Canon germany's 10D focus check

[Roger_Cavanagh]

I've put up a description of this test in better English than that produced by the Google on-line translation.

I don't speak German, but I've done a spot of research, so I hope it's an accurate description (but no guarantees :) ):

http://www.pixelpixel.org/helpinfo/23_focuscheck.htm

Regards,

[rodbunn]

TO check the camera it says to make sure you have the diopter set for your eyes????? How can you set the diopter correctly if in fact the camera has a focusing problem. Im I looking at this right??? To set the diopter for my eyes I need to put the camera on auto focus, push the shutter button half way so the camera has focused, then set the diopter so it looks focused to my eye. If the camera is off, won't my setting be off also?????

Thanks, Rod

[dcchan2]

rodbunn wrote:
TO check the camera it says to make sure you have the diopter set for your eyes????? How can you set the diopter correctly if in fact the camera has a focusing problem. Im I looking at this right??? To set the diopter for my eyes I need to put the camera on auto focus, push the shutter button half way so the camera has focused, then set the diopter so it looks focused to my eye. If the camera is off, won't my setting be off also?????

Thanks, Rod


Actually it is not as bad as it sounds. Even with the lens totally out of focus and the camera turned off, the viewfinder still has lines (e.g., the outlines of the focus points) that can be used to set teh diopter very accurately (within the range of adjustment).

[soumya63]

Actually, if you can see the aperture and shutter speed reading at the bottom of the screen as well as the focus point indicating rectangles clearly then your diopter setting is correct. It will not vary or change if you turn off your camera. But it will change if your see the viefinder with your glasses on and off.

[Peter Hoskins]

Well there's an interesting one because I have done this test already with my 10D using a 20mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8 and 135mm 2L.

I had noticed in the viewfinder that after autofocus confirmation I could bring the image into sharper focus manually. Each lens appeared to back focus. So I did a series of test shots at the widest aperture of each lens, tripod mounted, centre focus point selected and was astonished to find that the autofocus shots were in focus, but the manually adjusted shots which had appeared sharper in the viewfinder at the time were out of focus.

The effect was worst with the 50mm 1.4, but this would figure as at that aperture it would have the least depth of field.

So my example of the 10D has correct lens to sensor plane distance and autofocus, but incorrect focusing screen position. I don't know if this is adjustable but will contact Canon to find out.

As I don't normally manually focus whilst taking pictures at maximum aperture this hasn't been a problem but it does perhaps confirm suggestions by others that quality control needs tightening up a little.

Having said all that, my own experience is that the 10D is a definite improvement on the D60 (which I sold today!) and although I don't doubt that some people are having problems I have to give credit to Canon. The results are superb and I can only say that I wish I'd had this problem when I started photography 40 years ago!

[Roger_Cavanagh]

rodbunn wrote:
TO check the camera it says to make sure you have the diopter set for your eyes????? How can you set the diopter correctly if in fact the camera has a focusing problem. Im I looking at this right??? To set the diopter for my eyes I need to put the camera on auto focus, push the shutter button half way so the camera has focused, then set the diopter so it looks focused to my eye. If the camera is off, won't my setting be off also?????

Thanks, Rod


I've added some instructions on how to the adjust dioptre setting. It can be done without a lens, therefore, will not be affected by inaccurate focus.

If anyone has a better method...

Regards,

[P.C. Plod]

To set the diopter adjustment; focus your eye on the central focusing rectangle then adjust the control to make that sharp. Then you are correctly adjusted.