18-55 IS - focus issues

Does anyone else have any focusing issues with the 18-55 IS lens?

Sometimes it is extremely sharp, but then other times it seems to either frontfocus, backfocus, or nothing will be in focus.

Here's a recent picture I took. There are 5 focus points lit up (is that even possible?) and none of them are where the focus was. The part in focus is the dark water in the back and the distant trees.

I've read on here that Canon can recallibrate lenses. Any idea what they charge?

are you using manually chosen focus point?

if not, i wouldn't be surprised you get shots with nothing in focus.

HyperYagami wrote in post #11110062
are you using manually chosen focus point?

if not, i wouldn't be surprised you get shots with nothing in focus.

No, I just let the camera pick on this one. There have been other instances though where I manually selected a point and it wasn't in focus. But then other times it's bang on. I find often if I'm taking a picture looking into the woods and manually select a focus spot on a tree in the front that generally nothing is really in focus.

Hey, I love Halifax!

Thanks! Nice picture!

The shot I took above was in AV mode and One-shot AF. When you say multi-point focusing is that a setting I may have it on that can be disabled.... or is that what it's called when you don't manually pick a point?

A few test pictures from this morning.

The first one I let the camera pick the points and nothing is in focus. The second one (same scene) I picked the spot and the focus is somewhat okay. The third picture I chose the focus point and it's not in focus.

Then there were others that were very sharp (similar settings) with both the camera or me picking the spot.

It's pretty frustrating because I never know if I get the shot and have been debating the new Tamron 70-300 VC but now I'm thinking I should invest in another walk around lens and get rid of the 18-55 IS.

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shane_c wrote in post #11113314
A few test pictures from this morning.

The first one I let the camera pick the points and nothing is in focus. The second one (same scene) I picked the spot and the focus is somewhat okay. The third picture I chose the focus point and it's not in focus.

Then there were others that were very sharp (similar settings) with both the camera or me picking the spot.

It's pretty frustrating because I never know if I get the shot and have been debating the new Tamron 70-300 VC but now I'm thinking I should invest in another walk around lens and get rid of the 18-55 IS.

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why are you choosing a forest to test? you can't see the forest through the trees!

Wouldn't it be more accurate to pick something out where it's easier to see something that the camera is focusing on?


choose something plain and simple, uncluttered background

say, for example, like this - (for illustrative purposes, please don't try this at home!)

(18-55IS and XSi/450D)

Because it's the road I live on and I was wanting to take pictures of the fall leaves.

shane_c wrote in post #11113860
Because it's the road I live on and I was wanting to take pictures of the fall leaves.

that's nice, but instead of the pretty trees look for something in your backyard and focus on that

shane_c wrote in post #11112243
Thanks! Nice picture!

The shot I took above was in AV mode and One-shot AF. When you say multi-point focusing is that a setting I may have it on that can be disabled.... or is that what it's called when you don't manually pick a point?

For me multi-Point - all AF points are enabled.
Try it with manual focus and also try it, as it was suggested, on something like stand alone object.
I’m not using AV with this lens often, only if I need diaphragm 5.6 and smaller (up to f11). I use M most of the times for it.

It is very short lens as walk around for me. I'm aslo looking for replacment.