More canon 10D focus problems

[RogerBayford]

Just purchased a new 10D last week and my first few shots were very disapointing. The focus was really soft, even after using Photo shop's unsharp mask, the results were still nowhere as good as expected.
I looked around and found several sites that discussed 10D focus problems. Several offered Focus test set ups. I made up a test set up and shot images in both Manual and Auto with my 50mm , 28-80 zoom and my 75-300 zoom at the widest apertures. Every shot showed marked front focusing. Focusing on the Center point, ths shift was forward and left the targeted focus point OUT OF Focus and outside the DFO. OK so now I have discovered the cause of the softenss problem how do I get it fixed. I have emailed Canon and still have no response. All of these lenses work really well with my Elan, Elan ll and the Elan llE film cameras.
Since I shoot lots of portraits I dont want to be focused on the persons nose, I want the eyes tack sharp. This camera isnt going to cut it without some adjustments, Who do I contact?
I must add, my Sony and Minolta equipment all focus just fine in the same tests, and so do all my other EOS cameras.
I guess I am very disapointed that Canon didnt recall them all knowing there is a definite problem. I have used Canon equipment for over 25 yrs and have never experienced any thing this bad, with evididently so little response from Canon.
I welcome any suggestions please
Roger

[KennyG]

There is not a definite problem with the 10D - period! For every user that claims to have a front/back focus issue with the 10D there are 1,000 that do not have a problem. This is an old dead horse that is sick and tired of being dragged out for a flogging because of stupid internet scaremongering.

If you have only had it a week for goodness sake take it back and get it replaced. If you are not happy with it, get another one. If you are unsure you have a problem, post the results of your test so we can see what may be the cause.

[RogerBayford]

Thanks and no thanks Kenny G for the REALLY helpful response!
I purchased the camera from Adorama and therefore it will have to go back to Canon who doesnt seem to want to respond!
No sir, this is not a dead horse, if it were,my post would not have appeared. I am not the worlds best photographer but I sure as heck am not dumb either. I posted initially hoping to hopefully receive some guidance from others that have had the same problems. No its not a DEAD HORSE. If it were I would not have needed to post the initial. The problem has evidently not been addressed by Canon and it should be! The serial number appears to be high enough to make it a very recent manufacture date. This would indicate they are still shipping 10D camera's with focus issues. I was the unfortunate recipient of this one!

I had hoped that this might be a great Forum but with responses like yours it appears that perhaps I was wrong.
I doubt I will post here again
Roger

[LEC_D30]

Hello Roger.

I don't pretend to re-initiate the old series of messages about this issue.

I agree with your statment that the focus issues on 10D are a very high quality issue that should have not escaped to this point in time. One defect out of every thousand is not acceptable. That is a 1000 PPM level. Unacceptable in today's competition world.

Hopefully Canon gets this fixed on the next model replacing the 10D. In the meantime, you have two choices:

1) Send your camera and lenses to Canon for calibration
2) Return/Exchange your camera


Good Luck with your decision.

[robertwgross]

Basically, we're not going to beat that dead horse.

There are a number of things that can happen to a camera between the time that the body and lens mount are calibrated until when a new user experiences Buyer's Remorse.

---Bob Gross---

[Webster]

I think it's a grave disservice to the original poster to assume either that he is trying to resurrect the old focus flames, or that he is somehow to blame for his own problems. He seems to be barely aware of the firestorm that swept our little community last year, and he seems to have done some conscientious testing before posting his query. Unless there is some evidence that this is a troll of some kind, I do believe we owe him the courtesy of accepting his request at face value.

That said, there are two issues to resolve. The first is his direct question, namely what to do now. I am a little disturbed by his statement that because he purchased it from Adorama, his only recourse was to Canon. I had been under the impression that Adorama was a dealer of high repute who would accept the return of defective product. If this is not the case, I would certainly want to know about it. Other than that, I'm not sure what advice to give him.

The second issue is the question of the 10D's quality control. If, for some reason, Roger received a camera that was manufactured before Canon fixed the 10D's quality control problems, then we all know what happened. If, on the other hand, his camera was of recent production, then this would be an indication that, while the quality control has improved, problems still exist.

It would be nice to know the facts, and it would be even nicer to avoid the emotional outbreaks on both sides that we saw last year.

[defordphoto]

Roger: Post a photo along with some facts on the lens used, etc. and post a version that has not been altered. It is extremely rare to see a 10D with focus issues.

What is your photo background before the 10D? Did you have a P&S?

[Cadwell]

I've got to step in here and say that I see *nothing* wrong with Kenny's response. He responded to RogerBayford's comments about a general fault affecting all 10Ds correctly. Comments like "I guess I am very disapointed that Canon didnt recall them all knowing there is a definite problem" shouldn't just be allowed to pass because they are simply not true and unhelpful. I have a 10D and there's nothing wrong with it in the focusing department - I don't want Canon recalling my camera. That's the case for nearly every 10D user on this forum.

