7D Mark II - Focus Discussions

8612images wrote in post #17415008
So thought we were getting somewhere with improved performance.
Heard the cardinal outside my window and thought I'd grab a pic. 7d2 with 70-200 and 1.4x. Flipped camera to spot focus. Case 1 (-2,0,0) Both image priorities to "focus"
Don't see anything in focus. Could it be the camera having trouble seeing the bird with the dingy sky? Wouldn't something be in focus if both priorities are set to focus?

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Wow those are terrible but was it obvious in the VF that the subject was not in focus? Does this lens focus properly on another body?

I wonder if there is a problem with the lens contacts on the 7Dii body that could be causes all of these focus issues?

8612images wrote in post #17415008
So thought we were getting somewhere with improved performance.
Heard the cardinal outside my window and thought I'd grab a pic. 7d2 with 70-200 and 1.4x. Flipped camera to spot focus. Case 1 (-2,0,0) Both image priorities to "focus"
Don't see anything in focus. Could it be the camera having trouble seeing the bird with the dingy sky? Wouldn't something be in focus if both priorities are set to focus?

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Mine is setup up the same way and that was my question to CPS last night - how can I get an OOF picture when the camera isn't supposed to allow it?

The issue I have with exchanging, which I can do, is that I wonder what if it is my lens/camera combo? As best I can tell, the issue only happens with the 600 and TCs, so what if my lens needs some adjustment? Now it's perfect on my 1Dx, so I don't want a lot of adjustment going on. But I am considering that as an option. Likely? Not in my book, but possible.

I'm waiting to hear form CPS on the samples I sent and then I'll make my decision.

I always use ONE SHOT AF MODE for birds on a perch, and you will get a beep confirmation if enabled when focus is achieved, you don't get it in AI SERVO MODE, another reason I never use it on perched birds

Strange you should mention the contacts on the camera. When I plugged in my 300 f/2.8 MK2 a couple of weeks ago I got a" lens error code 02" or something..

Anyway I cleaned the camera contacts and lens contacts, both looked like shiny brand new gold even before I
rubbed them with a soft cloth.

No more errors, but I have never had one on my 1D MK4 with this lens..

Couple of pics from this morning where I really tested the camera really hard on fast birds in good light, everything perfect, couldn't fault the camera in any mode . I only use AI SERVO for BIF shots and AF Case 1 default +IS MODE 2 on my 300 f/2.8 MK2. I know some people use AI SERVO MODE all the time even for perched birds, which I don't really understand but if it works for them why not ?

butterfly2937 wrote in post #17415099
Have you tried turning down the tracking speed to -1 or -2? I am just mentioning it just in case. THe Mark ii lenses seem to do better sometimes with the tracking sensitivity turned down. That doesn't explain the complete misses though. Are the misses in the middle of a burst or is the whole burst out of focus? Looking through the viewfinder can you tell the correct object is not in sharp focus? Have you tried tapping the AF-on button a few times when originally trying to acquire focus to see if the camera shifts focus each time as seen through the view finder?

Case 1 or 2 with tracking turned down to -1. I have tried -2 but it just locks on the wrong thing for longer. The misses are completely random - some are single shot misses, some are in a short burst in the middle, some at the end. There's no rhyme or reason. Via the VF, I can see my AF confirmation sign and to my eye the shot looks good, but it's obviously not.

Also, just to clear this up. I know a couple of these are distant - in particular the birds in flight. That is framed exactly how I wanted it, so there is no desire to crop any. However, even at a distance, I expect something to at least appear in focus and it's not. It would be unreasonable for me to think that I could crop down on any single bird and make that crop the image. But I do expect to be able to view at 50% and see where something is in focus.

As a reference point, here's a couple images from my 1Dx with 600 and 1.4x that has been heavily cropped. These shots were taken at a range of 125 yards per my range finder. The camera locked on and did it's thing. Will they blow up 24*36? Heck no. But it prints fine at smaller sizes. I have yet to get an image from the 7d2 at a similar distance that I could even print, much less crop heavily and print.

IMAGE LINK: http://bradipock.smugm​ug.com …terfowl-14-15/i-BR2ktfm/A

IMAGE LINK: http://bradipock.smugm​ug.com …terfowl-14-15/i-QLDqPk5/A

butterfly2937 wrote in post #17415103
Wow those are terrible but was it obvious in the VF that the subject was not in focus? Does this lens focus properly on another body?

I wonder if there is a problem with the lens contacts on the 7Dii body that could be causes all of these focus issues?

Bird was probably 15 yards away but I honestly could not see how focused he was/wasn't in vf. Worked last night at HS soccer.(poor example as I was playing with ISO12800)

Those shots are great! It's shots like these that stirred my interest in this body. Other shots posted are what's kept me away. I will say I was sold on moving to the d750, but the flare issue.... Now I'm a guy w/o a camera set up. Perhaps a 5d3 or d810?

flickr version

The D750 is a pretty good body, I got to use one for a while.

Although the 7D II is absolutely better built/has more customization or is easier to customize imo.
Also you definitely feel the FPS drop going to it from the Mark II.

You gotta get a high end SD card as well, since the 45 MB/s card I tried was terrible.
The camera was quite slow in bursts and the buffer went very quick.

