time I move the AF point is for portraits and weddings anyway, which I do way less than landscape work. When shooting in manual at 16mm on a tripod and zoom-focusing on the LCD, and selectable AF point is as useful as a heated steering wheel in Phoenix.
(just saw a Buick commercial touting heated steering wheels, lol.)
Thanks for the reply!