Power Focus Mode (500mm & 600mm f/4L II USM)

[TakahiroW4047]

"Power Focus mode also assists users during video shooting, allowing the photographer to smoothly adjust focus during filming by twisting the focus recall ring."


Found this quote here on dpreview


If this is what I think it is (slower smoother AF during movie mode), then I hope they add this to all future Canon L lenses!! []

[Sheiky]

If this is what I think it is (slower smoother AF during movie mode)

It's "manual" focus with aid of the AF motor if that makes sense [] It helps to get a smooth focus pull. I'll qoute from[url="http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/infobank/autofocus/power_focus.do] Canon Europe[/url]:


[i]"Introduced with the announcement of the Canon EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM II
and the EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lenses in autumn 2010, Power
Focus is a mode that allows you to drive the autofocus motor
electronically instead of having to use the focus ring. It is aimed at
users shooting HD EOS Movies with their DSLR cameras as it makes it
possible to produce a very smooth and controlled focus pull from one
focus distance to another.
[/i]
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Power Focus mode is selected via a sliding switch on the left hand side
of the lens barrel, close to the lens mount, that offers a choice of
Autofocus (AF), Power Focus (PF, the central setting on the sliding
switch) or Manual Focus (MF). Turning the knurled focus preset ring,
found in front of the lens' main focus ring, then activates Power Focus.
Two speeds are available, and these are selected by the amount of
rotation that's applied to the focus preset ring."


Hope that clears the air,


Jan
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[HDNitehawk]

Of the $9499 the new 500mm is listing for, I wonder how much this option is costing us.


How about Canon take that option off and sell the new 300mm for $5599 without the option, instead of $6599 with.

[TakahiroW4047]

Thanks Jan! I guess I wasn't too far off. But I'm wondering know why they introduced it first in the long range lenses. Like HDNitehawk said, it's expensive enough as it is [*-)]


I feel there might be a bigger market for shorter lenses with videographers, but then again maybe they're trying to wedge into Sports videography...?

[HDNitehawk]

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Thanks Jan! I guess I wasn't too far off. But I'm wondering know why they introduced it first in the long range lenses. Like HDNitehawk said, it's expensive enough as it is [img]/emoticons/emotion-42.gif[/img]


I feel there might be a bigger market for shorter lenses with videographers, but then again maybe they're trying to wedge into Sports videography...?
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Sports, races, wildlife, maybe even video the family 100 yards away with a 500mm or if your a peeping tom you can transition from one window to the next with your 500mm fairly smoothly (that was a joke, not advice for peeping toms) ..but its going to need to be fairly quick on the long lenses. Just being smooth is worthless if its to slow.

[TakahiroW4047]

Sports, races, wildlife, maybe even video the family 100 yards away with a 500mm or if your a peeping tom you can transition from one window to the next with your 500mm fairly smoothly (that was a joke, not advice for peeping toms) ..but its going to need to be fairly quick on the long lenses. Just being smooth is worthless if its to slow.

Sheesh, Canon is being such an enabler [:P]


I'd imagine it'd be fairly quick, considering 500mm would cover such vast distance. I'm thinking the slower of the 2 speed settings is more for smaller changes in distance (maybe matter of couple meters).


Hopefully the improvements in image quality of the lens will justify this addition. Otherwise I'd imagine lots and lots of angry people []

[HDNitehawk]

Hopefully the improvements in image quality of the lens will justify this addition. Otherwise I'd imagine lots and lots of angry people

I got the free lens book when I joined CPS and it has a chapter that has all the charts and tells you how to read them.


If you go to Canon's website and look at the 500mm chart. If the IQ for the new 500mm is like the charts promise, the new 500mm will be the sharpest highest IQ in Canons L lineup. The 600mm will not be far behind.


From what the charts show. The lens may be very usable with the 2x at 1000mm.


http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_500mm_f_4l_is_ii_usm