Out of focus 60D

It started with a threat on the Lens forum, but the development made me create a new threat in the Cameras.

I was not happy with the IQ on my 60D with some of the lenses. Just not sharp enough. I even sold the Sigma 17-70 OS recently in favor of the 15-85 lens, which helped a little. But I have a real problem with the Tamron 70-300 VC. At above 200mm, if I cropped a lot, e.g., for the birds, it was simply unusable. I sent this lens back to Tamron for calibration twice, and both times it came back practically the same.

Then I posted a request for suggestions on the Len forum, and somebody suggested to check the Tamron on another camera. I did, on the wife's T2i. What a difference! It was sharp. I did controlled testing - the same settings on the cameras, controlled lighting, a tripod with a remote shutter release, AF and MF, direct and live view, three different lenses, etc.. The results are the same. Sharp on the T2i, blurry on the 60D.

Somebody on the Lens forum commented that he had never heard of a camera being a cause of bad IQ. I do not know if it really so. So I would like to hear the suggestions as to what can be done before I sent the 60D back to Canon for servicing.

I sold my 7D to a buddy of mine, and at some point between my hands and his, the 7D developed a similar problem, but it was with all lenses. One of the lenses in question was a Sigma 30, so we thought that the issue might be with that lens, and tried to MA it. However, it wasn't sharp at any MA value. After messing with it for several hours, we tried a few of my lenses that I knew to be sharp, and were getting consistently poor results on his camera.

The strangest thing was that you could put the camera in Live View, focus manually at 10X magnification, get it razor sharp on the LCD, and when the camera took the picture, the result was still blurry. At this point, we figured it had to be the camera, because if it's sharp in Live View, it should result in a sharp recorded image.

He sent the camera in to Canon, and according to the repair ticket, they had to adjust the AF mechanism, and correct a "shifted" sensor... When he got it back from repair, the problems were gone.

I don't know if you're experiencing a similar thing... but it sounds like you might be.

Lbsimon wrote in post #15949326
It started with a threat on the Lens forum, but the development made me create a new threat in the Cameras.

You probably shouldn't be making threats.

Did you check your picture styles?

Are you testing using a single focus point set precisely upon a stationary target using One Shot focus mode?

You sent in the Tamron for calibration, but did you send it in WITH the 60d so they could be calibrated to each other? The 60d does not have MA so the lens has to be calibrated to the body.

Not an idle threat!... Try re-setting everything. Third wrench menu.

Canon will re-set everything anyway, if you choose to send it in.

va_rider wrote in post #15949347
The strangest thing was that you could put the camera in Live View, focus manually at 10X magnification, get it razor sharp on the LCD, and when the camera took the picture, the result was still blurry. At this point, we figured it had to be the camera, because if it's sharp in Live View, it should result in a sharp recorded image.

He sent the camera in to Canon, and according to the repair ticket, they had to adjust the AF mechanism, and correct a "shifted" sensor... When he got it back from repair, the problems were gone.

I don't know if you're experiencing a similar thing... but it sounds like you might be.

Yes, I am. The same thing. Thanks.

hes gone wrote in post #15949351
=he's gone;15949351]
Did you check your picture styles?

Yes, I set up both cameras at Standard.

rrblint wrote in post #15949375
Are you testing using a single focus point set precisely upon a stationary target using One Shot focus mode?

Yes, single shot center point focus, stationary target (a small doll), right on the doll's eyes.

BrickR wrote in post #15949411
You sent in the Tamron for calibration, but did you send it in WITH the 60d so they could be calibrated to each other? The 60d does not have MA so the lens has to be calibrated to the body.

No, I have not sent the 60D. But the Tamron lens is perfect with the T2i.

MakisM1 wrote in post #15949419
Not an idle threat!... Try re-setting everything. Third wrench menu.

Canon will re-set everything anyway, if you choose to send it in.

Good idea. Thanks. I will try it tonight.

Lbsimon wrote in post #15949477
Yes, I set up both cameras at Standard.

Picture styles can be changed, before you reset the camera check to see if the settings look off base.

hes gone wrote in post #15949613
=he's gone;15949613]Picture styles can be changed, before you reset the camera check to see if the settings look off base.

Since his test images are raws converted in LR does it even honor the picture styles or sharpening settings?

dalto wrote in post #15949638
Since his test images are raws converted in LR does it even honor the picture styles or sharpening settings?

I believe that (at least in the other thread) he was shooting jpg

hes gone wrote in post #15949880
=he's gone;15949880]I believe that (at least in the other thread) he was shooting jpg

Ah, I see. I thought I read he was shooting in RAW. Too many threads, my bad.