So the other weekend I set off for Silverstone with some friends to go and watch (and photograph) the FIA GT1 event. Now, without press passes we were limited to the public access areas, but at events that don't get as many people, that's not a major issue - save for the fences that do tend to get in your way. Though with a little thought it's still fairly easy to find some places you can shoot from and get good results - even if they're not inside the bend or head on down the straight! 

When shooting motorsport, one technique more than any other is useful - panning. Panning is where you follow the subject at the same relative speed so during the exposure the subject appears sharp and stationary but everything else is blurred behind. 

It's all well and good panning, but to get it right takes some practice. In fact, it's one of the most hit and miss types of photography you can try as panning is usually achieved at a slow shutter speed of between 1/30sec and 1/125sec - much slower than you'd think you should use for subjects travelling at close to 200mph! 

So how can you make panning easier? Well, if you're hand-holding and you have an IS lens, then Mode 2 is the best choice - it will only remove camera shake at 90 degrees to the direction of the pan. If you're using a support, like a monopod or tripod, then try turning IS off - it can slow down the AF and sometimes you'll see it jump as you start to pan.

However, the real clever thing for panning is to make use of some other accessories to make life easier - in this case, a video tripod head. Specifically a fluid head. These are designed to pan smoothly so it makes perfect sense to use it when panning is what you're going to be doing most of... doesn't it? 

If you think about it, you'll come up with problems with panning - notably how to trigger the shutter when your hand is on a handle. Well, that is easily solved as well. A cable release does the trick nicely. Next up is AF. Well, if you're like me, you use back-button focus for everything.But in this instance, it makes no sense - when panning (and shooting motorsport generally) there is no occasion when you are likely to need to advantages of back-button focus, so simply switch it off and have AF activated on the shutter button - or in this case, on the cable release.

So how does it all work? Well, I plugged in the cable release (in this case it was a TC-80N3), ran the cable over the top of the camera and down the panning handle. At various stages I taped the cable down to stop it getting caught, and then I simply taped the control unit of the TC-80N3 at a comfortable place so I could trigger the camera with my thumb. 

Now, with the appropriate amount of friction dialed in, I was free to pan smoothly, focus and trigger the camera with one hand on top of the lens and one hand on the panning handle. And you know what, it may look a bit odd, and you may get some funny comments from other photographers (notably those jealous of the results your getting) but it makes life a million times easier and if getting the shot is your ultimate aim, that's the most important thing surely?

To see a selection of images from the GT1 weekend at Silverstone, click here..... 

Something special on the blog for you today.... Michael Humpherson, an burgeoning professional photographer, member of the site and technically knowledgeable photographer has bought himself an EOS-1D Mark IV.

Michael specialises in motorsport photography, but is more than a little handy at travel and landscape shooting as a glance at either of his websites will reveal - Pumaknight.co.uk and Takingourtime.co.uk 

[EN note: Having spent time passing on tips and hints to Michael and his wife Rachel before they went on a many month round the world trip, I can attest to his ability and understanding of cameras, not to mention his experience in shooting a variety of subjects. He personifies the advice that you should know your subject before shooting if you want to get the best results. His knowledge of motorsport in particular is huge and this shows in the pictures he achieves - even from the 'wrong' side of the fence.]

Having had the camera for a while, he has put fingers to keyboard and provided a review on the camera, with particular attention to the AF performance. 

"Rumours, darn rumours and expectactions" by Michael Humpherson (aka Pumaknight)

This review is not going to be one of those traditional tomes raving about the technical specifications of the latest pro series camera from Canon, although they are quite impressive (16mp, APS-H sensor, 45AF points and so on….) These specs are well known. This review is more about asking the whether the camera has lived up to the rumour-fuelled expectations…and let’s be honest, the expectations were very high…Canon had to hit this one out of the park or face losing significant market share.

Rumours…modern camera releases are all about rumours….it is hard to escape the inevitable rumblings about a new camera release, the predictions that it will be the best camera ever, that it will have the most MPs, the most AF points and above all else, be able to track anything in any light at any speed and get every frame perfectly in focus regardless of what the operator is doing….yep, these rumours are plentiful, and whilst most are fantasy, there are a few realistic ones that set the expectations of the market and the punter for the initial release, at least. The 1D Mk 3 was rumoured to be the best camera ever in its class…Canon even said so in their heavy release marketing “most frames per second, best focusing…” and so on. So when it wasn’t…huge damage to brand and reputation ensued.

