Rebel XT and Manual Focus

[Pixel9ine]

Since getting my second prime lens (I've now got the 'nifty' and a 30 1.4), I've been trying my hand at manual focus - loved doing it on my AE-1, and now with some fast primes in my hands, I thought I'd go MF for awhile.

Thing is, I miss focus every time. Both lenses lock dead-on when I use Autofocus.. I can confirm this in the jpgs, but the viewfinder looks a smidgen too blurry to me, almost like the camera has focused too far away.

Then again, when I manually focus on a subject, comparison shots with the camera's AF tell me I'm focusing about 10% too close.

I've played with the diopter setting on the eyepiece.. the results are still the same. I've tested this with both the 30 1.4 and the 50 1.8 (shot wide open), and either my focus is consistently off, or the viewfinder's not quite tack sharp on AF.

What's more, the pictures I take with the AE-1 (a fully manual-focus system) come out perfectly sharp... so my vision checks out, FWIW.

Any ideas?

[Pixel9ine]

I should probably add that I use C.Fn 04-1 all the time... so I've already got pseudo-manual focus control, but I'd rather SEE a tack-sharp viewfinder instead of trusting the camera to nail focus and review the shot later on.

After all, if a photographer can't trust his eyes, who or what can he trust?

[Tee Why]

Maybe changing the focus screen to one of those custom split circle one made for MF'ing will help?

[crazyness]

i'm not sure if you can do this with your XT, since i use an XTi, but i use the auto-focus points in my viewfinder to help with manual focusing.

for example; if i wanted to take a photo of the barrel in the foreground, i'd gradually turn the focusing ring to the shortest focusing distance on my lens; while at the same time half-depressing the shutter release button until the auto-focus point over the barrel lights up to confirm that it's in focus, then i fully depress the shutter and take the photo as normal.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/boogiewoogiewu/focus1.png

it's always worked well for me. ^_^

What's more, the pictures I take with the AE-1 (a fully manual-focus system) come out perfectly sharp... so my vision checks out, FWIW.

it's probably the difference in viewfinders...

i recently switched from 35mm to digital, and the biggest problem i have with the EOS rebels is their piss-poor pentamirror viewfinders. to me they feel like their half as bright and half the size of true pentaprisim viewfinders, like you'd see on 35mm cameras and higher-end digitals; and for me this makes manual focusing a lot harder.
...buuut the camera was cheap so i'm willing to live with it. ;)

[Jon]

If the VF looks fuzzy, try adjusting the diopter control dial (by the eyepiece) until the AF indicators are sharp. Then see how you can do.

[Pixel9ine]

Thanks for your comments... I'm still trying to find a solution, though. Keep 'em coming!

Crazyness: I've used the AF-confirmation trick a few times, but all that does is still use in-camera AF sensors (except I'm turning the focus ring manually instead of letting the motor do it). Plus it doesn't address the viewfinder problem.

If the VF looks fuzzy, try adjusting the diopter control dial (by the eyepiece) until the AF indicators are sharp. Then see how you can do.Good suggestion, but..I've played with the diopter setting on the eyepiece.. the results are still the same.

Essentially, even with the diopter adjusted, the viewfinder is "least fuzziest" at one point of focus. With the diopter set correctly, the viewfinder is tack sharp. Take a picture, though, and it's backfocused quite badly. By contrast, with AF, the viewfinder is OOF (frontfocused somewhat), and the JPEG comes out perfect.

It's driving me nuts. It's like my eyes are betraying me..

EDIT: I've done some additional research, and it seems like I think it's a matter of the correct focus screen spacing shims not being installed, or installed correctly, on the XT. Looks like the camera's taking a trip to Canon's Service Centre for calibration come Monday. Yipee.

[Pixel9ine]

Thanks to everyone who replied..

By way of an update, I dropped the camera off at Canon Canada's service centre in Missisauga on Monday morning. Called there on Wednesday, and the rep said they've had to order a new focusing screen - at least I know it wasn't my eyes playing tricks on me!

Turnaround time isn't looking too bad - hopefully I'll get it back sometime next week.

Thing is, I'm pretty sure the camera had this defect since day one - -most of my lenses are F4 zooms - I just didn't notice it because focus wasn't all that critical until getting my 30 1.4!

[widgetrich]

Thanks to everyone who replied..

By way of an update, I dropped the camera off at Canon Canada's service centre in Missisauga on Monday morning. Called there on Wednesday, and the rep said they've had to order a new focusing screen - at least I know it wasn't my eyes playing tricks on me!

Turnaround time isn't looking too bad - hopefully I'll get it back sometime next week.

Thing is, I'm pretty sure the camera had this defect since day one - -most of my lenses are F4 zooms - I just didn't notice it because focus wasn't all that critical until getting my 30 1.4!

I was glad to hear from some one else that had focus issue with their rebelxt. I took a photo class and there were at least two other people who had the same problem. I dropped my camera and was forced to send it off( I had a full warrantly so it is covered) the first thing I said was focus issue and then all the other stuff. When did you buy your camera? Maybe it was a group of manufactored camera they sent out that were defective...I was reading about the Nikon D70 and their focus problem. I said something to the sales lady at wolf camera about that and she confirmed that Nikon had a batch of D70's that had focus problems..I like you have been going crazy with this..My camera will come back in a couple of weeks...janis

[Pixel9ine]

I bought my camera in July 2006 - the serial number is in the 1920712xxx range

[ray_lam5]

Hmm the viewfinder is waaaaaaaaay to small to manual focus on the 350D / D70 period...
Tried it with nikon adaptor and a whole host of nikkor lens and only managed about 30% focus.

You will not be able to focus like your manual camera whatever you do. only option really is to upgrade or just be happy using autofocus Im afraid (i upgraded).

[johnthebaptist]

Hmm the viewfinder is waaaaaaaaay to small to manual focus on the 350D / D70 period...
Tried it with nikon adaptor and a whole host of nikkor lens and only managed about 30% focus.

You will not be able to focus like your manual camera whatever you do. only option really is to upgrade or just be happy using autofocus Im afraid (i upgraded).

This is a pretty sweeping statement. You are saying it is nigh impossible to manual focus with anything in the Rebel line, correct?

[Pixel9ine]

That is a pretty sweeping statement.. and in fact I disagree becuase my manual focus points were off by a consistent and precise amount every time- hence calling for a precise adjustment - validated by the fact that Canon, pretty much upon reception of the camera, determined the focusing screen was at fault and has ordered a new one.

That said, the viewfinders on XT/XTi's are fairly small --nothing beats the bright split-prism VF on my old AE-1, a camera where MF is a delight-- but manual focus is still very possible (assuming the camera is calibrated properly).

[ray_lam5]

That is a pretty sweeping statement.. and in fact I disagree becuase my manual focus points were off by a consistent and precise amount every time- hence calling for a precise adjustment - validated by the fact that Canon, pretty much upon reception of the camera, determined the focusing screen was at fault and has ordered a new one.

That said, the viewfinders on XT/XTi's are fairly small --nothing beats the bright split-prism VF on my old AE-1, a camera where MF is a delight-- but manual focus is still very possible (assuming the camera is calibrated properly).


Sweeping it may be but ideal the xt's viewfinder aint. I understand there are alot of happy xt owners out there (i was one too) but the limitiations of the consumer camera are there for all to see. THe viewfinder isnt bad but it is no way big enough for accurate (i mean as good as autofocus) focusing. If you like squinting and dont mind loads of out of focus pictures then by all means try manual focusing to your hearts content.
Sorry maybe i've gone off topic with regards to your concern about rear focusing and inaccurate viewfinder to processed pic.