New Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II focus problem

Hi everyone. I just picked up a brand new 70-200 2.8 IS II today. Purchased from a retail store and comes with 2 year canon warranty etc, so I should have no problems getting it fixed/exchanged (hopefully the store has another). There is clearly some sort of focus issue. At 70-100mm the AF speed is okay but after that and ESPECIALLY at 200mm, it is pathetically slow. I noticed this trying to focus on low-ish contrast subjects (no problems at 70-100mm though, still fast). I performed this test with: focus limiter off (1.2m-infinity), IS Off, one shot AF on a 1D III and with the lens cap on. I also tried this same test with my canon 6D and got the exact same results. My 70-200 f4 never did anything like this. This is so disappointing So have any of you seen anything like this before? I will definitely try and get it replaced tomorrow.

Here is the video (sorry about my breathing over the mic ): http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=gm3B0UAdyRA

Edit: Focus speed is MUCH faster in AI servo to go through the range of focus distances.

Are you really testing AF with the lens cap on? Give the camera and lens something to actually focus on. How many shots do you plan on taking with the lens cap on?

You could do a similar test with results like this: Why does my camera function so poorly with the battery removed? Why can't my furnace heat my house with all the windows open? Nobody tests a chainsaw by seeing how many bagels they can butter with it.

stang67 wrote in post #16721211
...I noticed this trying to focus on low-ish contrast subjects (no problems at 70-100mm though, still fast). I performed this test with: focus limiter off (1.2m-infinity), IS Off, one shot AF on a 1D III and with the lens cap on. ...

Unless you mean the hood rather than lens cap, you are trolling...

I don't know if you realize this, but your settings handicap the lens in every possible way...

There is a significant difference (1.2m-infinity) vs (2.5 m-Infinity). The second is more efficient, because the lens knows it doesn't have to hunt in the near-range. (Confirmed this with mine, it focuses in one go, with the 1.2-Infinity, it takes 2 efforts at 200mm).

IS off means that all the little camera shakes motions (which for 200 mm FL are a lot at some distance) all the lens sees is a blurry image. Leave the IS on.

I shoot w. BBF and AIServo. It zeroes in every time.

Comparing with your f4. Have you noticed the weight deifference. The MkII has to move all this weight around to focus. If you don't handicap it too much, it does it pretty well.

PS: You video shows the lens performing slower than mine, but as I said, try w/o handicaps.

Yeah... Check how it works with the lens cap off... It should be quick and nearly instant. I believe the 200mm AF speed is a tad slower than 70mm in lower light, most likely due to the depth of field and focus accuracy. But yet it in real-world shooting and see.

Pretty sure the OP means "lens hood on", not "lens cap on"! Just a typo folks

Viewing the video, it's definitely not focusing quickly at 200mm setting. Never seen that happen on any 70-200mm I've used. Now, to be fair, I don't throw my lenses completely out of focus before every shot, either. But it doesn't seem as fast as my lenses at the other focal lengths, either. That might be due to other settings, lighting, and target detail/contrast... not any fault of the lens.

First thing I'd do is clean the lens contacts. Sometimes oil gets on them during manufacturing, and that can effect the low voltages the camera and lens use to communicate. Just use a clean rag, lightly dampened with a few drops of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to carefully wipe the contacts on the rear of the lens.

I agree that using the focus limiter would likely help.

And, you should leave IS on. Many of us think it actually helps AF in some situations. (I can't recall the last time I turned IS off on either of my 70-200s, one of which I've had for 12 years... I do occasionally use "Mode 2" for panning, but I never turn it off.)

One Shot is fine with a stationary target. You might try it with AI Servo, too.... Just to see if that makes any significant difference. But it really shouldn't.

If you have a filter on the lens (for "protection") be sure to remove it for any focus testing.

Still, I don't understand why that lens slows down so much at that one particular focal length. If it only happened on your older camera, I might suggest doing a firmware update. But since it's happening on both, I doubt that would make any difference.

If cleaning the contacts doesn't help... I'd be exchanging the lens. Or, if beyond the time frame for that, having Canon look at it under warranty.

You get a 2 year warranty on Canon gear in Oz? We only get 1 year in the US.

Be very careful about announcing problems with the legendary 70-200 2.8 IS II lens. People have been known to disappear off the face of the earth for this before around here.

amfoto1 wrote in post #16721702
Pretty sure the OP means "lens hood on", not "lens cap on"! Just a typo folks

Viewing the video, it's definitely not focusing quickly at 200mm setting. Never seen that happen on any 70-200mm I've used. Now, to be fair, I don't throw my lenses completely out of focus before every shot, either. But it doesn't seem as fast as my lenses at the other focal lengths, either. That might be due to other settings, lighting, and target detail/contrast... not any fault of the lens.

First thing I'd do is clean the lens contacts. Sometimes oil gets on them during manufacturing, and that can effect the low voltages the camera and lens use to communicate. Just use a clean rag, lightly dampened with a few drops of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to carefully wipe the contacts on the rear of the lens.

I agree that using the focus limiter would likely help.

And, you should leave IS on. Many of us think it actually helps AF in some situations. (I can't recall the last time I turned IS off on either of my 70-200s, one of which I've had for 12 years... I do occasionally use "Mode 2" for panning, but I never turn it off.)

One Shot is fine with a stationary target. You might try it with AI Servo, too.... Just to see if that makes any significant difference. But it really shouldn't.

If you have a filter on the lens (for "protection") be sure to remove it for any focus testing.