Poor old Canon, a bit like Toyota of the late, the 1D Mk3 did not just miss these early expectations; it also seemed to miss basic quality control. Yep, the AF was not good. Despite a reasonably quick fix and field reports of an AF system that worked very well thank you, the damage was done; the trust broken… how would Canon react?

Canon had a market that was going to be paying very close attention to the quality and AF capabilities of the new 1D Mk 4 (hereafter 1D4), regardless of the expectation-setting rumours.

Let’s get it out of the way….Auto Focus

Rumours had it that the AF on the new camera, although heavily reengineered would not prove to be any better than the 1D Mk 3. No sooner had the camera been released that the naysayers were lambasting it for poor and erratic AF performance.

Well, the rumours proved to be wrong, as did those early detractors. The AF is more than capable and far exceeds the accepted capabilities of high fps fast-focus body. In all but the most strenuous of conditions, the 1D4 will capture, track and maintain good focus lock for many frames a second on the default out of the box AF settings.

But not all of the time…

On occasion during testing, the AF did seem to have issues in sustaining consistent lock on fast moving subjects at 45 degree angles when shooting in AI Servo. Most other cameras in the reviewer’s experience also have had problems with this, but rather than the predictive AI-SERVO focus dragging and missing the critical focal point, giving a less than sharp but usable shot, the 1D4 tended to lose focus for a frame or 2….and when we say lose focus, we mean totally…a complete OOF shot. This appears to be less of a predictive algorithm thing and more of a camera smarter than it should be trying to retain perfect focus.

This was initially very perplexing given how sharp the frames were on either side of the lost focus shot. If a camera focuses badly, it tends to be bad across the range. This was not the case. As with any good photographer not wanting to phone Canon and face potential embarrassment for missing a key “new” feature, the manual was grabbed and read.

A few minutes with the manual (normally left in the box for those with existing Canon systems), a solution was found. It is apparent that the AF out of the box is not optimised for all shooting conditions. The default settings are exactly that…default…designed to offer the best compromise on AF performance across a whole host of potential subjects, be it landscape, sport, people or beloved pets. To ask a camera of this magnitude to capture perfect in focus shots at 10fps all of the time is naive. 

Canon has redesigned the AF from the ground up giving the photographer a huge array of customisable functions, 19 specifically for AF operation alone!!

You will need to do a lot of testing to get the ideal combination for you. But for starters, these three are worth paying attention to:

§  AI Servo Tracking Sensitivity (C.FnIII-2) where you can speed up or slow down the speed at which the AF shifts focus from unwanted subjects, keeping the main subject in focus;

§  AF Expansion with selected point (C.FnIII-8), where you can have focus assist points around your primary focus point for those fast erratic moving subjects.

§  AI Servo AF Tracking Method (C.FnIII-4), especially when using C.FnIII-8, which prioritises the focus onto the primary subject allowing cleaner and more consistent focus lock regardless of any intrusions.

Once the custom functions were dialled in to the appropriate subject matter, the focus was pin sharp over 99% of the time, with only the normal suspects such as camera shake, or asking the camera to focus on a subject when AF lock was impossible, resulting in OOF shots.  The previous experienced OOF issue has not materialised again.

There are a couple of valuable lessons to be learnt here, and not just for the 1D4.

Always and I mean ALWAYS set the tool to do the job at hand. This is so true with 1D4. It is such a complex piece of equipment that all users, even those with vast experience on earlier 1-series bodies will need some time to dial in the perfect settings, not just for the individual shooting style, but the conditions at hand.

Remember that a camera is constrained by the laws of physics and sometimes, asking it to capture a bird flying at 90mph straight at you with only a split second to frame and release the shutter…well that is asking a little bit too much from the camera. That is not the AF capabilities failing, it is nothing more than luck and your choice of location and shot…

Rest assured, once customised for the shooting environment such as sports, the camera shows an unnerving ability for capturing lock and retaining it regardless of what you do…truly remarkable.

Canon has done good, the AF works very well, very well indeed.

Very Useful…very thoughtful
Problem with rumours (apart from the obvious) is that they do tend to miss some really nice features, and this is true of the 1D4 as well. The nicest new feature that was missed was the Orientation Linked AF point. This function (C.Fn III-16) allows you to register a different focus point for vertical and horizontal shooting. This is hugely useful when shooting sport. Rather than having to manually select the preferred point the camera does it automatically. Now, it is easy to capture the wide panning shot straight after the tight vertical a split second before.

