Accurate Multi-Point Autofocus Medium Format

[tmoncmm]

I use an AFD II and I think you may be mistaken about the actual AF area. By default, the AF area is within the square brackets in the center of the viewfinder. The circle is the spot metering circle. Also, custom function C-03 reduces the size to a single point in the center much smaller than the spot meter circle and much more like single point AF on a Canon. The only problem I have with it is that the single point isn’t marked so sometimes finding it is a challenge. Check page 44 of the manual.

 

[fs999]

I use a P645N with the 75mm AF lens and it seems to always achieve focus but I cannot say if it is multi-point focus or not.

It has a three point AF. Sensivity : -1 to 18 Ev

 

[spijker]

I use an AFD II and I think you may be mistaken about the actual AF area. By default, the AF area is within the square brackets in the center of the viewfinder. The circle is the spot metering circle. Also, custom function C-03 reduces the size to a single point in the center much smaller than the spot meter circle and much more like single point AF on a Canon. The only problem I have with it is that the single point isn’t marked so sometimes finding it is a challenge. Check page 44 of the manual.

I have the AFD III (3). It has 3 AF points that you can manually select with a button on the grip. But they're so close together that it's not very useful. I use the center point only which is likely the same setup as the AFDII with the C-03 custom setting. I find that the accuracy is pretty good. Focusing on a subject with strong back lighting makes the AF less reliable but under normal circumstances it focuses accurately. I suspect that the AFDII and AFDIII have the same AF sensor so using the center point for both cameras gives likely a very similar behavior. The AFDIII manual can be found here, see page 44 for the AF areas.

 

[DH_Studio]

I use an AFD II and I think you may be mistaken about the actual AF area. By default, the AF area is within the square brackets in the center of the viewfinder. The circle is the spot metering circle. Also, custom function C-03 reduces the size to a single point in the center much smaller than the spot meter circle and much more like single point AF on a Canon. The only problem I have with it is that the single point isn’t marked so sometimes finding it is a challenge. Check page 44 of the manual.

Thank you, I checked and you are right - the bracket is (in landscape orientation) about the width of the circle (for metering) but only about a third as tall. Mine doesn't "light up" to show that the focus is engaged, I don't believe the Mamiya has that option. I have my custom functions set to spot focusing but it doesn't work nearly as well as a Canon DSLR (for example) at finding proper focus, especially if I'm pulled back a good bit from the subject or focusing on one element within a larger scene. But I am going to see if paying closer attention with the bracket helps. Thanks again for clarifying that.

 

[spijker]

I don't think that there is a medium format film camera that has similar autofocus performance as a DSLR. Before I bought the Mamiya 645 AFD3 in 2015, I also looked at other AF systems; Hasselblad H, Contax 645, Rollei 6008AF and Hy6. It was all "internet research" and no hands-on experience. Hasselblad already had True Focus in the H4X and up to deal with the focus & recompose problem. But other than that, it didn't seem to be any better than the Mamiya's AF. Contax was reported to be much slower and less accurate than Mamiya, I couldn't find much on the Rollei 6008AF and the Hy6 was definitely outside my price range. Of all systems, the Mamiya seemed the most attractive with decent AF performance and good range of more affordable lenses of good optical quality. I also preferred a focal plane shutter system (Contax & Mamiya).

If we look at the current medium format AF film cameras, I think there's only the Rollei Hy6 and the Hasselblad H6X. Phase One has abandoned film, there is no film back for the XF. From what I read on the web, the AF performance of the Rollei Hy6 and the Hasselblad H6X is still not on par with a DSLR. It is what it is. So make the AF work for you; accept that AF is slow, avoid fast moving subjects, stop down a bit to get more DoF or use manual zone focusing with a small aperture. I've successfully shot f/2.8 portraits, moving trains and a giant swing with the AFD3, see my pictures in the gallery here and on my website.

The AFDII and AFDIII have a focus confirmation led and two arrow leds at the bottom in the viewfinder. Those works with manual focus lenses as well.

 

[DH_Studio]

I don't think that there is a medium format film camera that has similar autofocus performance as a DSLR. Before I bought the Mamiya 645 AFD3 in 2015, I also looked at other AF systems; Hasselblad H, Contax 645, Rollei 6008AF and Hy6. It was all "internet research" and no hands-on experience. Hasselblad already had True Focus in the H4X and up to deal with the focus & recompose problem. But other than that, it didn't seem to be any better than the Mamiya's AF. Contax was reported to be much slower and less accurate than Mamiya, I couldn't find much on the Rollei 6008AF and the Hy6 was definitely outside my price range. Of all systems, the Mamiya seemed the most attractive with decent AF performance and good range of more affordable lenses of good optical quality. I also preferred a focal plane shutter system (Contax & Mamiya).

If we look at the current medium format AF film cameras, I think there's only the Rollei Hy6 and the Hasselblad H6X. Phase One has abandoned film, there is no film back for the XF. From what I read on the web, the AF performance of the Rollei Hy6 and the Hasselblad H6X is still not on par with a DSLR. It is what it is. So make the AF work for you; accept that AF is slow, avoid fast moving subjects, stop down a bit to get more DoF or use manual zone focusing with a small aperture. I've successfully shot f/2.8 portraits, moving trains and a giant swing with the AFD3, see my pictures in the gallery here and on my website.

The AFDII and AFDIII have a focus confirmation led and two arrow leds at the bottom in the viewfinder. Those works with manual focus lenses as well.

Thanks for the detailed responses, I really appreciate it.

So they added a couple of extra AF points on the AFDIII but it sounds like it has about the same functionality. I was hoping there was a more sophisticated AF medium format system, my eyes just can't make manual format work no matter what I try - even a 10X loupe on a 4x5. It's driving me nuts. Like you I ended up with the AFDII because of the combination of affordability and reliability, but the AF hasn't been great. It's not front-or-back focusing, I'm just so used to the tiny AF points on my DSLR or even my EOS-3, where you can pick an eyeball at f1.4 and have it tack sharp, but I guess it just is what it is.