Still, I don't understand why that lens slows down so much at that one particular focal length. If it only happened on your older camera, I might suggest doing a firmware update. But since it's happening on both, I doubt that would make any difference.

If cleaning the contacts doesn't help... I'd be exchanging the lens. Or, if beyond the time frame for that, having Canon look at it under warranty.

You get a 2 year warranty on Canon gear in Oz? We only get 1 year in the US.

I was under the impression that the CAP was forcefully put on to demonstrate how fast it hunts.

Okay, definitely not the kind of responses I was expecting, but thanks anyway for your input. No I am not trolling. I originally noticed this issue when focusing on a low contrast subject. At 70mm to around 100mm it focused quickly. At 200mm, it focused VERY slowly and sometimes even missed focus (this with 6D and 1D III). I just replicated this issue with the lens CAP on to show you this difference in speed. I also tried shooting in low-light and the same thing happened. This NEVER happened with my 70-200 f4 (or 135mm f2 etc, though the 135 is obviously not a zoom lens and lets in more light).

I got it yesterday brand new so am thinking about getting it exchanged today (if they have another). I don't believe the AF should perform this slowly, regardless if the lens cap has been put on or not, the AF cycle should be very similar in speed between 70mm and 200mm, shouldn't it? It was on my 70-200 f4.

Yes Charlie, you are correct.

test it in a real world situation.

I just did mine and yes, just as I thought, it was significantly slower at 200mm with the lens cap on.

Again, I am sure that is the algorithm in the lens to get sharper focus at 200mm when the depth of field is shallower. In good light, its very fast. Cap on, 200mm is significantly slower than 70mm.

Hope this helps.

matko wrote in post #16722606
test it in a real world situation.

I did yesterday as soon as I got it home around 6pm and again at around 10pm inside with the bedroom light on. In both instances it had some trouble focusing at 200mm. I have not yet had a chance to try it in daylight (am at work now) but I still was expecting better AF under those conditions as my 135mm f2 and 70-200 f4 handled them just fine.

Invertalon wrote in post #16722647
I just did mine and yes, just as I thought, it was significantly slower at 200mm with the lens cap on.

Again, I am sure that is the algorithm in the lens to get sharper focus at 200mm when the depth of field is shallower. In good light, its very fast. Cap on, 200mm is significantly slower than 70mm.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for that Is it as slow as mine? With the lens cap on. I know testing with the lens cap on does not give a true reading of its AF performance in real world conditions, but it was extremely similar (speed wise) to a poorly lit environment and/or a low contrast subject. I have never heard about this lens' algorithm, but I am starting to think (as you say) it is tuned for accuracy especially at the 200mm end rather than pure speed. It's just all I heard about this lens was lightning fast AF which mine has not been (in those specific conditions). I have yet to have an opportunity to test the lens in good conditions (only got it last night). My 70-200 f4 never behaved like this, so perhaps the 2.8 IS II is tuned differently, but even then, the f4 was fast at both ends and accurate

Thanks to all thus far. I know you probably all think I am an idiot for starting such a thread, but after spending so much money on a lens I want to keep for many years to come, I want to make 100% sure nothing is wrong with it from day one, as I can easily return it right now (but would have to get Canon to repair it in the future if necessary). I have never read anyone describing this lens' AF like this so I thought perhaps mine is faulty. Perhaps this thread will be helpful to others in the future.

Yes just as fast/slow... And I have had a few 70-200 II's and all behaved the same!

In good light, the AF is practically instant!

Invertalon wrote in post #16722728
Yes just as fast/slow... And I have had a few 70-200 II's and all behaved the same!

In good light, the AF is practically instant!

Okay, thanks. This is most likely normal then. Also, I didn't use 2.5m to infinity because I believe a ~$2400 lens should still be very quick at 1.2m-infinity (of course 2.5m-infnity will be quicker, though). I did get to test the AF when there was some light left, and yes, on high contrast subjects, it was indeed practically instant (not that noticeable over the f4 and 135mm f2 in the same conditions though, but that's expected as those were very quick as well!). On low contrast subjects it was quite slow (slower than 135mm f2 and 70-200 f4 as I don't recall those being slowed down much at all, maybe 20% compared to at 70mm), but I no longer have either of those lenses to test whether or not this decrease in speed does indeed result in an increase in accuracy. Now I don't know if I should bother going into the city to the store to give another 70-200 2.8 IS II a go just to confirm that this is normal behaviour.

Mine also behaves just like your with the lens cap on. I wouldn't worry about it. Especially since you have a 2 year warranty.

stang67 wrote in post #16722742
... This is most likely normal then. Also, I didn't use 2.5m to infinity because I believe a ~$2400 lens should still be very quick at 1.2m-infinity (of course 2.5m-infnity will be quicker, though). ...

The lens has some built-in logic which assumes 'normal' user behavior.

Unknowingly, you seem to have violated a whole bunch of assumptions of what Canon considers 'normal' (IS on, distance switch positioned appropriately, shooting with the cap off).

Contrary to what you 'believe', I believe that a $2400 lens should be designed to provide the best performance under 'real world' circumstances... with the cap off!

In my book this means keeping one of the best implemented IS applications 'on' AND sharing with the lens the secret that my subject is more than 3 meters away. Always with the cap off .

Did I mention that I prefer taking pictures with the cap OFF?

Now, I'd suggest, if I may, that you take this marvelous lens and go out in the real world, in the first available opportunity and shoot anything that moves or doesn't. Give it a chance to astound you!

Enjoy!