On 29/06/2012 7:03 p.m., Trevor wrote:
"Me" wrote in message
...
It's pretty easy/fast to do using the 4-way selector, and with very
shallow DOF, "focus & recompose" is very unreliable - as people move.
There's also the auto focus point selection mode which tries to identify
the subject by pattern, and while not perfect, is surprisingly reliable in
putting the selected focus points right where you'd want them.

Not in my experience with many Canon camera's unfortunately. You need face
detect for that, and that still only works for people of course.


It's something I will miss if I shift to an FX Nikon, as the 51 points are
far more bunched up in the middle of the frame.
I don't know the Sony SLT system well, but one I was looking at in a
camera store seemed to have good face recognition, and pretty quick AF, as
well as a superb EVF. This may be the future - if not in a pellicle type
camera.

Right, I've used an OM-D and that was one feature I liked. (not enough to
make me buy one though) I'm expecting Canon to add proper face detect at
some point.

Trevor.


Not sure how the auto focus point select system works on the higher end
nikons. Despite 51 AF points, there's surely not enough data for full
face detect, but if there's a face taking up a reasonable part (1/3?) of
the VF, chance are very high that the AF sensor or sensors will light up
right over the eyes. Nikon "held back" with the D300 and 700, the D3 is
noticeably faster in 51 point auto select modes - there's noticeably
more delay with D300/700 before the camera makes it's mind up. This
(processing grunt?) also affects multi point continuous AF tracking,
where 21 point is apparently quite good on the D3, but only works
reliably on 11 point mode for D300/700 models from my experience. I
don't know if this difference persists between D4 and 800 models, but
presuming that the delay was a processor grunt issue, a lot could have
changed in 5 years.

If the face detect on the OMD impressed you, you should take a look at
the Sony slt a77. On face detect mode, it seemed to me like some kind
of science fiction movie thing, with the bonus that the viewfinder
resolution, size, lack of flicker, and brightness isn't shamed by a full
frame slr. With the OMD, you know you're looking through an EVF. With
the Sony, you feel like a fighter pilot with a complex "heads up"
display. Not sure if it helps with photography much (and in a lot of
cases it probably detracts from it), but the geek factor is very high.