Ergonomics

Rumours had it that the 1D4 would be a newer lighter body with less of a foot (or should that be hand) print….more in line with the prosumer tiered body such as the 5D Mk2. All rubbish of course. Canon has spent a number of iterations honing the design of the 1-series bodies and the 1D4 continues with this well versed body shape. And they weren’t about to throw this well research and trialled design out…and they shouldn’t…the design works. There are a few refinements, such as the covers on the connection ports (including a new HDMI port) with the plastic covers being much easier to unclip and swing out of the way (those that have lost the screw cap will be delighted with this particular improvement).

Of course, the addition of a high definition 3.5” screen does wonders for both live view usability and also critical focus review. It is rather pleasing to be able to see your images in field resembling what they will look like on screen…saves those embarrassing “I thought it was in focus” moments when you get back to base.

The shutter release has a very comforting feel to it with almost instinctive pressure levels required to release it, less chance of a loss snap of the trigger finger to blur your shot.

The only area still lacking on the ergonomics front is the multi directional joystick…it would have been really nice if they had put it within reach for both vertical and horizontal shooting, especially with such many AF points to select!!

[EN note: I believe they did consider some different placements for the multi-controller, but couldn’t come up with one that worked for all so it stayed where it was.]

IQ – Pictorial Intelligence

It is hard to remember in recent history where Canon’s image quality was not world class. The 5D Mk2 continued a trend of improving the IQ of the images beyond even the most aggressive of rumours. The 1D4 does not disappoint in this department either, yet again proving not just a step up from its predecessor, but also a step up from any other Canon DSLR on the market.

Let’s talk high ISO…..bar pitch black lighting, the 1D4 can record an image. ISO 102,800 anyone? 102,800 is so noisy that it renders it un-usable in all but a few niche situations, certainly any prints from such a high ISO will be mildly disappointing. It is still mighty impressive though to have such a high ISO available to use.

The 1D4 doesn’t stop there. Shoot at 12,800 and you will be surprised.

Let us make a point of this…Images shot at 12,800 are usable, very usable indeed. Print and frame usable, with only a little bit of noise filtering required. The noise footprint is very consistent meaning any noise reducing software you use will be able to remove the noise easily giving a very natural and clean finished image.

Given that only 3 years ago we were impressed at a 3200 image being about as far as you could go digitally, this is a huge step forward.

Film…slide…digital with film like quality – full circle

Dropping out of extreme ISO settings, to a more respectable 100, the images are very easy to work with in RAW or Jpeg.

The clarity, the colours, the overall feel of the file out of camera is such that is actually inspires confidence. There is not a stock library or an editor in the land that will not be happy to receive these files.

That is before we dive in to the now required custom options when shooting jpeg. The 1D4 has all the usual suspects. Playing with these setting will result in jpeg images that can be used straight out of the camera. The colour tonality and the digital footprint is very…very, dare I say it…film like. And that is a great achievement in this digital age. You would be hard pressed to find fault with the images….any issues will most likely be as a result of operating error.

Sensor, it is just a sensor

With 16mp at your disposal, rumours were questioning whether the RAW image would retain its sparkle when heavily cropped (please refer to many discussions around the web about sensor pixel pitch and other such hugely technically advanced subjects).

The answer is yes, it will. The cleanliness of the RAW images is so complete that you will have no issues in cropping to at least 100%.  Of course, you want to avoid this, but if you are in a bind and the required focal length lens is not in your kit bag, you at least can be reassured that a clean focussed shot will allow much cropping to get the desired image composition.

What about the HD video??

Yep, after the success of the 5d Mk2, (and who thought that it would be so successful, eh??? Not even Canon!), the new de-facto standard must have feature in any DSLR camera is high def video…and not to disappoint, it can also to be found on the 1D4. Beautiful full HD video coupled with the EF lens range opens up such a raft of creative opportunities, even for those people who prefer stills. The HD mode is not much different to that found on the 5D Mk2, the exception being starting recording in movie mode.

The 1D4 has a dedicated custom function to assign this to a button of your choice...most useful. It will take a very professional videographer to get the best out of this mode, with no AF functioning in movie mode. That being said, even the most amateur videographer will be able to capture stunning usable high def movies with only some basic video skills applied….just remember those dust bunnies on the sensor are hugely interfering in movie mode….even with the 1D4’s dust removal technology built in, you will still need to keep a keen eye open for dust spots before you start filming.

Expectations beaten….destroyed….obliterated

So did the 1D4 live up to the rumour fuelled expectations….well, in this reviewers opinion, it did, and it exceeded them to boot.