Kenny never denied that RogerBayford might have a problem with his specific example of a 10D and offered some useful advice including a suggestion to post some samples so that he could take a closer look... I would suggest that this is being *helpful* by any definition of the word...

[KBMphotography.com]

Well said Cadwell...... I totally agree with you. The 10D is a superb camera and welding an L lens to it makes it very sharp.

remember, it's not just the camera, or the lens, but the person holding on to it!

(AND I thought Kennys comments were factual and to the point. MINE defintely does NOT have a problem)

[robertwgross]

I doubt that we'll hear from the original poster again, so it's a moot point.

Just lately in this forum, we've had others with similar vague symptoms, but they asked a few questions without making accusations. Then I think they got some advice here, and some further tests were performed. Soon, within a couple of days of dialog, most of the issue was cleaned up, as I recall.

Some users are able to articulate their problem. They can describe the details of the problem, and then they follow detailed advice to isolate the problem. At a minimum, they understand the problem even if the issue is not completely put to bed. Others don't.

We don't want to engage in necrophilia, beastiality, and sadism.
(I think that is beating a dead horse.)

---Bob Gross---

[Olegis]

I would like to add something to this discussion. DSLR is whole other world than P&S cameras, even the advanced ones. Upon getting my 10D I was disapointed with the picture quality and sharpness, even though I managed to get pretty decent pictures with my old Olympus E20. What I'm trying to do say is - 10D (and all other DSLRs) needs to be used to before it will produce decent pictures.

[PaulB]

To LEC_D30,

Who mentioned a defect rate of one in a thousand?
You did, no-one else.
This is an example of plucking a figure out of the air and then treating it as if it were a statistically verifyable truth - it isn't , so please refrain from the practice.

[BoySpot]

Lies, damn lies and statistics!! :wink: :lol:

[defordphoto]

I doubt that we'll hear from the original poster again, so it's a moot point.

Actually I did hear from Roger via email. He's not new to photography (been at it for 40 years), BUT (evidently) new to digital photography. He's going to try sending me some photos which I will host on my server (with his permission) and then post here when I receive them.

He normally does not visit forums and was not aware of the past 10D focus issues AT ALL until receiving his camera, having some focus issues, and then searching the Net and coming upon the focus issue posts on the forums. He then chose this forum to query about the issue.

This could be a lens-to-camera calibration issue. Hopefully I can receive photos soon so we can all help this new member troubleshoot the problem.

[jboyd]

Obviously those of you who say there is no problem with the 10D got good ones. If I hadn't just shipped mine to Canon, I would ship it to you and see what kind of photos you could take with it!

No amount of sharpening will help my photos. And, while I am not a professional, I have been taking photographs for over 20 years. I am not new to this. I know what I am doing.

Jackie Boyd

[RogerBayford]

Having read the responses I would like to CLOSE out this thread with the following:
I AM also a Canon fan and have been for over 25 years. But when there is a problem, lets at least keep our minds open to the fact that it is possible, Not just say “Mine is fine”
I came to this site for assistance and received two helpful responses. The rest appear to be “flamers’
As I explained to “RFM Sports” in a personal email. I have over 40 years experience and I also have 6 years experience with digital cameras. I have used Photo shop since 3.2. and am using 7.0 So, yes I do know digital! I am not an idiot fumbling with their First DSLR!
In view of the majority of negative responses I do not feel this thread should continue. Nor do I wish remain a member of this Forum .
There appear to be too many “Know it All’s” that are only too ready to flame someone they do not consider an “Expert.” I will deal with Canon and Adorama to get this problem resolved on my own. I don’t need the further hassles and put downs posted here. So, go ahead guys, enjoy your little Clique and I will go on and enjoy my photography and continue to enjoy my local Photo club where the members are all pretty civilized. For the meantime I will continue using film for my portraiture and model clients. I will switch back to digital for this work when I get this issue resolved.
In looking at many of the respondents threads it seems very much like either Canon can do no wrong or I am just a stupid amateur that cant operate a Digital SLR. Well I can, and I do recognize a focus problem when I see one.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THIS THREAD BE CLOSED.
Just one final thought to ponder? How will some of you react when you receive a problem camera?
Special thanks to RFM Sportsand Webster and J boyd,- I Hope you get yours to perform to your expectations too.
Bye and thanks for your support. I wont be back.

[CyberDyneSystems]

This thread is Locked at the request of RogerBayford.

I have to say I am a very disappointed in the treatment that Roger recieved for his efforts of asking for advice on a Canon product in the forum that is SUPPOSED to be the BEST source of advice for Canon digital products.

I am unsure what the sudden trend is that results in individuals getting beat up for displaying any kind of dissatisfaction in Canon products?

But the trend is uncomfortable to say the least and unhelpfull for sure.

Ignoring issues helps no one. I won't get into the 10D focus issue any further here than to say this, Canon may have never officially admitted there was an issue.. but other sources very close to all of you KNOW there was an issue with some Cameras.

That aside;

Let's all try and remember why we are here..

1. Have fun! :)

2. Share our knowledge and or fun! :)