Canon 20d Focus ..Help please

This is the test I tried.
http://www.photo.net/l​earn/focustest/

Darrell

I don't get it, how can a lens shoot "to the right" or "to the left" in a focus test. The two options are always behind or in front of the focus target. And ofcourse spot on. Maybe by uploading an example it would get clearer.

adas wrote in post #2837506
I don't get it, how can a lens shoot "to the right" or "to the left" in a focus test. The two options are always behind or in front of the focus target. And ofcourse spot on. Maybe by uploading an example it would get clearer.

If you follow the link it takes youto an (old) Bob Atkins article on focus testing.

The chart is vertical (straight up and down) and angled away from the camera (think half open door), so left and right equate to front and back depending on which side of the chart is closest to the camera.

To the OP: some of *your* test shots would help...

Oh sorry, I didn't notice the link.

Show us some examples, Darrell. A picture is worth a thousand words.

I will post a few examples. I did a ctrl print screen to capture screen so you can see focus point and shot info. This was just a quick job so don`t knock me for WB and such. I hope you can see what I mean by the examples. I seem to notice that when I move further away from the target that is when I get alot of focus at different places besides my dead on middle focus .

http://i128.photobucke​t.com …/dstroupe/focus​-6-web.jpg

http://i128.photobucke​t.com …/dstroupe/focus​-5-web.jpg

http://i128.photobucke​t.com …/p175/dstroupe/​focus3.jpg

http://i128.photobucke​t.com …dstroupe/focus-3-web.jpeg

http://i128.photobucke​t.com …/dstroupe/focus​-2-web.jpg

http://i128.photobucke​t.com …/dstroupe/focus​-1-web.jpg

"http://i128.photobucke​t.com …/p175/dstroupe/​focus8.jpg"

"http://i128.photobucke​t.com …/dstroupe/focus​-7-web.jpg"

Darrel,

Hard to say for sure from those shots, but a couple comments.

For the bird shots, the bird is just too small... You need to consider the actual focus point ~ 3x bigger than the quare thats shown in the viewfinder (imagine its the center square in tic-tac-toe). The focus system will lock onto the area of highest contrast within that nine square area.

Moving further back from the focus chart could have similar implications since the focus system might pick up on any of the other lines - one of the biggest reasons that shooting a ruler as a test is just plain stupid.

The focus charts are hard to read the way you posted them. Can you post the originals (make sure they are linked)?

EDIT: One more thing... I know its not easy with the 20D, but have you tried manual focusing on the target to see what kind of results you get?

It’s quite confusing this way, why don’t you try this focus test:

http://focustestchart.​com/chart.html

Show us actual images please, not screen shots from your monitor..

mbellot wrote in post #2839744
Darrel,

Hard to say for sure from those shots, but a couple comments.

For the bird shots, the bird is just too small... You need to consider the actual focus point ~ 3x bigger than the quare thats shown in the viewfinder (imagine its the center square in tic-tac-toe). The focus system will lock onto the area of highest contrast within that nine square area.

EDIT: One more thing... I know its not easy with the 20D, but have you tried manual focusing on the target to see what kind of results you get?

So are you saying the birds need to be closer and the focus point should cover the whole bird ? I will try to get closer today and see if that solves that part. I was about 75 feet away when I took the bird shots so that may help. I tried manual focus and it was the same as Auto.

Hermeto wrote in post #2839755
It’s quite confusing this way, why don’t you try this focus test:

http://focustestchart.​com/chart.html

Show us actual images please, not screen shots from your monitor..

I tried that test last night and could not believe what I was seeing... Spot on . Iwill post pictures below. So what mbellot was saying above about the bird was too small and the focus point square was 3x bigger may be true .

85 mm f/1.8 first then 70-200 at 200 mm f/4

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50 mm f/1.8 then Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 at 70 mm

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So, you’ve confirmed that all your lenses are autofocusing corectly.
Congratulations!
Now, go out, have fun and enjoy shooting some real pictures..

Well I guess its good news/bad news time.

Good news is - all your gear is in tip top order.

Bad news is - Nothing left to blame but your technique.

Best thing you can do now is practice. "Film" is free, so go nuts learning the ins and outs of how your camera works. Just keep thinking about contrast and edges, since thats how the focus system works.