It is worth remembering that this is a professional tool and as such should be treated like one. You are not going to pick up a camera of this capability and be able to nail top-line results straight out of the camera...patience, practice and fine-tuning the tool are required. Only then will the camera exceed its billing and become an extension of the photographers’ hand…

Now Canon have the hard task of exceeding expectations with the 1D5….good luck there, Canon, good luck indeed.

Sample AF shots (all images ©Michael Humpherson, all rights reserved)

The car was shot through a thick fence, with the car travelling at 100mph. This demonstrates C.FnIII-4 and -8 working at their best.

1/200th, f/9, ISO 400

The monkey was a quick little beggar running towards me, about 5ft away when the shot was taken. This demonstrates how fast the AF is when locked on the subject.

1/400th, f/5.6, ISO 800

AF tracking at its best. Once locked, it does not let go.

1/13th, f/32, ISO 100

1/100th, f/13, ISO 200

1/1000th, f/8, ISO 400

1/100th, f/13, ISO 100

High ISO - this shot is taken at ISO 12, 800. No post processing has been applied to this other than the resize. Quite extraordinary....

1/250th, f/2.8, ISO 12,800

100% crop to show how much detail iis retained in the image... handy for those long distant moments. 

1/250th, f/6.3, ISO 100

The other strong element in this camera is the metering system. It is so predictable that you can set it to your desired look, shoot and forget, no matter what the light is doing. All shot using Evaluative metering mode. No more second guessing exposures, or firing test shots. Perfect for those photojournalistic moments.

1/640th, f/8, ISO 200

1/500th, f/8/ ISO 200

1/80th, f/8, ISO 3200

1/320th, f/22, ISO 200

EN: Many thanks to Michael for taking the time to put his thoughts down on paper about the new camera. It seems he is rather happy with it and is already producing good images with it.... not a bad selection either considering he only got it at Focus and does have a full-time job! Best of luck with the movement towards more full-time photographic pursuits. We look forward to seeing your progress on the site over the coming months.....

It's been long awaited. The rumours have been flying for ages, and finally it has arrived. I know many of you reading this will be jumping up and down with glee at this news, the EOS-1D Mark IV is here. It's arrived. The wait (for an announcement!) is over. 

So, what's it got? Well, from the top:

16.1 Megapixel CMOS, APS-H sensor

10 fps shooting speed

ISO range from 100-12,800 plus expansion settings running to ISO 102,400 (for when you need that shot of a black cat in a coal hole!) 

Dual DIGIC 4 processors

45point AF system, all user selectable and 39 of which are cross-type AF points for more precision 

Spot AF when using Super Telephoto lenses that have an AF Stop button 

Full HD movie shooting with user selectable frame rates

63 zone metering system 

62 custom functions to let you tailor the camera to your way of shooting

EOS Integrated Cleaning System

3inch ClearView II LCD 

As you can see, there is nothing really spectacular in this camera. It feels like Canon have decided bells an whistles was last years trick and they've gone back to the KISS principles - Keep It Simple. It feels like a workhorse. Like it'll take the rough with the smooth and keep on shooting. And this is  good thing. Bells and Whistles suit certain levels of camera, but the EOS-1Series is built for professionals to do a job in any situation. They don't want or need many of these extras.

If you compare it to the EOS 7D, there are features it doesn't have -  the Dual Axis Electronic level and Zone AF for example. However, in a camera such as this, this is not an issue. For the working photographer, who needs to get the shots time and again and who will use the camera to make money from, these extras are not needed. If you're not a working photographer and you want the most technically advanced camera you can get, then buy the EOS 7D. 

Visually, the EOS-1D Mark IV looks almost identical to the EOS-1D Mark III. The only difference is a slight bump around the ports to accommodate the HDMI socket.

At the same time as the announcement on the EOS-1D Mark IV, there is another press release from Canon concerning the EOS 5D Mark II  and firmware development - they are working on it and in the first half of 2010 we will get firmware that offers both 24 and 25fps shooting speeds for full HD movies. So don't go getting rid of your EOS 5D Mark II cameras just yet if you want user selectable frame rates! (Press release on this at the bottom.....) 

As we get more information, we'll be passing it on, but for now, here's the UK press release to go with the camera:

The EOS 1D Mark IV is available from the end of December 2009 priced at £4499.00 / €5499.00 RRP inc. VAT. 

EOS 5D Mark II Press release:

Canon currently expects the firmware update to be made available during the first half of 2010.  An announcement regarding details of the update and its availability will be made closer to the release date.