First L lense.....A let down.

Well, I finally was able to purchase the lens I have been lusting after. A 24-70mm 2.8L.

I slapped it on and took some shots. I noticed the shots were amazing at 50mm and higher at 2.8. I was happy that I got a good copy......that was sharper than my Tamron by just a tad.

Then I noticed it consistenly back focuses below 50mm at 2.8 by a good 2 inches or more depending on subject distance. If I zoom in, focus lock, zoom out, and take a shot then it's perfectly in focus. If I manual focus and wait for the red AF point to light up then it's perfect.

I guess I gotta get in calibrated! Oh well! I'm looking forward to getting it back perfected. Anything I should know before sending it to canon? Do I need to fill out any warranty cards?

The date code on the lens shows it was made last month by the way....that's pretty new!

I would like to see some test shots showing the back focus. Not that I dont believe you, just curious.

Jackal wrote in post #2019368
If I manual focus and wait for the red AF point to light up then it's perfect.

If you're getting AF focus confirmation while manually focusing, then it would appear the AF system is working properly, so I don't understand the backfocusing issue.

Mark

If it focuses perfectly in those two instances, I'd have to believe it's not the lens' fault. Wouldn't seem so, anyway. In any case, it can't be any worse when you get it back.

Jackal wrote in post #2019368
Well, I finally was able to purchase the lens I have been lusting after. A 24-70mm 2.8L.

I slapped it on and took some shots. I noticed the shots were amazing at 50mm and higher at 2.8. I was happy that I got a good copy......that was sharper than my Tamron by just a tad.

Then I noticed it consistenly back focuses below 50mm at 2.8 by a good 2 inches or more depending on subject distance. If I zoom in, focus lock, zoom out, and take a shot then it's perfectly in focus. If I manual focus and wait for the red AF point to light up then it's perfect.

I guess I gotta get in calibrated! Oh well! I'm looking forward to getting it back perfected. Anything I should know before sending it to canon? Do I need to fill out any warranty cards?

The date code on the lens shows it was made last month by the way....that's pretty new!

certainly this is user error because all 24-70Ls are perfect !

j/k......

what i do is call canon and they'll put you in the computer and give you the address to the service center. you pay postage one way and they'll ship it back on their dime.

my first L lens -- 70-200L f4 -- quit AFing after about 50 shots and had to be replaced.

i've sent a half dozen lenses to canon so far and they will all go there at least once before the warranty expires.

sorry about your bad luck but canon service is quick and painless.

ed rader

Dante, my test shots are at the studio so I'll get them when I can. This is not user error, though. Trust me. My Tamron and other lenses focuses perfectly all the time.

On a tripod with mirror lock up and a remote....shooting a test chart at 45 degrees in lots of light it will always 100% of the time back focus by an inch or higher at 24mm. At 70mm this thing is freaken dead on accurate. This is 100% of the time.

I can actually see it's not focused right when it locks focus....I can adjust it JUST A LITTLE and it's fine. If I manual focus I get perfectly sharp pictures.

It's not my camera either. Test done on a 20D and 1DSMKII also. Test done by 3 people with 3 different cameras. It's the lens.

Anyways, how long do you think it will take to send and get it back from canon?

Thanks for the info, ed.

I feel your pain. I have the exact same issue. It back focuses 50mm or below. I have already sent it to Canon and got it back a couple of days ago. I sent them pictures and description of the problem with the lens. The lens came back and they didn't fix anything even though they told me they adjusted to best focus point. They are telling me to send it back to them again. A month wasted.

D:

It took a month to get it back?

Jackal wrote in post #2019441
Dante, my test shots are at the studio so I'll get them when I can. This is not user error, though. Trust me. My Tamron and other lenses focuses perfectly all the time.

On a tripod with mirror lock up and a remote....shooting a test chart at 45 degrees in lots of light it will always 100% of the time back focus by an inch or higher at 24mm. At 70mm this thing is freaken dead on accurate. This is 100% of the time.

I can actually see it's not focused right when it locks focus....I can adjust it JUST A LITTLE and it's fine. If I manual focus I get perfectly sharp pictures.

It's not my camera either. Test done on a 20D and 1DSMKII also. Test done by 3 people with 3 different cameras. It's the lens.

Anyways, how long do you think it will take to send and get it back from canon?

Thanks for the info, ed.

never more than 10 days for me and the quickest was less than a week.

good luck.

ed rader

man, how come everytime i decide on buying a certain lens, tons of threads poping up about problems like this?? at this rate, i think that i will just go for the 24-105 and get it over with. sorry to hear about your problems and i hope that Canon fixes it quickly for you, i know how much it suck being with out a lens...

Jackal wrote in post #2019465
D:

It took a month to get it back?

2 weeks for the first time, and I have to send it back to them for another 2 weeks.

Well, don't let it scare you away I say. It's still a great lens once it's working fine.

Though I'm a tad dissapointed that a $1,100 lens made last month has a problem like this. :\

Make sure to document the issue with the lens not only in words but also with test shots. The key is not to send Canon boys on a wild goose chase, but help them zero down on the apparent problem.
Either way, I think you'd get your lens back calibrated the best it can be.

Yes! Thanks for the tip.

These test shots should be on CD right? Or should they be printed?

Ronald S. Jr. wrote in post #2019432
If it focuses perfectly in those two instances, I'd have to believe it's not the lens' fault. Wouldn't seem so, anyway. In any case, it can't be any worse when you get it back.

Well my 24-105 did the same thing, just got it back from Canon after a month and it did need calibration. Much sharper now!

Dan