7D Mark II - Focus Discussions

gschlact wrote in post #17750804
Looking at the green tomato posted, and assuming you used Spot Focus on the stem, I am guessing Focale will tell you MFA= - 8 for that focal length and distance . (to my eye using this Web post, it looks like the stem is sitting in-focus right at the front edge of the whole dof.) Pls let me know actual result from running it.

I did not use spot and I can't for at least two, maybe three weeks. I think it was on AI servo as well but I can't check that for a few weeks either.

digital paradise wrote in post #17751932
Yes but it is better now than it was.

The stem definitely looks sharp. I think one problem with trying to tell if there's front or back focusing is that there's no way to tell for sure exactly where the actual focus point is. The focus sensors cover a lot more area than the focus squares in the viewfinder (presumably why gschlact asked if you were in spot focus mode), and the system may choose what it considers to be a higher contrast target that may not be your intended focus target. Something like the battery test would probably be more useful for a rough assessment of potential front or back focusing.

stsva wrote in post #17752347
The stem definitely looks sharp. I think one problem with trying to tell if there's front or back focusing is that there's no way to tell for sure exactly where the actual focus point is. The focus sensors cover a lot more area than the focus squares in the viewfinder (presumably why gschlact asked if you were in spot focus mode), and the system may choose what it considers to be a higher contrast target that may not be your intended focus target. Something like the battery test would probably be more useful for a rough assessment of potential front or back focusing.

I should have quoted. I was referring to Jeff's camera. He said it is sharper now and he thought it was great before the repair and we could see that as well. I was just stating there is more to it than just MFA and if his was out a bit then others could be out more. I'm referring to the really bad ones that were returned or repaired.

The above advice is ecellent so thanks for posting. I know my lens is better but I'll try focal when I can and batteries if I need to. It was out to lunch before canon looked at it. Using Dot Tune it still beeped at +20 on my 5D3 which is rock solid. My 100-400 II needed 0 MFA on both 100 and 400 with my 5D3 during recent FoCal tests.

When I get back from my travels and I'm at the lake where I have room to work with I'll run everything through FoCal. Now with a new laptop it is easy, having to change MFA values manually is no big deal and I'm riding V2 very consistent. I was supposed to do this a week ago and after two weeks of prep, buying studio CFL's, etc I forgot the tether cable at home. I still have a question about Focal I have not found an answer to.

I use the BBQ method, yup looks good. its about 48 feet away

digital paradise wrote in post #17752435
I should have quoted. I was referring to Jeff's camera. He said it is sharper now and he thought it was great before the repair and we could see that as well. I was just stating there is more to it than just MFA and if his was out a bit then others could be out more. I'm referring to the really bad ones that were returned or repaired.

The above advice is ecellent so thanks for posting. I know my lens is better but I'll try focal when I can and batteries if I need to. It was out to lunch before canon looked at it. Using Dot Tune it still beeped at +20 on my 5D3 which is rock solid. My 100-400 II needed 0 MFA on both 100 and 400 with my 5D3 during recent FoCal tests.

When I get back from my travels and I'm at the lake where I have room to work with I'll run everything through FoCal. Now with a new laptop it is easy, having to change MFA values manually is no big deal and I'm riding V2 very consistent. I was supposed to do this a week ago and after two weeks of prep, buying studio CFL's, etc I forgot the tether cable at home. I still have a question about Focal I have not found an answer to.

I'm glad Jeff's has turned out so well. I was mostly commenting in response to gschlact's comment to you about possible front focusing. I've got to admit that I've usually done MFA by eye with no science involved. The closest I've gotten to really doing it with more precision was using TeamSpeed's Focus Genie.

that's with the 1.4III extender on. Soon I will be shooting the deer standing around the BBQ

edit: I think I should say as well...Everything I have shot since my 7DII came back has been in case #1 never moved it off of case #1 I know that will make one guy happy to hear

digital paradise wrote in post #17752005
I did not use spot and I can't for at least two, maybe three weeks. I think it was on AI servo as well but I can't check that for a few weeks either.

