Canon 7D Mark II Focus Issues - What is going on?

What is AF assist?

It's in the menu settings under Auto Focus the group in the middle. Mine was on and I disabled it and so far my tests have shown an amazing difference. My version 1 70-200 seems sharp enough to cut me and I'm afraid to put a prime on it for fear of injury. All kidding aside, my Tamron 24-70 2.7 is now much more consistent.

Here's a crappy cellphone picture of it.

That only affects the on-board flash or mounted external flash as to whether it will pulse the af assist lighting for focus. I fail to see how that affects your normal focusing, I suspect some other change is responsible.


Howevero if you are using a flash, and it is pulsing before the shot to help with AF , then perhaps that was your specific culprit.

I agree, it shouldn't affect focus. However, I've never had a problem with focus in AI servo which disables the AF Assist beam completely. I noticed last week that whenever using the IR AF Assist beam that focus was not good at all. It's my understanding from Canon that you can't make the 580EXII, 580 EX, or the 430 EXII pulsate for focus and can only use the IR. Again, when the IR focus kicked in focus was not good but if I used the on camera flash that pulsated focus was much better.

Last night shooting a "Pop the Question" session I was still getting OOF shots in single shot mode. Sometimes 5-6 in a row (shooting at 5.6 with IS lens at 1/250th) when ever the light was just a tiny bit less than perfect. I was using off camera flash last night but their was a remote trigger in the hot shoe. I lost about 11 - 12% of shots due to focus issues. Some were very sharp but others weren't even remotely useful. I only knew that the IR AF Assist beam was causing problems so I shut it off this morning and Voila, At least right now it's much better. I've tried my Tamron 24-70 VC as well as my Canon 70-200 IS version 1 and the difference is unbelievable at least for me. I can shoot at 2.8 again which I was never able to do with the 7DII (I could with the 7D). It might not last but right now I'm a happy camper.

Could it be the flash point trigger? I'm kind of doubting it since I also have an ODIN trigger that pretty much did the same thing.

What are your first and second AF priorities set to?

Image priority on both. So far today I've tried my 24-70 Tamron, my 15 - 50 Tamron, 70-200 Canon 2.8IS Version 1, my 18-135 Canon IS kit lens, and my Canon 1.8 85mm. They all appear sharper and much more consistent with auto focus. I might miss one (I'm using my dogs for models and they seem to move around alot) but I'm thinking I can actually shoot at 1.8 with the 85 and 2.8 with either Tamron lenses or the 70-200 which I couldn't have done before I turned the AF Assist beam off.

First and Second priority I think only refers to AI servo if I understand the book correctly. I have zero issues with AI servo mode except when somebody runs across my focus point while shooting but that's expected.

rjharris wrote in post #18089782
I agree, it shouldn't affect focus. However, I've never had a problem with focus in AI servo which disables the AF Assist beam completely.

That is normal and all Canon bodies do that. For AF assist to work it needs to be in One Shot.

Exactly,

hania wrote in post #18059463
I have the same problem - this is a warranty replacement ( the original got water under the lcd)- Its currently under repair a for bent hotshot.
I had mentioned that I was happy with the original camera, but not very impressed with the replacement. The repairer has run exhaustive tests, and even when the camera is rock solid, on a static target and being triggered by a laptop, the focus is, in their words "All over the place".

I was beginning to doubt myself - as I had razor sharp images with the 400 5.6 - but mostly unacceptably soft with this one....It was replaced on 11 July 2015.

I think I will let the supplier and repairer talk to each other.....

Just about got a warranty repair in - expired on 13th July and they got it on 12th!!

Back today (haven't tried it yet) ; this was their description of repair:

"Dismantle to reset camera body depths and undertake full AF calibration to standard. Clan and test all to best point".

I had a slip from Canon included, so think it was done by them.

Will see how it is as soon as I have time...

hania wrote in post #18093410
Just about got a warranty repair in - expired on 13th July and they got it on 12th!!

Back today (haven't tried it yet) ; this was their description of repair:

"Dismantle to reset camera body depths and undertake full AF calibration to standard. Clan and test all to best point".

I had a slip from Canon included, so think it was done by them.

Will see how it is as soon as I have time...

ust about got a warranty repair in - expired on 13th July and they got it on 12th!!

Camera now bacK :this was their description of repair:

"Dismantle to reset camera body depths and undertake full AF calibration to standard. Clean and test all to best point".

I had a slip from Canon included, so think it was done by them.

Took 7D2 into my local repair shop to check if it was better than before : Report " very OOF but at least its now consistently soft" - will send it back as it has a 6 month warranty..on this repair....

am getting seriously fed-up with this camera!