Frustrated with 17-55 and Canon service

I have a 17-55 that I believe front focuses.

As an example. Here's a SOOC shot of my daughter from a recent session I did with her:

was she moving while taking the shot?

here is an interesting read
http://www.canonrumors​.com …-is-soft-and-other-myths/

In a recent post here one of the rental guys recommended that the 17-55 not be used with the 20D.

I guess you could correct it with a different body, like a 7D.

Just grasping for ideas that don't cost you anything, is your firmware up to 2.0.3?

john_galt wrote in post #12211012
was she moving while taking the shot?

here is an interesting read
http://www.canonrumors​.com …-is-soft-and-other-myths/

She was not moving in this particular shot. I took about 40 shots of her in the suitcase, and she was moving in some of them, but every single one (that I didn't mess up for other reasons) has the suitcase in better focus then her face.

I have read that article, which is why I spent so long testing this lens trying to convince myself that the problem was with my technique.

I've only ever seen that in reference to the Err99 problem which happened with older 17-55s. This is a brand new lens and I don't have the Err99 problem.

Velorium wrote in post #12211183
Just grasping for ideas that don't cost you anything, is your firmware up to 2.0.3?

Firmware is at 2.0.3, thanks for trying to keep the price down

MrFahrenheit wrote in post #12210963
I have a 17-55 that I believe front focuses.

This front focusing seems to happen on all pictures I take where the subject is more then 4-6 feet away. I've taken over 1000 shots over the past few months to confirm this. When the subject is close, it's very sharp. But past a certain distance, the lens starts front focusing.

I've done tests with IS on and off and it has no effect.

My other lens is a 50mm 1.8, and it does not have this problem at all. Subjects at 6 feet and beyond are sharp.

I've also confirmed this with focusing test charts which I can post if you guys are interested.

I sent this lens in to be serviced by Canon with a detailed description of the problem.

Today, I received the lens back from them with the following note:

"Your product has been examined and no problem was found as the lens was within factory specifications. Inspection and cleaning were carried out on the lens."

I'm incredibly frustrated that they didn't even bother to email me when they couldn't recreate the problem. I feel like I wasted a bunch of money having it shipped there to have them dust it off.

Has anyone else had similar issues with canon service? Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get a working 17-55?

can't help - but which Canon Service center did you send it to?

MrFahrenheit wrote in post #12211198
Firmware is at 2.0.3, thanks for trying to keep the price down

May I suggest renting a newer body and evaluating the lens on it... You should seriously consider the possibility of upgrading if your results dramatically improve on the rented body.

MrFahrenheit wrote in post #12210963
I sent this lens in to be serviced by Canon with a detailed description of the problem.

Today, I received the lens back from them with the following note:

"Your product has been examined and no problem was found as the lens was within factory specifications. Inspection and cleaning were carried out on the lens."

I'm incredibly frustrated that they didn't even bother to email me when they couldn't recreate the problem. I feel like I wasted a bunch of money having it shipped there to have them dust it off.

Has anyone else had similar issues with canon service? Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get a working 17-55?

Yep, Thats called "its within spec"

Doesnt mean it will work right with your 20D

Say Perfect is 0, But anything from -5 to 5 is considered "within spec"

Consider your 20D tests and is -2, and the 17-55 is 5, Both are within spec, but the combo will still front focus because theres a HUGE difference between these two "in spec" lenses

Call Canon back and say you're still having an issue, They SHOULD ask you to send both your body and your lens in, Then they calibrate the 17-55 to work correctly on YOUR body...

of course, and im not trying to be mean here, but the 20D is a little old now, and its a possibility Canon might not service it at all anymore, in which case, you should consider upgrading to a new body...

+1 ^^^

I agree either rent another upgraded crop body or borrow one from a friend.

I have 8 grandkids that tend to squirm and when using the exteranl 580 Ex II on or off camera with your settings providing im in manual mode indoors + ETTL i have no focusing issues or blur at f5.0

Regards & Good Luck,

Thanks for the support everyone. It was the service center in virginia that worked on the lens. I called them this morning and they are going to send me a shipping label to send it back to them again. Hopefully I'll have better luck this time.

It's probably in spec, but combined with your camera body (which may or may not be in spec), it then becomes out of spec.

Send both lens and body in for them to calibrate together.

Focus is on "spot"?

David

I agree with kenjiS........you should send the camera back with the lens. At least then they will know how much calibrating either way the lens will require.