Focus Speed (Body or Lens)

craig.walton2

craig.walton2

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Craig
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I understand that different lenses/bodys focus faster than others but which of the two makes a significant difference?

The reason I ask is that i've just upgraded from a 60d to a 7d but now I need to raise some funds so i'm selling my 70-200mm f4 IS (gutted) and just bought 55-250mm (again!). Will my new body compensate for the focus speed lost in the cheaper lens?
 
The answer is both.
No, the new body won't compensate.

Focus speed and accuracy are built into the body. BUT, in order to make the most of that you need larger aperture lenses; even the best AF systems are better with faster glass. And the focus motor has to be faster and better too.

I don't know what the focus motor is like on the 50-250 but in my experience kit lenses don't focus as fast as L lenses (not even close).
 
55-250 can't keep up with a 7D, especially on high speed burst mode. Its OK on the slower modes.

(tried my wife's 55-250IS on my 7D)

IMO 7D with 55-250IS is a worse combination than a 60D with 70-200 f/4 IS L.
 
I'd missed that you had a 60d before - if even the 20d is what you're moving from, the AF of the 7d is just more customisable - it's not massively faster. If the plan was always to swap the 60d and 70-200 f4L for the 7d and 50-250 IS to improve focus speed, the plan was flawed and you should have asked before you committed.
 
Phil V said:
I'd missed that you had a 60d before - if even the 20d is what you're moving from, the AF of the 7d is just more customisable - it's not massively faster. If the plan was always to swap the 60d and 70-200 f4L for the 7d and 50-250 IS to improve focus speed, the plan was flawed and you should have asked before you committed.
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It was never my intention to upgrade my body and downgrade my lens. My circumstances have changed since the purchase of the body and I haven't committed to anything yet (I can still return the body). I was selling the 70-200 to raise funds and was happy to live without the reach but picked up a cheap nifty 250.

My real dilemma is either 60d with 17-55 (my current setup) or 7d with 15-85mm. I'm happy with losing a stop but which setup would have a better hit rate?
 
craig.walton2 said:
It was never my intention to upgrade my body and downgrade my lens. My circumstances have changed since the purchase of the body and I haven't committed to anything yet (I can still return the body). I was selling the 70-200 to raise funds and was happy to live without the reach but picked up a cheap nifty 250.

My real dilemma is either 60d with 17-55 (my current setup) or 7d with 15-85mm. I'm happy with losing a stop but which setup would have a better hit rate?
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I've never used the 15-85, but the 17-55 is the most useful thing in my bag.
 
craig.walton2 said:
It was never my intention to upgrade my body and downgrade my lens. My circumstances have changed since the purchase of the body and I haven't committed to anything yet (I can still return the body). I was selling the 70-200 to raise funds and was happy to live without the reach but picked up a cheap nifty 250.

My real dilemma is either 60d with 17-55 (my current setup) or 7d with 15-85mm. I'm happy with losing a stop but which setup would have a better hit rate?
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Honestly, return the body.

You will get better results and AF accuracy with 60D + 70-200mm F4 IS than the 7D and 55-250mm
 
The 70-200 definitely has to go, my longer lenses don't get used a great deal. Just not sure whether to sell my 60d and 17-55 or return the 7d and 15-85. It's so easy making decisions for other people but when it's you own setup, its a different beast altogether.
 
pooley said:
Do you really need the IS?

If not you can get the non IS version second hand for under £350. You might be able to get the best of everything. 60d, 17-55mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f4 is a pretty good setup.

Mike
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Thanks buts its a no go I'm afraid. I used to have the none IS version and it was a very capable lens but it's still £350 for a lens that comes out once in a blue moon. I've just picked up the nifty 250 for £86. This should see me right, but as stated, I won't get the best out of the 7d body. I can live with that.

I could make back what I paid for the 7d and 15-85 (the Argos £1033 bargain) if I sold my 60d and 17-55. My head hurts!
 
Just out of interest, why did you upgrade from 60D to 7D?
 
It was purly an impulse buy (I can't resist a bargain) but I'm trying to justify keeping it.
 
It may be difficult to make the numbers work but I would go all out to keep the 17-55, preferably with the 7D as its a cracking combination. Glass over body every time!
 
Chris O said:
It may be difficult to make the numbers work but I would go all out to keep the 17-55, preferably with the 7D as its a cracking combination. Glass over body every time!
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Cheers. That was my thought but I wanted to keep the 7d and 15-85mm together for warranty purposes. I really would miss the flippy out screen though.
 
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