D60+70-200/2.8 AF out of focus

[johnkuo]

I took some pictures with D60 and 70-200/2.8L and found the AF to be slightly off. It's only obvious when I shoot at 200mm wide open. Here's an example:

AF
http://home.earthlink.net/~johnkuo3/d60/CRW_2749.jpg

MF by me
http://home.earthlink.net/~johnkuo3/d60/CRW_2750.jpg

These are crops from the original images. I set the focus point on the "S" of the stop sign.

I can reproduce it fairly consistantly with the 70-200, but not with 17-35 or 28-105.

I'm going to call Canon and possible send it in. Just wondering if anyone experienced the same thing?

Thanks.

John

[reittila]

Would be more usefull if you posted an uncropped image in full size.
Also try to shoot an object with better details in depth.

[kirk]

Need more of the picture, but I think you are experiencing the same problem as I was with the Sigma lens (see post in this forum about D60 "soft" or "fuzzy" pictures).

My solution was to continue using the Sigma lens on the EOS Elan where the focusing problem was not as apparent and buy another lens for the D60.

I also have a Canon 100-300mm USF lens. I haven't taken a lot of pictures with it yet, but the few I have taken appear to be soft. Maybe there is a problem with the D60 and certain lenses? Need to confirm this before making such speculation, but sounds strange that others are experiencing the same problem.

HOWEVER, it is also reasonable to assume that my Sigma lens is functioning properly but is just a low quality lens and was never a problem with the Elan because I never analyzed the prints or negatives with the computer. (whew! what a runon sentence...)

I will work some more with the 100-300 USM to see if it seems as sharp as it should be.

[perelet]

I’ve experienced soft (really out of) autofocus problems myself a quite a lot
Here is my lens list:

Canon 50 1.4
Canon 85 1.8
Canon 135 2.8 SF
Canon 300 4.0 L
Tokina 28-80 ATX pro 2.8

Some observations:
”Out of autofocus” is strongly pronounced in studio with flash (I use 2 700ws strobe units with softboxes and few ac slaves) without back light. Recently I discovered that adding strobe behind semi transparent background helps a bunch.

”Out of autofocus” is strongly pronounced when lens is opened up.
As “fix” for it I usually close down to 6.7-8.0. I know this is cheat, but it helps.

”Out of autofocus” is very strongly pronounced with Tokina lens – the only zoom in my bag. I use it only outdoors only.

”Out of autofocus” is not helping “Soft focus” effect on 135 lens – final image is ends up being “soft out of focus”(:, instead expected sharp focus on focusing point and softness around.

One more “trick”. I started to do “focus bracketing” – let it autofocus, switch to manual and do few shots with small manual +- focus adjustments – with no film to waste I get right shots pretty often.

I have no theories about this effect – just observations. I’m also not whining cause I was using “prosumer” digicams for at least 5years and d30 is definite step up from everything I’ve seen.

[rampe]

Well I don´t know if there is anything about your lenses. It might be that their capability to produce a SHARP image is different. Before we only viewed slides or negs behind a lupe. Now we can view images at 100% on screen and actually see if the image is sharp or not...

When I moved to digital. I found that the only lens which is really sharp is my dear 50/1.4 Canon. 70-200/2.8 is okay when used smaller than 4.0 and my 20-35/2.8 is totally waste of money. And the worst of all is 70-200 with 2x converter. I think they are not usable at all:(

Now I use only apertures between 8.0 - 16.0 to achieve really sharp image. It is not too bad. You can always throw the background out of focus with photoshop if needed.

BTW, has somebody tried Canon 20/2.8, 24/1.4 or 28/1.8 with D60/30? Are any of them really sharp if we compare to 50/1.4?

[Rudi]

perelet wrote:
I’ve experienced soft (really out of) autofocus problems myself a quite a lot
Here is my lens list:

Canon 50 1.4
Canon 85 1.8
Canon 135 2.8 SF
Canon 300 4.0 L
Tokina 28-80 ATX pro 2.8


perelet,

have you got ANY lenses that produce sharp photos? If not, the problem could be with your camera body!

All the Canon lenses you listed should be more than sharp enough! (Don't know much about the Tokina, although from what I've heard, it should also be sharp enough). The only thing that I can think of, is that you are printing your photos without any post-processing. This is a no-no in the digital world. All digital photos need a slight sharpening. This is due to the effect of the colour filter located in front of the sensor, which has a slight softening effect on the images. The Canon DSLRs produce a softer image out-of-camera, leaving the processing to the photographer. This is a better option than aggressive in-camera sharpening, which can introduce strange artefacts and loss of detail, which can then not be recovered in post-processing.

Hope this helps,

[perelet]

Rudi, I’m not saying that I never get sharp photos with my setup and my camera body was at checkup few times already. Rarely I get ok photo from D30 – or it is PERFECT or it’s “out of autofocus”

What I see is – probability of getting “out of autofocus” shot is much higher compared to film EOS 1v setup. Some side effect is camera causes it, I tried d60/d30 both with about same outcome. Maybe it is built in CMOS image processing screwing up in some cases, maybe some glitch in focusing software.

Most of my shutting is for composite cards for photo models.
I used to use 3rolls of film to make 5 photo composite.
With digital I typically end up doing 200-250 shots to achieve result of same quality.

But the bottom line is 250 digital shots with instant preview on computer is nothing compared to 3 rolls of film.


Oleg
(I used my last name as login:)

[Rudi]

Oleg,

as you have found out, the EOS D30 is not in the same league as the EOS 1v as far as AF goes...

...but then what better excuse to buy the EOS 1D? :D

(Everyone I know that has both - and that's not too many people :) - says that without looking at the camera, you would have no idea which one you're shooting with - the film body or digital. They feel and behave the same. That's why the 1D or its replacement will be my next digital body...)

[calvinbradshaw]

I have a similar problem, and will relay may experiences for what it's worth.

I bought a D60 in April 2002 (early adopter!), and have taken over 8,000 photos, including about 6000 while in Africa on safari (See www.photo.net for samples).

I have taken some fantastic, crisp and well-focussed photos, and am generally VERY happy with the D-60. BUT unfortunately I also consistently get a percentage (sometimes up to 20%) of photos that are out of focus.

The lenses I use are:
- Canon EF 100-400mm L-IS, and
- Canon EF 28-70 F2.8L
I can't reproduce the problem with my 20-40mm aspherical lens.

Given the quality of these lenses I doubt it is a lens problem. I don't have these focus problems with these lenes on my old EOS 10/Elan.

It happens with both these lenses but more often with the 28-70. The problem is most pronounced when shooting with the lenses wide open (less depth of field and less tolerance?) It occurs in low light but also in good light conditions. The firmware in my camera is v1.0.0.

It is not a sharpness problem, but definitely an autofocus problem (I can tell the difference).

I am still looking for a solution......
Calvin.