7D Mark II - Focus Discussions

You'll may already know about this, but I will post for those that may not know about this AF tool. Dot Tune AF is a quick and easy way to check for AF issues.

The II was front focusing, which I saw in my football images (grass in front of player was sharp) and the Dot Tune confirmed what I was seeing. I had to adjust by +4 for the 500. Using Dot Tune AF was so quick and easy that I used it this weekend to tweak all my lenses with all of my camera bodies.

http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/11872​47/0

2n10 wrote in post #17278497
I did pretty much the same.

What are you guys turning off and where? Thanks in advance

Not turning anything off, just changing the focus area from all points to something we have more control over.

Can you explain please how is this done? Are you talking about using single point or expansion compared to all 65 points?

foxbodychris wrote in post #17278564
Can you explain please how is this done? Are you talking about using single point or expansion compared to all 65 points?

Page 90 of the large .pdf manual. Yes we went to single point, spot or one of the expansion modes.

foxbodychris wrote in post #17278564
Can you explain please how is this done? Are you talking about using single point or expansion compared to all 65 points?

You can program the AF area selection lever that is on the outside of the multi controller to do that so only one button changes AF modes.

Snydremark wrote in post #17278139
I either convert to TIFF through DPP and then import to LR; or, I just shoot jpegs and look at them straight off the card.

First, thanks for your comments in behalf of me earlier in the thread.

Now onto PP. Earlier in the thread Robert reported he converted to TIFF through DPP and Jpeg SOOC, he did not see much difference.

So with that said, my thought on folks saying there images look soft, I say wait till folks start processing **raw** through adobe, and then we can talk about if its flat or not.

However the focus issues are another matter

Bianchi wrote in post #17278626
First, thanks for your comments in behalf of me earlier in the thread.

Now onto PP. Earlier in the thread Robert reported he converted to TIFF through DPP and Jpeg SOOC, he did not see much difference.

So with that said, my thought on folks saying there images look soft, I say wait till folks start processing **raw** through adobe, and then we can talk about if its flat or not.

However the focus issues are another matter

I will certainly be more comfortable with editing once I'm back in my LR flow; however, convert to TIFF and then edit in LR isn't THAT much different overall. *MY* issues with 'flatness' come from shooting RAW, Netural picture style, aRGB color space but not outputting the jpegs back to sRGB, and not being being able to figure out how that maps properly between DPP/LR/output.

This results in the images looking fine in good, color managed software; but when viewed in a browser or app that *isn't* color managed, they look dull and lifeless.

If you have access to an iOS device, go view this image:
https://flic.kr/p/pXga​kL
in Firefox or Chrome on your PC and also in Safari on the iOS device. On the PC it will be properly warm and colorful, but on the iOS device, it looks flat and desaturated.

I don't have that issue with any of my files from the 7D that I can manage through my normal workflow...so, it has to be trouble in my processing steps at the moment.

2n10 wrote in post #17278184
Jake what do you think of single point with surround for birds?

I took mine out this afternoon and it worked like a champ. I swapped lenses a couple of times last night checjing things out with my 70-300. Maybe I knocked something loose that was interfering or didn't get solid contact. I did return the AF cases to factory settings since the 5D3 and 1DX seemed to do better with focusing issues at slower AF settings. Maybe it just needed a good shakedown.

is surround the same as expansion? I may be using old 1D2 terminology.
Its my go to setting.

2n10 wrote in post #17278565
Page 90 of the large .pdf manual. Yes we went to single point, spot or one of the expansion modes.

Thanks, I tend to use single point or expansion the most on my 7D and probably will than likely keep doing it on my 7d II.

Keyan wrote in post #17277450
Canon's track record there is pretty bad. Look at the 70D focus issues (which were oddly similar..)

For the most part, the 70D "issues" have been user error, uninformed/unrealistic expectations, and a very small number of actually faulty individual cameras.

Sorry I didn't respond earlier, but I've been tied up with software releases at work. I regularly shoot the 5D3, so the 7D2 AF system isn't new to me. I've set the 7D2 up just like my 5D3 on AF cases and for same/same settings, the 7D2 just isn't measuring up. I've put over a 1000 images through it and I can't say I'm completely satisfied with even 1.
Attached is a shot from the 7D II at a lunch show my daughter's school put on. Every single shot came out like this. MFA has made it better, but it still shoots soft.

For sanity's sake, I used my 5DIII a bit while shooting the swans. Attached is an example from the same day, same conditions and very similar settings but shot with the 5DIII.

TBH, I'm done trying to troubleshoot this 7DII any more, I'm just here to add my experiences. I'll be taking mine back in to either return or exchange in the next couple of days. If I exchange, I'll post back with any updates on the second body.

Just for giggles, I did try it out in auto mode with flash enabled. Still soft.

For folks asking about processing methods, ACR hasn't been updated to be able to read the RAW format of the 7D2 yet, so I'm stuck using DPP and converting to TIFF.

I will note, my retail box came from the store a bit knocked up, so I'm wondering if this one is having issues due to a drop rather than a defect.

[QUOTE=Snydremark;1727​8657]I will certainly be more comfortable with editing once I'm back in my LR flow; however, convert to TIFF and then edit in LR isn't THAT much different overall. *MY* issues with 'flatness' come from shooting RAW, Netural picture style, aRGB color space but not outputting the jpegs back to sRGB, and not being being able to figure out how that maps properly between DPP/LR/output.

This results in the images looking fine in good, color managed software; but when viewed in a browser or app that *isn't* color managed, they look dull and lifeless.

If you have access to an iOS device, go view this image:
https://flic.kr/p/pXga​kL
in Firefox or Chrome on your PC and also in Safari on the iOS device. On the PC it will be properly warm and colorful, but on the iOS device, it looks flat and desaturated.

I don't have that issue with any of my files from the 7D that I can manage through my normal workflow...so, it has to be trouble in my processing steps at the moment.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely, that's why I said wait till folks start processing **raw** through adobe, and then we can talk about if its flat or not. I believe once Adobe supports the 7DII, you wont hear comments about dull flat images.

BTW I use IE and my laptop has a IPS screen, as well as my desktop, and your mallard shot is really nice and detailed, and can see texture..

Guys, I think we are loosing focus on the focus subject here..! I think there is the need to better understand what is really happening and how many of us are in trouble. Best would be to understand how many have problems over how many total buyers..
If you agree, I suggest that each of us answer the following questions :
Seller :
Body only : ( Yes/No )
Serial No.:
Focus problem : ( seriuos/occasional/No )
Will return : ( yes/don't know/No )

Just for the sake of clarity !
Thanks

Keith R wrote in post #17278709
For the most part, the 70D "issues" have been user error, uninformed/unrealistic expectations, and a very small number of actually faulty individual cameras.

I know, but at least one user had a pretty much demonstrably failed AF system and Canon didn't seem horribly willing to do much about it. I am a little bit annoyed with how Canon has treated the 70D - it's a gateway camera for a lot of users to higher end Canon cameras and Canon has just kind of released it and then been pretty hands off. I would think that if people are willing to spend the extra on the "prosumer" body Canon would take a little more care of them as they are more likely to move up to an XD pro-line camera and buy lenses, etc.