5D Mark II - Focus Issues....still!

[Mark1616]

Yeah yeah, it's alright for some..... cheaper cameras and kit and then free CPS. Oh well LOL.

[Yaamon]

First of all Brandi I love your capture 2 shot and 4225. The focus does not seem too bad with a little sharpening and correction to the exposure.

Another great shot with 4225 and focus seems good with a little sharpening.

If all your lens are having inconsistent focus definitely send it to canon and have them check it out. When you sent the camera in previously did they find anything wrong with it?

When I got my 5D II last year May focus was dead on. Then in Sept I realize that with my 24-105 it was inconsistent a little front or back focus I ended up sending the body in and they did a AF calibration. Service report said electrical adjustment. Weird what would have made it drift?


I had a 50mm f1.4 that I bought new last year and had to send it in 3 times to try and fix it. I had inconsistent focus on the 5D II and 50D and on the 3rd time they exchanged the lens.

The replacement lens did the same thing so I sold it the next day with the service paper. I hoping canon releases a new 50mm f1.4 mk II.

[Brandi Burkett]

Good Morning and thank you to everyone who has read this thread and replied. To answer a few questions, yes I am a member of CPS and yes, it has absolutely been worth the cost of the membership!

Yaamon, thanks! Capture 2 and 4225 actually represent the images in decent focus. Still not super sharp but a far cry from the blurry mess the rest are. I've sent the camera to Canon twice along with three of my lenses. My 70-200L and my 50mm 1.2 both focus very inconsistently and my 24mm rear focuses as much as it doesn't. The first time I sent it, they said it required no action and sent it back. I sent it in again with the lenses and this time I got my camera back with the same notation as you about electrical adjustments and the lenses were calibrated. I called to follow up with Canon and they couldn't tell me exactly what had been wrong and what had been fixed.

I shot a wedding this weekend with my older 5D and had great results. I'm going to call Canon again and if I can't get anywhere with it the Mark II is headed for ebay.

[bubbie45]

Hello Brandi
I just read your post on the focus issue on the Canon 5 D Mark II. I thought I had written the article. I have tried everything as well. Including replacing some of my older L lenses for new ones. I am still having the problem. I wonder which camera has the best focusing system? I am tired of trying to figure out what the problem might be. I spend so much time trying to fix the focus problems and fix the images after I take them. If everything would work as advertised I would have time to go fishing.
Robert

[KmH]

Originally Posted by bubbie45

I wonder which camera has the best focusing system?

Any Nikon having the Multi-CAM 3500 FX/DX auto focus module (D300s and up).

You get 51 focus posints of which 15 are cross type points. Includes in -camera fine AF adjustments and offers focal plane contrast focusing in Tripod (Live View) mode.

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/im...nsor/index.htm

[bubbie45]

Hello KhM
Thank you for the information. I will look into it. I have used Canon products for at least 25 years. I never had a problem untill the 5D. I think I am ready for a different brand. Again thank you
Bubbie

[SheSeesPhotography]

Canon 5d Mark II focusing issues... still!?!? I'm curious to know what the final solution was to your problem.

Just a month ago I upgraded from my Canon 20D, which I have shot over 50 weddings and more than 400 family sessions with, to the Canon 5d Mark II... my dream camera!

I had the advantage of shooting on a regular basis with the mark II in a portrait studio I worked at and had consistently amazing results. I couldn't wait to get one for myself!

I too am noticing a lot of inconsistencies with focusing. Studio sessions with off camera- remote flash (SHARP), natural light-no flash (SHARP), on camera Canon 580EXII (BLURRY).

When I shoot weddings, there are certain moments of the day when I can't be fiddling around with my settings. When the bride steps into her dress and all the girls rush around to help her get it set in place, I am usually working with these settings under these lighting conditions...

Moderate window light, low white ceilings, white dress
ISO between 400-800
P-MODE, shutter speed at 1/60 & aperture typically at 5.6
Center focus point with my finger quick on the trigger, BEEP BEEP BEEP, to make sure I get the right focus point

These settings worked flawlessly on my 20D, no matter which lens I used! I'm typically switching between my Canon L-series 17-40 and my Canon EF 28-105.

SINCE very controlled, off camera studio light sessions are razor sharp and SINCE natural light-no flash are razor sharp... I'm trying to figure out what the issue is with my flash mounted on top of the camera... and why with even the slightest movement, the flash can't seem to completely freeze the motion.

My studio sessions are typically shot at ISO 200-400, Shutter 1/60 and aperture at 5.6... again, SHARP.

I've been researching this issue a lot and am tired of reading USER FAULT when many photographers are expressing that they've had consistent results until their recent upgrade.

I've also read to shoot at extremely HIGH ISO, 1000-2000 and nothing less than 250-500 shutter speeds. But I'm confused, are these type of adjustments to be expected when going from a cropped sensor to a full sensor? If anything, I would think this newer, high end camera would have more capabilities than it's much older counterparts.

Not overly technical-but has an idea :0)
CHICAGO CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO BABY PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO INFANT PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO CHILDREN PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO MODELING PHOTO
Trish

[superfocused]

I too have had a lot of problems with the 5D MKII very similar as to what Trish described and specifically when using the on camera Canon 580EXII. Also, I found that if I kept my max lens aperture @ 3.5 most if my photos would be okay, granted not tack sharp, but okay. Another problem that I had is that under same lighting conditions if I am taking say a series of 5 shots of the same thing and without changing anything one of the photos can wildly be overly exposed. This will continue until I turn off the camera, flash and disconnect and reconnect the off camera cord. I shoot in manual mode and have never been able to take a good shot in aperture mode using a on camera flash.

[stef@apl]

I just joined CPS after seeing this thread, and went ahead and sprung for the silver membership, since I figure it'd be worth the cleaning and the neck strap they send.... I need a new one.

Besides, I have a 50mm lens I need to send in for service, and this'll save me postage, too.

[stiltbat]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record. It's not the camera it's the lens being so powerful and having such a narrow focal point. I use this gadget because it's cheap and works and fits on my shoulder mount rails.

THE MAGNIFTY? - LCD Magnifier for DSLR Rig - FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS! - YouTube

THE MAGNIFTY? - LCD Magnifier for DSLR Rig - FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS! - YouTube

It makes the LCD three times bigger