400D focusing confusion

I'm experiencing a few AF headscratches with my 400D. Now, all my kit is still under warranty. I've just got a nice Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and wanted to test it. However I have suspicions that some of my kit may be causing AF troubles --- with a front-focus bias. (Convention: front-focus = focused nearer to camera.)

I did this test with the famous chart at FocusTestChart.com with the camera on a tripod, using an IR remote, using widest aperture, taking four shots with each lens alternating the manual focus ring from nearest to farthest before switching back to AF. Note all measurements are approximate.

• Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8: Tested at 50mm. Consistent 20mm front focus.
  
• Canon 50mm f/1.8 II: 6-20mm front focus depending on the initial focus ring setting.
  
• Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6: (The Kit Lens) Test at 55mm. This seemed to give a 20-30mm back focus, but the focus point was always within the DoF.
  
• Tamron 55-200mm f/4-5.6: At 55mm, seemed to front focus by about 10mm and at 200mm by 5mm (although it was dead-on in one case). However, the focus point was always within the DoF.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

Without knowing where the focus points are, its impossible to tell you by looking at the paper. I thought bad things about my 400D when I first got it, but real world pictures fixed any doubts I had about the camera and lenses. Get outside and have fun !!

OK, some more info: only the centre focus point was activated, pointed at the "Focus here" in the chart above (they are all asymmetric crops). Botched shots taken outside were what raised my suspicions in the first place...

Wow, focus is all over the place!
Looks almost like All Focusing points was used..
If you are positive that it was not the case, you have a faulty camera, IMHO.

Did you manualy defocus between shots?

Hermeto wrote in post #4496936
Did you manualy defocus between shots?

Yes, in both directions. And, yes, "all over the place" is also how I'd describe it!

Can you get the replacement body from the shop?

Hermeto wrote in post #4496956
Can you get the replacement body from the shop?

It's 11 months old, within the first 30 days they'd replace but after that it's repair. Otherwise the camera is fine --- in fact, this one is a replacement for one that had broken pixels on its sensor.

Bummer!
Count on 2-3 weeks repair time, at least..

Mmm. I'm in the UK --- anyone know what their timescales are like?

Ettiz,

I recently returned my 24-70L lens back to Canon via Castle Cameras in Salisbury. Castle Cameras received it on 30th October and I collected it on 2nd December.

I think Castle Cameras actually received it back the day before. So 1 month.

Richard

Well... I'm now EOS-less Could be a 2-4 week wait on having the body re-calibrated, so I'm just sat here now with three of my four lenses. I'm guessing it's the body at fault since all of those lenses show a near-focus bias.

Hey guys
Im looking for lenses for my Canon 450D. I would like to shoot low light indoor sports/ex. squash/. Please post any experiences and advices , if you are a indoor sport photographer or know one please let me know, Thanks