7D focus, what the heck.

I am using AF point expansion and was taking pictures of a close up squirrel (3 yards).. my aim was DEAD on the rodent and I took many photos yet it seems the bark is more in focus!

Should I be using spot or something, I dont understand why its off on so many.

I am using a 70-200L 2.8.
Heres and example.
iso 400, 1/5000, f/3.2, 195mm

IMAGE LINK: http://imageshack.us …images/404/img1​317cy.jpg/

I have manual AF set to center point. Is AF point expansion using to much guess work?

Yeah.... you shouldn't have been using expansion.... no reason to... I'd be using single AF point, of quite possibly Spot AF.

Don't know this lens, but whats the minimal focus distance for it?
Once I tried to use my 400 5.6 to photograph a parrot which was just on the border line of MFD.
Parrot was OOF, but owner who was holding it was in sharp focus.

icencold wrote in post #14244389
Don't know this lens, but whats the minimal focus distance for it?
Once I tried to use my 400 5.6 to photograph a parrot which was just on the border line of MFD.
Parrot was OOF, but owner who was holding it was in sharp focus.

I was wondering about that but I was way over 1.5m. I guess I didnt think the expanded focus mode was so broad. I just got the 7D so didnt understand it.

AF expansion should use the centre of the cross for lock and only the others if it struggles. Was it AI servo or single shot?

I would have been using one point or spot for that.

I had the same problem with my first lens (a 24-105L) on my 7D. Most of my shots were not in focus, or looked smudged. You can try single point or spot focus to see if that helps, but from looking at those photo's I don't think it will. Your not going to like my answer. My problems did not go away until I took back the first lens and got another. I found with my 7D that certain lenses will not work. I don't know why and have no technical explanation, I only know the problems I have had. I recently took back two 100-400 lenses because of focus issues. Yet I have a 24-105 and a 70-200 that work perfectly. I also had a Tamron with no issues. I would recommend trying the single point focus, then try a different lens. You may find you have no problems with another lens, not that there is any thing wrong with the one you have, it's just your camera may not like it. You may also need to send your camera back to Canon for adjustment. Some have claimed this helped. You must first rule out user error though. Also I almost always shoot with the expansion on and rarely have a missed focus with lenses that work correctly with my camera.

Also make sure your shooting in one shot mode for stationary subjects.

It looks like you might be getting some back focusing going on. Have you shot any other subjects yet to see if the results are consistent?

Spot AF was designed for shots like this.

A review of the focus section choices in your manual would be a good place to start. As someone else mentioned, using the expansion points told the camera to focus on something other than your intended target. And don't worry, most of us who own(ed) a 7D made similar, yet erroneous assumptions.

That shot clearly called for centerpoint only or even the dot within the centerpoint focus square to clearly focus on the squirrel and not the tree.

Go back and read some more. You'll get the hang of the 7D focus 'quirks.'

dave

I have a 7D and captured this rodent with my 28-300 L, I used spot focus...I'll try to post the EXIF data..

Might need to micro adjust.....

You just need to get that 7D into single point. AF point expansion is great for some things but not shooting through tree branches at small animals. With a lens that good it's doubtful you have back focus issues. It's a possibility...but a slim one.

I don't understand all this talk about which focus point his camera is set to. I never have in these threads. Your camera will clearly show you which focus point it used ( at least mine does ), and if it is not focusing on that point you have a problem. I'm still guessing, he is back focusing, needs a camera adjustment, or has a problem between his camera and lens.