New 70-200 IS ii - May have focus issue

Hi All,

I own a Tamron 70-200 VC and was quite happy with it but recently picked up a Canon 70-200 IS II. I think there may be an issue with the new Canon but since I'm not super technically minded, I could use some direction to determine it.

I started plinking around and taking random pics to test it out. Not seeing what I was expecting, I tried a few random, non-scientific tests. I am also considering that it may be my eyes having a bad day (which is quite possible), so there's that.

These are a couple of shots - from each lens at 70 and at 200 (picked something that would have texture to check sharpness). I put the camera on my table and rested on the tripod foot for each lens. IS/VC was off. Raws are here: https://www.dropbox.co​m …y-uUZAj1LhslADZBW-9a?dl=0

70mm Tamron first - canon 2nd

200 mm canon then tamron

OK. So I'm trying to get a bit more precise in testing. I put camera on tripod. Focused in live view at 10x and used a remote trigger. The following are 1to1 crops of a chart. The color shift is interesting. First is Canon. 2nd is tamron

Congrats on the lens Brenda.. Its interesting how the crops are different @%100.
I hear this is an issue with Nikon as well.. Canon is said to be the correct view..
I have the same 70-200 and on my 6D its just ok.. when I get the light (contrast) just right it focuses fantastic. Sometimes I will have soft images..
That's not the lens fault though..
I am pretty sure you can micro-adjust your 5d3.. I had to adjust my 6D for better results..

The test chart photo with the canon looks fine to me....I think the shots of the towel will tell you nothing . You need to set a test chart up square to the camera and have a ruler(or similar) next to the test chart and sloping away from the camera at a 45 degree angle and carry out some proper test shots and see if you need to mfa your lens.
There are plenty of demonstrations of how to do this on youtube if you are unsure..

EightEleven wrote in post #18187265
Congrats on the lens Brenda.. Its interesting how the crops are different @%100.
I hear this is an issue with Nikon as well.. Canon is said to be the correct view..
I have the same 70-200 and on my 6D its just ok.. when I get the light (contrast) just right it focuses fantastic. Sometimes I will have soft images..
That's not the lens fault though..
I am pretty sure you can micro-adjust your 5d3.. I had to adjust my 6D for better results..

Thanks for chiming in. Yes, I can micro adjust and will need to look into that. It's likely me just being paranoid because of the big purchase.

don1163 wrote in post #18187269
The test chart photo with the canon looks fine to me....I think the shots of the towel will tell you nothing . You need to set a test chart up square to the camera and have a ruler(or similar) next to the test chart and sloping away from the camera at a 45 degree angle and carry out some proper test shots and see if you need to mfa your lens.
There are plenty of demonstrations of how to do this on youtube if you are unsure..

Yes, I agree that the chart focus looks fine. What do you make of the different colors between the two? Not sure what to make of that myself. I've seen some side by side reviews that show the CA for the canon to be more than the Tamron. Is that what I'm seeing?

Different lenses do tend to produce slight differences in colour reproduction I wouldnt worry about it myself.
I also have the 70-200 2.8II and can tell you it is one of the best lenses I own..Very sharp and produces wonderful images..You will love it.
This is from a raw file straight out of the camera...no sharpening or anything..

Colour, sharpness, AF accuracy... I don't see anything here that I would be concerned about. Congrats on the lens. Have fun.

Don, if you're still following... I still love your dog. What a face!!!!

Brenda, as others have said, you may need to MFA it. The live view photo should be spot on. To me, the Canon photo is so much richer than the Tamron! It's my favourite lens and most used. Hope you'll get many years of great use out of it.

Brenda,

I downloaded the raws and compared them at 1:1 on a 22" monitor. The most striking difference to me is the apparent focal length differences. If we call the Canon 200 @ 200, the Tamron is only about 180mm. The 200mm Canon shot is 'blown' up more - larger - making details look more spread-out and diffuse. The same effect is visible in the 70mm shots, just not as pronounced. If the camera/sensor was in the same place for both 200mm shots, I don't think you have a focus problem. Still possible, but there are more obvious things to blame the difference on.

Thank you all for chiming in. I have the 24-70 ii and LOVE the sharpness so I picked this up because my accountant told me how much tax I'd pay on my net gains this year. lol

It's likely an issue of user error and user being freaked out over a large purchase. I'll MFA for each of my bodies and roll on.

Thanks again.

Good luck, and happy shooting. If you get tired of the lens, PM for my mailing address. I'll even pay the postage.

Never mind. Grand Haven is a nice Sunday drive. I'll come pick it up.

I would not worry about the apparent variation in focal length. Both lenses are varifocal, and it looks to me as if all the shots have been made at very close to the MFD, so this is to be expected. Shoot out at infinity where the focal lengths will be specified and the levels of magnification should be just about identical. It really surprises me just how many people who write reviews of lenses seem to fail to realise that most lenses are actually varifocal, so that the focal length will only be as specified at infinity, and test lenses indoors at close to MFD, and claim that they are shorter than the manufacturer state. When it comes to variability, generally primes tend to be better than zooms, and high end zooms, such as Canon's L series lenses tend to do better than cheaper optics.

Alan

Congrats on the lens, one of Canon's best! Now start saving for the 11-24 and you'll have the zoom trifecta!

Bassat wrote in post #18187385
Good luck, and happy shooting. If you get tired of the lens, PM for my mailing address. I'll even pay the postage.

Never mind. Grand Haven is a nice Sunday drive. I'll come pick it up.

What? Where are you? I will likely be off-loading my Tamron after the first of the year.

BigAl007 wrote in post #18187431
I would not worry about the apparent variation in focal length. Both lenses are varifocal, and it looks to me as if all the shots have been made at very close to the MFD, so this is to be expected. Shoot out at infinity where the focal lengths will be specified and the levels of magnification should be just about identical. It really surprises me just how many people who write reviews of lenses seem to fail to realise that most lenses are actually varifocal, so that the focal length will only be as specified at infinity, and test lenses indoors at close to MFD, and claim that they are shorter than the manufacturer state. When it comes to variability, generally primes tend to be better than zooms, and high end zooms, such as Canon's L series lenses tend to do better than cheaper optics.

Alan

The focal length is a non-issue for me. I understand about focus breathing and such (and least a cursory understanding). My Tamron has served me very well. But who can resist a new lens?

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18187436
Congrats on the lens, one of Canon's best! Now start saving for the 11-24 and you'll have the zoom trifecta!

Maybe next year for the 11-24 but it's not really a focal length I find myself needing for weddings/portraits. I'm more tempted to pick up a second 24-70.