First impressions going from 450D to 6D: focusing

[Joan]

I got a few days ago my so long desired 6D. After some very few tests what I have noticed with regard to my former 450D is the much greater capability to fine focus. I have decent lenses (the ones I most use are the 24-105 f4 IS L and the 70-200 f4 IS L) and with my former camera I wondered many times if the investment on these lenses was really worth because the results I got were not according to what everybody told me that I should expect from them (L class and bla, bla bla). I even thought on going to Canon to check if something was wrong with them. Let's note that I always focus automatically and never manually (it takes too much time, I need my glasses to fine tune focusing, etc...). What I can say without any shadow of doubt is that the 6D focuses much, much better than the 450D, and that only for this it is worth to go from the 450D to the 6D. It is not a question of a few more megapixels, it is a question of faster and much more accurate focusing capability.

[chauncey]

Joan, congrats on the new body. Newer Canon bodies have the ability for you to adjust the focusing accuracy in each of your lenses, yes...it is a pain in the ___, but well worth the time spent. There's a ton of tutorials out there explaining how it's done. http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/37678939

Proper set-up of the focusing method is also beneficial...http://kenrockwell.com/canon/6d/users-guide/af.htm

[DanK]

Glad you are having such a positive experience with your 6D.

I'd offer a friendly amendment to Chauncey's suggestion: it is worth testing out your lenses for front and back focus, particularly if you have focusing results that are not optimal. However, there is a good chance that you won't need to make adjustments. I tested all of my lenses with my old body, a 50D, and I found only one that needed MFA. The truth is that the adjustment was so small that I probably wouldn't have noticed the effects except at wide-open apertures. I now shoot with a 5DIII most of the time, and the focusing has been so good that I keep forgetting to take the time to test all of my lenses on it. I should, and will, but I think there is a pretty good chance that I won't end up adjusting many.

[Glenn NK]

I have 30D and a 5DII - my son recently bought a 6D.

He took some images at a family affair where I didn't even bother with my 5DII because the light level was so low (no flash permitted). The quality of his images really surprised me.

Fine body the 6D.

[Joan]

Newer Canon bodies have the ability for you to adjust the focusing accuracy in each of your lenses, yes...it is a pain in the ___, but well worth the time spent. There's a ton of tutorials out there explaining how it's done.

I have checked my camera with my 2 zooms and I have not been able to notice any trace of back or front focus. I have done the check with the central focusing point (the most accurate one). I understand that it does not make sense to repeat the test with the peripheral focus points....