The true performance of the EOS-1V - ultra-fast predictive AF can only be judged with the PB-E2 fitted to the camera and the use of the Ni-MH Battery Pack NP-E2. When the GR-E2 Grip and the 6-volt 2CR5 battery are used, accurate judgment of the EOS-1V's AF performance is not possible. Reason? The predictive AF won't be able to capture subjects that are moving too fast or erratically as the built-in firing rate will decrease to 2.5 fps when the EOS-1V is being used in its AI Servo AF mode. It is akin to operating an EOS 50/50E camera when the pro model is being used this way. However, if the subject's speed is not traveling too fast, the EOS-1V is still be able to keep it in focus. I find the camera works best when the film advance rate is switched to Single-frame rather than Continuous. These photos of Malaysia's 250cc rider Shahrol Yuzy of Team Sprinta-Petronas slowing down while approaching a chicane were easily captured by the EOS-1V with the GR-E2 configuration. Lens used was the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM, with no EF Extender fitted. First shot Second shot     Third shot Panning It also works very well for most panning photos captured in single bursts - you pan until the subject reaches the perfect angle/composition (as seen through the camera's viewfinder) and click the shutter only once to get that particular angle, as seen from the shot of the 250cc Australian rider Anthony West from above. Without the PB-E2, it was a problem to get consistent photos of the 500cc GP bikes in sharp focus but there was a way to get out of the mess - by using the same single shot panning technique, as shown below. Kenny Roberts Jr. (300x2) Max Biaggi (300x2)     Valentino Rossi (200mm) Alex Criville (300x2) Also, it was much easier with the camera/GR-E2 combo when the subject size was smaller in the frame - further away or shot with a shorter focal length, as shown in the photo of Italian 500cc rider Valentino Rossi (above), which was captured with the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM zoom lens. And the photo of Criville was the only one that was captured successfully with good composition and focus with the EOS-1V/GR-E2 combo and the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM fitted w/Extender EF 2x. As mentioned in the previous page, for a photographer or photojournalist who specializes in travel shots, the use of the GR-E2 on the EOS-1V will not be much of a problem but for those who are into news and sports photography, the PB-E2 is, of course, essential for their type of work. Text and photos by Philip Chong. Copyright 2000 by Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 .