Behind the scenes with Canon CPS at the Paris Games

[Canon Rumors]

Jeff was telling me that water polo is still an issue with the R1, but he's going to play with settings and give it another go or two.

That sport has always been challenging for cameras, but I'll update on that once I hear more.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Obviously Cable is an amateur who needs to get some advice form our forum members.

Yeah, it's great that we have so many experts here. Jeff Cable should get some pointers from @whothafunk, who has historically had a much higher hit rate when shooting gymnastics. Or maybe he should ask me, since just like @whothafunk my hit rate is historically much higher than Jeff's when shooting events like gymnastics and synchronized swimming.



That could be because my subjects were moving a little slower, though.

 

[twoheadedboy]

Don't forget about the Winter Olympics.

Those don't have gymnastics.

 

[P-visie]

Yeah, it's great that we have so many experts here. Jeff Cable should get some pointers from @whothafunk, who has historically had a much higher hit rate when shooting gymnastics. Or maybe he should ask me, since just like @whothafunk my hit rate is historically much higher than Jeff's when shooting events like gymnastics and synchronized swimming.

View attachment 218574

That could be because my subjects were moving a little slower, though.

I hope that none of your equipment is in the kids backpacks .

 

[rbtree]

Those don't have gymnastics.

Nope but they have events with some real speed!! I shot snow skiing for 20 years (semi-pro--I was an arborist for my main porfession.). Shot a Women's WC DH/SG at Lake Louise in -14° F weather. Fuji Provia, probably. Gals zipping by at 50-70 mph and me at 1/500 sec, maybe 1/1000. I did get some keepers, believe it or not! Dunno how, as my hands and feet were half frozen. I'm older than dirt now and haven't shot skiing for some time. But, I'm definitely looking forward to adding the II to my R5, for a few reasons, but especially the pre-action feature in stills and vid! Wildlife shooting mainly, but need to get back into action sports...love mt bike/ kiteboard stuff and more! Don't need income, but might look into shoot school sports in my area.

All that and I watch alpine skiing as much as I can. Have followed one of the VERY greatest of all time in any sport, since she had her first WC top 3 finsih, Michaela Shiffrin--at age 16!!

Attached shot is from the Worthington Glacier/Thompson Pass above Vadez, Ak, 1996 Dean Collins, head of the Mt. Baker (Wa) Hardcore Air Bears

Gear was probably the Canon EOS 1N and 70-200 2.8 (I don't recall if it had IS but it would have been my first EF 70-200

(1140" of snow fell at Baker in 1998-99..the all time world record snowfall!!)

 

[tiggy@mac.com]

I'll be very interested to see how much of these AF improvements are included in the R5 II system. It seemed Jeff was talking about the R1 when he mentioned those, as he referenced the 40 fps stat.

Also interesting would be the difference in eye tracking versions between the R1 and R5 II. It seems the R5 II will have the R3's system, and the R1 the improved version. It may be that this is just a hardware distinction, and the software is upgraded on both. Or some combination.

I suppose we'll know on the R5 II in just three weeks, when we start getting deliveries.

 

[P-visie]

I'll be very interested to see how much of these AF improvements are included in the R5 II system. It seemed Jeff was talking about the R1 when he mentioned those, as he referenced the 40 fps stat.

Also interesting would be the difference in eye tracking versions between the R1 and R5 II. It seems the R5 II will have the R3's system, and the R1 the improved version. It may be that this is just a hardware distinction, and the software is upgraded on both. Or some combination.

I suppose we'll know on the R5 II in just three weeks, when we start getting deliveries.

According to Canon : “the R5 Mark II adds Canon’s Eye Control AF - even more advanced than the Eye Control in the EOS R3 camera”.

From the digital picture’s (p)review of the Mk II: “The next iteration of Eye Control AF is back, with redesigned optics and an improved algorithm increasing the detection rate by about 2x that of the R3”.

See: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-R5-Mark-II.aspx in the Autofocus section.

According to an earlier blog by Jeff Cable: “This new camera shares some of the high-end features of the Canon R1. Notably, the excellent focus system, pre-continuous shooting and even the eye control. During my offsite with Canon, we were told that the new Canon R5II has 95% of the focus system as the R1.”

See: https://blog.jeffcable.com/2024/07/now-i-can-talk-about-all-new-canon-r1.html

Have you finished counting the screw holes in the R5 Mk II PCB?

 

[koenkooi]

I'll be very interested to see how much of these AF improvements are included in the R5 II system. [...]

I suspect it will use the same AF software, but it won't have the sensor tech that allows it to focus on horizontal features. Kinda like the R7 had the same AF software as the R3. I hope that the R5II can keep up with the software better than the R7 did.

 

[usern4cr]

If they are going to consider feedback from their users before sending out the final cameras, then I wish some of those users would ask them to add a "motion trap" feature so that you could have your camera on a tripod ready to catch an infrequent animal (person, or hummingbird etc) arriving at a particular site to trigger a sequence of shots (or video) so that you don't have to be there over a long period of time and it's then easy to fetch the results later. They've got their precapture stuff going and amazing AI AF going, so why not add a motion trap option? Seems like a good thing to add, unless they want to add it to a future version?