If you didn't use spot, we probably can't be absolutely sure it tried to place the focus plane one stem, vs other crease. Therefore not confident in my prediction. Let us know.

digital paradise wrote in post #17752435
I should have quoted. I was referring to Jeff's camera. He said it is sharper now and he thought it was great before the repair and we could see that as well. I was just stating there is more to it than just MFA and if his was out a bit then others could be out more. I'm referring to the really bad ones that were returned or repaired.

The above advice is ecellent so thanks for posting. I know my lens is better but I'll try focal when I can and batteries if I need to. It was out to lunch before canon looked at it. Using Dot Tune it still beeped at +20 on my 5D3 which is rock solid. My 100-400 II needed 0 MFA on both 100 and 400 with my 5D3 during recent FoCal tests.

When I get back from my travels and I'm at the lake where I have room to work with I'll run everything through FoCal. Now with a new laptop it is easy, having to change MFA values manually is no big deal and I'm riding V2 very consistent. I was supposed to do this a week ago and after two weeks of prep, buying studio CFL's, etc I forgot the tether cable at home. I still have a question about Focal I have not found an answer to.

I think you can use any usb3 Bible for tethering 7dii to laptop. Don't wait the 2 weeks. Pick one up at Walmart or equivalent.

stsva wrote in post #17752529
I'm glad Jeff's has turned out so well. I was mostly commenting in response to gschlact's comment to you about possible front focusing. I've got to admit that I've usually done MFA by eye with no science involved. The closest I've gotten to really doing it with more precision was using TeamSpeed's Focus Genie.

Just to clarify... STSVA was right in his earlier post and is why I asked about spot Af. However, I think he east back for use on tomatoes which is why I guessed - 8 mfa to correct (again only if we had confidence Af was truly intended and locked on stem vs other crease.)

Pondrader wrote in post #17752569
that's with the 1.4III extender on. Soon I will be shooting the deer standing around the BBQ

edit: I think I should say as well...Everything I have shot since my 7DII came back has been in case #1 never moved it off of case #1 I know that will make one guy happy to hear

Hosted photo: posted by Pondrader in
./showthread.php?p=177​52569&i=i249892652
forum: Canon Digital Cameras

I burst out laughing, thanks. (and no disrespect)

gschlact wrote in post #17752795
I think you can use any usb3 Bible for tethering 7dii to laptop. Don't wait the 2 weeks. Pick one up at Walmart or equivalent.

I have no choice. I'm in Rome right now but I'll tough it out I have my new 55-250 STM with me. Almost 0 MFA on both ends.

I may as well ask now. With FoCal you AF first then start the process. I watched a video that showed it is better to use FoCal's AF or you can manually focus. Why would you want to do that? Would you not want Focal to compare your cameras best PD AF, not FoCal's AF algorithms or manual AF when you do this?

digital paradise wrote in post #17752909
I may as well ask now. With FoCal you AF first then start the process. I watched a video that showed it is better to use FoCal's AF or you can manually focus. Why would you want to do that? Would you not want Focal to compare your cameras best PD AF, not FoCal's AF algorithms or manual AF when you do this?

I can only speculate...
By not providing an initial AF 'seed' to Focal, it might lead it to wider exploration to fund the best AF to optimize around. However, if one used Live view to provide that initial focus and the turned off live view to start Focal, I would think that could be optimal.

gschlact wrote in post #17753170
I can only speculate...
By not providing an initial AF 'seed' to Focal, it might lead it to wider exploration to fund the best AF to optimize around. However, if one used Live view to provide that initial focus and the turned off live view to start Focal, I would think that could be optimal.

Yeah that makes sense. I'll see if I can find more info on that when I get the chance.

Well, I'm sending my 7D2 in to Canon. I don't know what happened. After updating the latest firmware, I started getting mush.

I know none of you have experienced this.... I'm not sure what's going on. I was getting pristine feather detail at 400mm of both stationary and flying birds. Now the feather detail is gone.

I talked to technical support like many of you. Did a reset to default factory settings. That changed nothing. I could have tried to do MFA at the long end to see if that improved things but I decided not to bother...not when something changed and I have no idea what did.

I'll keep you informed, if there appears to be any interest.