focusing on markII

[DS]

I just got my MarkII about 3 weeks now. Took a few hundreds shot already but when I view the image on the monitor it appers a little soft (maybe out of focus), and I used with a 28-70L 2.8 lens. I always had good pictures with this lens and my EOS 1-RS. But with the mark II, it seem like the pictures are out of focus. I saw someone post this issue on the board before. Does anyone have a some problem like me? I also have a 2MP SONY p&s, it took alot better (shaper) pictures than the mark II.

[defordphoto]

The MKII, as with Canon's other cameras, offers very little in camera processing unless you force it with custom settings. You're using a true professional camera and 99% of your photos will require some sort of post-processing to increase sharpness or whatever else you'd like to accomplish.

Those little point and shooters perform massive in-camera processing so that the average-Joe, amateur-consumer will not have to post process their photos.

You can increase the sharpening in-camera, but you have much more control over sharpening in post-processing.

There is nothing wrong with your camera.

[Pekka]

Can you post an example image with EXIF data?

With digital files you are the lab. Final image quality depends a lot on your camera settings and how you post process the images. Also, when you view the images on computer screen you see the detail enlarged as you have probably never seen on your film prints. This means that if you require tack sharp results you must have much faster shutter speeds, best available lenses and good post-processing knowledge (or C1 RAW conversion).

Point and shoot cameras have very wide DoF even wide open which may be confused as being "sharper". Also P&S cameras do lots of internal processing which is in DSLR left entirely to your discretion.

[skiphoto]

True, but the results are not good as straight from the camera. I have had confirmation from Canon twice now that my MK11 I have is soft focusing to an unnaceptable level.

i was at a shoot this weekend and had another pro photographer shoot my camera with my lens 100 400 L and his lens 600 L and we both saw soft focus with all different apertures and shutter speeds.

The camera is going back to CPS first thing tomorrow...I even did a comparison with my 10D, same settings and same lens and got far sharper results with the 10 D and ended up shooting the entire event with the 10 D and never picked up the 1D Mk 11

I am sure not all people are finding this issue but I have found the issue twice (CPS tweaked the camera last time) and am getting a little frustrated that this camera has given me little in the way of solid shots to sell since I got it. the 10D has made 5 timeas as much money as the 1D Mk11 but I need and crave the FPS

The saga continues......................

J

[defordphoto]

Interesting...

[Pekka]

True, but the results are not good as straight from the camera. I have had confirmation from Canon twice now that my MK11 I have is soft focusing to an unnaceptable level.

i was at a shoot this weekend and had another pro photographer shoot my camera with my lens 100 400 L and his lens 600 L and we both saw soft focus with all different apertures and shutter speeds.

The camera is going back to CPS first thing tomorrow...I even did a comparison with my 10D, same settings and same lens and got far sharper results with the 10 D and ended up shooting the entire event with the 10 D and never picked up the 1D Mk 11

I am sure not all people are finding this issue but I have found the issue twice (CPS tweaked the camera last time) and am getting a little frustrated that this camera has given me little in the way of solid shots to sell since I got it. the 10D has made 5 timeas as much money as the 1D Mk11 but I need and crave the FPS

The saga continues......................

J

Ok, this is a different situation: when there is some technical fault in one camera that does not make "Mark II a soft focusing camera".

Be firm with CPS - some repair guys are better than others and I have had very good results by finding the person who does the job and talking person to person about the problems and solutions with him. They can replace the whole AF system and mainboard if they just have the reason to - but they do not work overtime "just to make sure". So provide test shots on CD and document them well and demand resolution to this problem.

If this time they don't get it, I would demand a replacement.

[defordphoto]

Ok, this is a different situation: when there is some technical fault in one camera that does not make "Mark II a soft focusing camera".

Exactly. I have not read anywhere else of anyone having "soft focus" issues with this camera at all. We've had to adjust our workflow to adjust for the wider dynamic range, but no "soft focus" issues.

[GenEOS]

I found the problem with soft images out of the Mark II was my problem and not the camera's......
After adjusting my workflow, I am pleased as punch.
I have also found this camera to love high shutter speeds below 1/500th....

[skiphoto]

HOw did you alter your workflow to compensate for Soft Focus...I am curious about that.

J

[defordphoto]

HOw did you alter your workflow to compensate for Soft Focus...I am curious about that.

J

For once and for all, the camera DOES NOT have a soft focusing problem!

[defordphoto]

The MKII has a much higher Dynamic Range than previous Canon models. This gives the appearance of less sharp photos. Not soft focus. The appearance of a less sharp photo.

A higher Dynamic Range results in more accurate contrast throughout the entire photo. Less Dynamic Range results in higher contrast throughout the photo. Higher contrast to the human eye results in the appearance of a sharper photo.

That does not mean the photo is actually sharper and in fact it can be less sharp. It's how our eyes perceive the appearance of sharpness.

With the MKII files and their higher Dynamic Range, we can actually apply more sharpness that ever before. In some cases twice the sharpness, resulting in a super sharp photo PLUS the higher Dynamic Range. The results have been astounding, but it takes adjustment of one's workflow to accomplish this.

Everyone uses a different workflow, so how one exactly adjusts their workflow will take experimenting on their own end. What works for Pekka, may not work for me. What works for me, might not work for CDS.

[jacken]

Maybe it's an issue with some 28-70L lenses.
Or it is poor quality control.
I beleive you guys who say good things about sharpness, but my images are not.
Auto exposure esp with flash is better though and awb in cloudy conditions too.
It's going back. should I ask for a replacement? as it's a few days old.

[Mike H]

Here's another data point: my Mark II focuses beautifully. It's very fast, and very accurate. And once I sharpen my RAW files in Photoshop, the images are razor sharp.

I love this camera. Thanks.

Mike H :D

[Jon Borcik]

I couldn't agree more. This camera's AF is amazing! The only shots that showed some blurriness were the ones I didn't focus correctly on because the action was too quick for me to readjust my shot on (Action Sports).... I just missed it! ! ! That was the first week I owned the camera. Now I rarely miss a shot! Sharpness has also NOT been an issue. :lol:

[defordphoto]

I also want to mention that when I'm out shooting motorsports/any sports really, there's about a 5%-10% OOF factor. I have my AI Servo set to shoot even when not in focus. And when I'm shooting I'll know which ones I mised, but I usually do not delete them until after I dump them to the computer.

If I shoot 2000 shots, there will be 100-200 that will be tossers because of bad focus. And it's not the fault of the camera or something I am doing wrong. It's just the nature of shooting the way I do, and most sports shooters shoot.

Everything is happening fast and when you try and grab the action in progress sometimes a frame or two will be OOFd because that's just the nature of the beast when shooting like that.

Also it should be said that AF is not perfect. Perfect AF does not exist. All cameras will also have AF issues (some more than others) in low light. Eventually it gets dark enough to where any camera cannot focus.

That's why the photo gods left the "M" selection on our cameras. Many times we must revert to M. Heck, you'd be surprised how many people shoot only in M mode and never use auto anything.

[wfd]

I too have had problems with soft focus and can relate to Skiphoto. However, my shots are soft particularly in low light settings. I was adviced, through the forums, to switch to one shot rather than AI Servo. It worked wonders. I now am getting crisp shots. There is a lot to remember when working with a professional DSLR like the 1D. It sometimes can be intimidating especially when you are expected to take great shots owning one.