Help! New 20D has out-of-focus viewfinder image

[Lucky Forward]

Hello, everyone! I’ve been reading here for a few weeks, but this is my first post. I finally decided to make the transition from film to digital photography. I’ve been shooting with a Canon Elan IIe for six years, and I ordered a 20D body from B&H figuring to use my 28-105 EF USM (3.5-4.5) and 100-300 EF USM (4.5-5.5) for now.



The 20D arrived yesterday, and after charging the battery I put on the 28-105 lens to find that the image in the viewfinder will not come into sharp focus. I triple-checked that the AF/MF switch on the lens was on auto focus, and the lens definitely does shift focus going from a near subject to a far one, but the scene in the viewfinder is still blurry. The little focusing squares are sharp, though.



I tried switching to manual focus, and I can not get a sharp viewfinder image that way either. I put the lens back on the Elan IIe, and it focused perfectly.



I tried making a few exposures on the 20D, and while the viewfinder image looks out of focus, the image I get on the LCD after the exposure appears very sharp. I haven’t loaded any images onto my PC for close inspection yet, because I’m totally new to digital and I didn’t want to install the Canon software onto my PC if the whole package has got to go back to B&H. (I also just didn’t have the time last night.)



The viewfinder had the same problem with the 100-300 lens. I really don’t want to have to send the camera back, so I hope I’m overlooking something simple.



Can anyone think of a reason why the viewfinder image appears out of focus while the LCD image shows a sharp exposure?

[Belmondo]

Did you attempt to change the diopter setting on the viewfiender?

[barryburgard]

I don't have the 20D yet, but does it have a Dopter adjustment? If so, it might be that simple.

Barry

[Todd Jacobsen]

I don't have the 20D yet, but does it have a Dopter adjustment? If so, it might be that simple.

Barry

Diopter adjustment is standard on canon viewfinders. Even the Rebel series has them.

[Lucky Forward]

Thanks for the replies. No, I really don't know anything about the diopter adjustment. Did the Canon Elan IIe have one, because I never used it?

I'm at work now, but when I get home I'll look into my new manual and see about changing the setting you're talking about. I hope there's a simple fix, I really love this camera.

[Mercycreek]

The issue seems to be the dioptric setting. This is easily adjusted.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos20d/page5.asp (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos20d/page5.asp)

In that link the first image you see is of the cameras viewfinder. You will notice a small dial on the upper right side of the finder. This is the dioptric calibration dial. Try making adjustments on this dial and I'm sure the problem will be resolved. Good luck with the new camera. ;)

-brandon-

[Lucky Forward]

Come to think of it, I may have twirled that little dial when I was looking the camera over while the battery was charging. I didn't think it would actually do anything since the camera wasn't on.


I'll bet that's my problem, can't wait to check it out when I get home tonight. I've got a *whole* lot to learn about this camera, thanks for answering my dumb question.

[robertwgross]

Lucky, hopefully, 80% of all of your problems with that new camera can be solved easily like this. That little control knob is shown on page 38.

---Bob Gross---

[cc10d]

NO question is a dumb question. We all have to gain familiarity and knowledge, asking speeds up the process. Enjoy the great camera you have!

[mkh]

I thought if the red squares we were in focus (like he stated) then the diopter is adjusted correctly. I hope I'm wrong for your sake. I don't mind being wrong(I've gotten used to it) but I hate to hear of people with camera problems. It kind of makes you sick inside to have issues with a new camera..

Let us know hat happens.

[MazerRakhm]

Come to think of it, I may have twirled that little dial when I was looking the camera over while the battery was charging. I didn't think it would actually do anything since the camera wasn't on.


I'll bet that's my problem, can't wait to check it out when I get home tonight. I've got a *whole* lot to learn about this camera, thanks for answering my dumb question.

I took my camera out of the bag right after I came home from vacation the other day to shoot a picture of the cat who was catching a nap in the afternoon sunlight in the middle of my wife’s luggage. I thought it would be a cute picture, flipped the camera on, and looked for a good angle and huh? The camera focused and chirped that it was focused correctly but it was way fuzzy! Oh no I thought, did something happen on the trip home?! My heart started to race as I changed lenses, maybe that was it. No luck, same thing! Turned it off and on again, still blurry!

Now that sinking feeling was kicking in...

Stop hold the camera out and think... Oh yeah, the eyepiece has a focus dial on it!

By then the cat had moved, irritated by my presence obviously, but at least the camera was ok.

[robertwgross]

By then the cat had moved, irritated by my presence obviously, but at least the camera was ok.

Now we know the truth of the focus problem. The cat is out of the bag.

---Bob Gross---

[Lucky Forward]

Yes! It was the diopter adjustment...and I didn't even know my camera had one! That'll teach me to go turning dials and pushing buttons before I've even opened the manual.

I thought the focusing squares had looked sharp even though the viewfinder image was soft, but once I got the diopter back to where it should be, the squares were even sharper.

When I got in from work today, I got the diopter squared away and then took my new camera and my dog down to the river nearby to take advantage of the late afternoon light. Remember, I'm new to digital, so it was a revelation to shoot and see my results instantly on the back of the camera. I got some nice scenic shots of the sun going down on the water, but I mostly photographed my Lab playing around in the water and tearing up and down the sandy beach. We both had a great time!

Now I have to pull out the manuals, install some software, and learn how to put these images on the computer and then on the internet. I hope to be able to show you a few shots soon.

Thanks for all the help!

[Andy_T]

Lucky,

welcome to the forum!

great to hear it worked out!

You can simply adjust the pictures to your post (as long as they are not too big) to share them here in the forum.

Best regards,
Andy

[Trumper]

Yes! It was the diopter adjustment...and I didn't even know my camera had one! That'll teach me to go turning dials and pushing buttons before I've even opened the manual.

I thought the focusing squares had looked sharp even though the viewfinder image was soft, but once I got the diopter back to where it should be, the squares were even sharper.


Thanks for all the help!

Even if the eyepiece diopter is out of focus,providing the auto focus was working on the camera/lense and pointed at the subject the photo would've been in focus correctly.

[Belmondo]

The way this works is that someday, someone will ask this question again. When you see it, you will be able to answer it with great authority. Chances are, most of the people who answered this thread (myself included) had a similar experience themselves.

Good luck with the new camera.

[DwightMcCann]

My Fuji S2 has a diopter adjustment but it is a slide and almost impossible to use, so I don't! My 1D Mark II has a diopter adjustment, probably just like yours, and it is wonderful! I need both distance and near glasses. When setting up for shooting, I put on reading glasses and adjust the diopter so I can see through the camera (with near glasses on) and see the settings. When setup and ready to shoot, I put on distance glasses, adjust the diopter for those, and shoot without having to put glasses on and off! If I need to look at the settings or review images I do have to switch to reading glasses, but that's usually during a lull when there is time for that.

[CyberDyneSystems]

The way this works is that someday, someone will ask this question again. When you see it, you will be able to answer it with great authority. Chances are, most of the people who answered this thread (myself included) had a similar experience themselves.

Good luck with the new camera.

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/doh.gif

Me too!