BTM_Pix

I am absolutely not saying that someone who had an R5 could use a good old fashioned CR2032 battery eliminator in the camera then bring it out through the camera enabling them to provide a switchable power source to it to effectively remove/re-insert it without taking the camera apart each time they want to reset the recovery time. I'm absolutely not saying that. Someone else might say that. But, just to be clear, I'm not saying that at all, OK?

Remember this ? So, again, I find myself thinking that tonight's tweet is a very funny way to spell "Boy we were wrong about this and our sincerest apologies to Andrew for trying to incite you all to pour scorn on him when he raised this on day one". Shameless.

There will be a development announcement of it before the pre-order begins for the AFX so people can see which one of them - if any - will be more suitable for their use. Price and lead time is the benefit of the AFX as for some people the combination of additional focus tools it brings to the Pocket cameras might actually be all that they need and the second unit will be a couple of months behind. It is very, very different and whilst it is initially for the Pocket cameras it is a more universal product. As I say, both will be known before any pre-orders happen for the AFX so it will be easier to evaluate for individuals then before any commitments are made.

Unless the shooter follows the subject then, no, only in the central zone. As I've mentioned further up, this is one of two AF units we will be releasing and the other one will be more suited to what you need, albeit at a much higher price point.

If you are in AF-C mode it will follow whatever is in the central zone. If you watch the first video, the clip with the SpiderCal focus chart is maintaining focus on it as it approaches the camera.

A (very) brief example video showing the difference between the AF speed and behaviour when using the Pocket4K's own integral AF functionality versus using the AFX in AF-S mode. No hunting required.

I imagine at this point that he's relieved to be running any test that doesn't involve a thermometer, a fridge or an oven.

You might want to have a look at the Expodisc. Pops onto your lens to get 18% grey for white balance but you can then also use it as an incident light meter too. They have videos on their YouTube channel showing how to use it for WB and ones like this about using it to meter

Thanks. The AFX is a multi-client BLE server in its own right so it can report the distance simultaneously to other units aside from the PBC. So there can be an option for an additional display only unit (or have the PBC in that mode if you don't want to use it to monitor camera settings) or it can be used with an app to enable you to use your own preferred display size.

Thanks Yes but it has a spread so it depends on distance to subject. Again, depending on subject distance and the focal length and aperture, you can grab focus using AF-S by aiming the camera (or turning the unit if you prefer) to the subject at the edge of frame and there should be enough latitude for it to be in focus. It is all situational though so, in general, it should be considered centre zone only with the additional option to grab and lock focus of an edge subject or use the thumbstick to manually tune focus. Its a set of additional tools rather than the magic bullet but as I've mentioned there are actually two AF units coming and the second one is very different both in terms of functionality and certainly in price.

Agreed. Its got more more than a whiff of this about it. Particularly the having to take refuge in a fridge aspect.

Ah, OK. If that is the question then, aside from the thumbstick on the handheld controller, the answer is currently no. However, the Moza iFocus hand wheel is a slightly cheaper option than the Tilta so if we get hold of one then we'd likely look at incorporating it.

Thinking about it, I'd go as far as to say that he's talking in such cautionary terms about the video features as though he were describing them as being some sort of "use at your own risk" modification like Magic Lantern rather than an actual finished, manufactured, retail product from a world leading brand. It is utterly, utterly weird.

I like ProAV as a company to buy from and their videos about products are hype free and informative. However, I think that video is a misstep by them and there are some presumptions in there from them about how you could use it that won't leave them with a leg to stand on when people want to return them. I'm utterly baffled why they would make a video about something with that many caveats in it without closing with "and of course we won't be taking any orders for these until all of these issues are at the very least clarified by Canon".

Sorry, I'm not following what you are asking then. Can you explain what you mean ? Are you asking about Tilta's focus motors or about their focus wheel controller ?

Its a slightly different situation with this as its calibrated to distance and is sent to a specific point without passing go and collecting £200 so the clunking and grinding that you'd get with a contrast based AF system as it is hunting isn't in play. The first three clips in the video are actually on an adapted Sigma 18-35mm on a Metabones Smart adapter so its certainly not lacking in speed or precision. Having said that, there are quite broad variances in EF lenses in terms of precision so with some of them you might get a smoother gradation with a motor and lens gear but then you're adding the bulk/powering of the motor and getting gear rings on some EF-S lenses particularly or even a nifty fifty is a bit of an additional chore. The simple solution is to buy both types of course 😉

Yep, the EXIF temperature data is just the relative reference gauge to what is happening as its the calculation that triggers and then resets the inhibitors that is the key issue. Clearly, it is not being sourced from an external area as it would match the ambient temperature of the room so it is relevant as a partial indicator of the internal temperature. I'm old enough to remember when the crutch that was being used for this camera was that it was OK as long as you didn't shoot long video clips and even if you did it was only supposed to overheat in very hot ambient temperatures. If nothing else, 60 jpegs in a fridge has totally removed that crutch and the defence of it is all getting a bit Black Knight from the Holy Grail now.

