help!! - I'm getting stressed....

[spud159]

I'm really sorry if this has been answered before, but I'm starting to get a little frustrated

I'm now the proud owner of a mint second hand 1D mark 2, which seems to work very nicely thank you with long lenses (70-200 and 300 F4), however attach my second hand 20-35 2.8L and, over a distance, I get a focusing problem. I've just had the camera cleaned checked and adjusted at Lehmanns (they said the focus was a little out so it was adjusted). But over the weekend I thought I'd give the 20-35 another go - below are the results (sorry about the content - it was just a test!) these are straight from the camera - no tinkering

- the question is, is it the lens? or is it me? I'd appreciate any thoughts - I've sent the lens off today for checking

from about 6 feet away - 1/80th @ f3.5 - 200iso @ 35mm - in my opinion this seems ok
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/spud159/_Z6O0120.jpg

100% crop
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/spud159/_Z6O0120a.jpg

from about 30ft - 1/60th @ f8 - 400iso @ 33mm - this is where the focus appears to behind the subject this is one of a series which all seem to be the same

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/spud159/_Z6O0195.jpg

100% crop
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i129/spud159/_Z6O0195a.jpg

[Juan Zas]

So, where is the problem? It looks pretty well to come out straight from the camera.

The second one is more dificult to select a target depending in the way you have focus: Central focus poinf AF only? Several AF points? One shot or others AF modes?

[GyRob]

did you use a single focus point because if you did and this is full frame then it would have hit the door . if you used all focus point's then i think again it would have gone for the door more contrast there ? just my thoughts.
Rob.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I was thinking the same as Juan when I saw it...what's wrong with them? They're not processed...they look about right. Remember, too...the 20-35L was produced in the age of film, and might not be "optimized" for digital. That, and you will sometimes lose detail and sharpness if your subjects are far away (30 ft, like in your example).

[René Damkot]

Subject in the 2nd img is not very good for a focus test. The AF will try to focus on a part of the img 'under the AF sensor' which has a lot of contrast. Also a repeating pattern (as the bars) can throw it of. Might be the AF system chose the reflection in the door, might be it's misfocussing. I assume the camera is okaay, since it's calibrated recently. Get the lens calibrated.
In the first img, focus is on the second eye, as far as I can tell.

[spud159]

Thanks for the suggestions so far - I realise that with the images optimized for web use its a little hard to see - AF was with one point selected and was certainly on the kids - I made a point of using different sensors because I was aware of the previous problems. Perhaps I am asking to much - but I think the kids should be sharper in the second shot

[René Damkot]

Be aware the actual AF sensors are bigger then the displayed red rectangle....
I have had OoF images because the AF locked on the transition 'back of head - background' instead of 'eye'...