 

[jam05]

I am also shocked with the statement. I shoot gymnastics several times per year and my R3 is definitely better than 40% hit rate, so I am not sure what drugs he is on. Anything to boost sales..

Depends on what Team USA considers to be their success rate standards. Their bar may be higher than yours. Your standards are most likely lower than what Team USA may accept. 95% in focus, 10% acceptable. Several times a year is considered a novice.

 

[jam05]

If they are going to consider feedback from their users before sending out the final cameras, then I wish some of those users would ask them to add a "motion trap" feature so that you could have your camera on a tripod ready to catch an infrequent animal (person, or hummingbird etc) arriving at a particular site to trigger a sequence of shots (or video) so that you don't have to be there over a long period of time and it's then easy to fetch the results later. They've got their precapture stuff going and amazing AI AF going, so why not add a motion trap option? Seems like a good thing to add, unless they want to add it to a future version?

Write Canon. If its somthing that many people want they may consider it. I've never seen it mentioned before anywhere on the internet.

I doubt it.
He used a 1DX III last Olympics.
The R3 was a prototype and was not at the stage the R1 is now.
He did use the R3 for

I am also shocked with the statement. I shoot gymnastics several times per year and my R3 is definitely better than 40% hit rate, so I am not sure what drugs he is on. Anything to boost sales..

Your idea of what Team USA considers a successfull shot by their standards most likely is not what you believe it is. Simply because you believe that you have an acceptable hit doesn't mean it is. Jeff Cable's hit rate is different from yours. He's been a Team USA photographer for a very long time. Higher standards.

 

[jam05]

What makes you think Canon surveyed anyone? All you have to do is read this forum to know that “everyone” needed the R1 to have more than 24 MP. That clearly shows how out of touch Canon is, which explains why their market share is plummeting.

Everyone on this forum are not professional commissioned sports photographers or CPS members.

 

[jam05]

What makes you think Canon surveyed anyone? All you have to do is read this forum to know that “everyone” needed the R1 to have more than 24 MP. That clearly shows how out of touch Canon is, which explains why their market share is plummeting.

Because they indeed survey their known users. Not simply people that post on forums. Well known, professional sports photographers. Those commissioned by the Olympic and professional sports organizations.

 

[koenkooi]

Write Canon. If its somthing that many people want they may consider it. I've never seen it mentioned before anywhere on the internet.
[…]

The Nikon Z9 has that, ‘Auto Capture’, you can set the subject you want, focus limiters,
angle of entry, time ranges and more.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Everyone on this forum are not professional commissioned sports photographers or CPS members.

Really? I thought they all were. I mean, I know I’m not. But everyone else is, right?

Because they indeed survey their known users. Not simply people that post on forums. Well known, professional sports photographers. Those commissioned by the Olympic and professional sports organizations.

Are you sure? It seems silly that Canon would go through the trouble and expense of conducting market research when all they need to do is read the expert opinions in this forum to know what all photographers everywhere shooting anything really want in cameras and lenses.

Oh, and in case it wasn’t clear, this is sarcasm. Ending my first post (the one to which you replied twice) with, “That clearly shows how out of touch Canon is, which explains why their market share is plummeting. [winky emoji],” could have been considered a clue. Sorry I was that subtle. [looks for pounding with sledgehammer emoji]

 

[definedphotography]

The funny things is that he chooses R1 but not R5 mkii.

From his blog:
"They say that the focus speed of the Canon R5 MKII is 95% as good as the Canon R1. I have not tried it yet, because I don’t want to risk it for key shots here at the gymnastics. But I will at some point."

 

[uPhotic]

That being said, I find it interesting that Jeff Cable started shooting Water Pole at 30 or 40 fps, but then switched to 16 fps, as that worked better for him. And he shot the Men's gymnastics at 30 fps. Obviously Cable is an amateur who needs to get some advice form our forum members.

It seems as most pros choose lower frame rates than available. Listening to many pros it would seem most prefer a lower framerate with the option of quick bursts (in some sports). But sony's 120fps is what canon should match at least to be competitive according to people here.
Also why some camera stores locally have said that people (including pros) have cancelled their R1 order and switched to R5II. Must be that the readout and 30fps of r5II is acceptable as it's the R3 with a different body

 

[David - Sydney]

That's what Canon keeps saying, but this whole R1/R5II announcement is riddled with disinformation, so 'sure' might be too strong a word.

The only place that I know of stating 12 bit in ES mode for the R5 is the official Canon EU website. There isn't contradictory information within the Canon announcements/websites.
DPR also has it in their review but it isn't in the R5 advanced user manual.

 

[john1970]

As far as I can tell both the R5II and R1 always do 14-bit stills.

You are correct

 

[Navism]

Video from Canon Instagram.

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