Yes but its a fairly long pipe at the moment. The next most likely version of this particular one is a motor based universal version. Although the original GX85 hack came from me building a controller for it so you never know I might go back to my roots!

It doesn't need the Nucleus Nano to work, it operates the camera focus system directly. It gives you the option to also be able to use the Nucleus Nano wheel to control focus manually for those who prefer to have that type of tactile control.

You can also use a Tilta Nano wheel wirelessly with it simultaneously too so there are no shortage of options! The whole trip from the AFX sensor to the camera via the PBC is around 40-50ms.

Hell of a day to be on the "Its a stills camera, you should be grateful it shoots any sort of video whatsoever. There are no problems if you just shoot stills with it" team.

The more cynical ones are just keeping their powder dry so they can make a new "I was WRONG about the R5" with sad gurning face background. Then the "Have Canon FIXED the R5 with this new firmware ?" with puzzled chin scratching gurning face background. Then the "Canon R5 six months later" with excited gurning face background. Then the "Have I really swapped my R5 for a Polaroid instant camera?" with shocked gurning face background. And on. And on.

Thanks. Who wouldn't be driven to drink trying to make this work? On a serious note, the idea of using the bottles (and the shiny marble kitchen surface) in those clips is that the reflections and angles present a greater challenge so is an illustration of how it can work when presented with that challenge. 1) Yes. There is an adjustable hold and transition time for the AF-C mode. The purpose of these clips was to illustrate speed and accuracy of target acquisition in both modes. As you can see from the SpiderCal focus chart clip, continuous tracking of moving objects is reasonably smooth. 2) No, there is no interaction with the screen. Target acquisition is always closest object in a central zone. 3) Yes. The concept of the AFX is really about expanding the overall focus options that you have rather than being a 100% "always on" continuous autofocus system. In this sense, the idea is that it can also be used in addition to and in tandem with with your existing options so its probably worth going through the logic of how that works. With AFX set to AF-S mode : Pressing the upper trigger on the hand controller acquires focus. Using the joystick up/down on the hand controller controls focus manually. Pressing the screen on the camera activates the camera's internal one shot AF function. Pressing the joystick right activates the camera's internal one shot AF (this is an example as the stick can be assigned to another function such as AutoWB etc) If you have a Tilta Nucleus Nano wheel attached you can use that to control focus manually. Pressing the joystick left switches to AF-C mode With AFX set to AF-C mode: Focus is continually adjusted by the AFX Other focus functions can still be used but will be overridden when the AFX detects a change of distance of its acquired object. Pressing the upper trigger on the hand controller toggles between engaging and disengaging AF-C. Pressing the joystick left switches to AF-S mode With these options, you are free to use the AFX as much or as little as you require depending on the scenarios you are facing. So you might just use it in AF-S mode to acquire instant focus of the target and then it will leave it locked on that allowing you to then tweak it or move it completely using the joystick on the hand controller or Nano wheel and then use the trigger to acquire the next target as and when you want to. In another scenario, like covering an event, you can just put it in AF-C mode and turn it into an autofocus camcorder but, again, with the ability through the controller to instantly regain control of focus without touching the camera. Its the dynamic ability to switch these things in and out and use them in combination, or not at all, that, in my opinion, makes it a useful and versatile addition to the arsenal rather than a single magic bullet solution. You'll have to wait until October to get a glimpse of that one 😉 I don't want to belong to any club that will accept people like me as a member. Thanks. Oh yes....

Well, at the very least, the one that @Andrew Reid is using (and @mechanicalEYE I'm presuming too?) is an actual shop bought camera so whilst the firmware is undoubtedly not going to be the last and final one they ever do for it (unless they are mad), it is nonetheless the one that retail units ship with and there have not been any firmware updates issued by Canon for it.

AFX is the long overdue focus control expansion option for our PBC system for BM Pocket4K/6K cameras. With AFX and its included handheld remote you can control manual focus of MFT/EF lenses but also operate our newly created Single and Continuous AF modes for the camera. These new AF-S/C modes are made possible by the AFX’s integral ToF sensor which constantly measures object distance from the camera. As well as allowing you to control focus using the thumbstick and AF-S/C switching, the handheld remote also enables you to map any of the camera controls such as ISO/Aperture/WB etc to five of its hardware switches as well as being able to toggle Record Start/Stop from one of its two finger trigger buttons. All communication between the AFX, the handheld controller, the PBC and the camera are performed wirelessly and, as with the PBC, the AFX runs from its own internal battery or USB. The AFX will be priced at €199 (plus the cost of the PBC for new adopters) and pre-orders begin next month. Here are some basic examples of the AFX in manual focus, Single and Continuous AF modes. In AF-S mode, current focus is held until you press the trigger button so is equivalent to half shutter press/Back Focus Button on a regular (D)SLR or mirrorless. More to follow as the pre-order date approaches.