At higher ISO, it was very very similar to the Mark II I felt.
But at low ISO, the dynamic range, or lack of noise at least in the shadows was very impressive.
Blows away almost any Canon. Maybe all of them, for now.

But, from all the hype surrounding it, I wasn't super impressed or blown away.

It didn't make me want to switch from Canon.

Those are really nice. Haven't seen quite that out of mine.

Huntersdad--

I've seen some of the seemingly random "off by a good 2-3 feet" focus behavior that you posted about...and haven't been able to track it down yet either. I sent my 7D2 into Canon and while they didn't say they did any "electrical adjustments" they did say they performed focus tests and adjustments...and cleaned my sensor (I didn't notice any spots or smeary effects in my test shots...so this may have been a red herring).

It does seem to focus a bit better after getting it back...but some recent pics I took of the kids sledding displayed the same missed focus behavior (front or back focused by 2-3 feet). Interestingly, before sending my body in I had MFA'd my 50 1.4 to +5...when I got it back I had to kick it up to +15. I still need to dial in my 70-200 (which was used for the kids sledding pics) but as you say, no amount of MFA will account for such a wide margin. The odd thing is (as you mention) is that sometimes it totally misses...whereas most of my shots are on the money.

All this makes me think that issues like these are algorithmic in nature...that there is some scenario where the AF system freaks out and tracking is lost. As a BBF'er, I tend to hold one of the rear focus buttons down for a good while before taking pics. For the sledding pics, I stuck to case 1, and shot a variety of single point, both expanded modes, and a few large zone AF area modes. Here's a graph showing the "batting average" for each mode. Please note that I didn't shoot equal number of frames in each mode, which is why the bars are varying height:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/r4ob​aH

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/qKcn​ws

huntersdad wrote in post #17415195
Case 1 or 2 with tracking turned down to -1. I have tried -2 but it just locks on the wrong thing for longer. The misses are completely random - some are single shot misses, some are in a short burst in the middle, some at the end. There's no rhyme or reason. Via the VF, I can see my AF confirmation sign and to my eye the shot looks good, but it's obviously not.

Also, just to clear this up. I know a couple of these are distant - in particular the birds in flight. That is framed exactly how I wanted it, so there is no desire to crop any. However, even at a distance, I expect something to at least appear in focus and it's not. It would be unreasonable for me to think that I could crop down on any single bird and make that crop the image. But I do expect to be able to view at 50% and see where something is in focus.

As a reference point, here's a couple images from my 1Dx with 600 and 1.4x that has been heavily cropped. These shots were taken at a range of 125 yards per my range finder. The camera locked on and did it's thing. Will they blow up 24*36? Heck no. But it prints fine at smaller sizes. I have yet to get an image from the 7d2 at a similar distance that I could even print, much less crop heavily and print.

IMAGE LINK: http://bradipock.smugm​ug.com …terfowl-14-15/i-BR2ktfm/A

IMAGE LINK: http://bradipock.smugm​ug.com …terfowl-14-15/i-QLDqPk5/A

The 1DX images are in perfect focus. This really does look like a 7D2 issue either a hardware or software problem. It should not be this difficult especially when you are so familiar with the 1DX. Who knows maybe the AF points in the viewfinder are not aligned correctly. Something is really wrong when consistantly the AF thinks it is in completely sharp focus and the results show otherwise. If the camera had one or 2 frames in a burst like that but then recovered quickly and the subject in the rest of the frames were tack sharp that would give you something to work with. Results all over the place for no apparent reason make it very difficult to trouble shoot. I think I would use the lens in question and use LensAlign and focus tune first in one shot and then keep everything the same and switch over to servo and do a burst of shots and see if the burst is all over the place. If the camera nad lens can not pass that test there is definitely a problem. If the LensAlign test are done correctly ( follow the videos on Michael Tapes website ) everything will be perfectly aligned and the target will be well lit and at the distance recommended no closer than 25 x Focal length or about 8 feet for every 100mm. You do not have to figure in any crop factor. If the results are not good I would send the test results to Canon. Make sure you use one shot to make any MA to the lens before the AI Servo test.

8612images wrote in post #17415008
So thought we were getting somewhere with improved performance.
Heard the cardinal outside my window and thought I'd grab a pic. 7d2 with 70-200 and 1.4x. Flipped camera to spot focus. Case 1 (-2,0,0) Both image priorities to "focus"
Don't see anything in focus. Could it be the camera having trouble seeing the bird with the dingy sky? Wouldn't something be in focus if both priorities are set to focus?

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My guess is that you have Focus Search = Off? . Try toggling it. For some reason, when set to off, it let's the camera still take photo even though priority set to Focus (not release). Per my guess, it needed to hunt more, but setting was set Off.

Out of curiosity, of those with issues that sent their camera in, did any of you send in your lens also?

I tried following up with CPS, but the guy I have to speak with doesn't come in until 3:30. The only chance I have to exchange the body today is around lunch and today is my last day to do so. Kinda of in a quandary - exchange it and start over or send the 7d2/600/1.4/2x all in and let Canon sort it out? They've had it once with no appreciable better results.

This guy is getting some really great shots. Although I wonder what his keeper rate is.

https://www.flickr.com …761173624/in/ph​otostream/