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20D focusing issues?

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canerino

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I recently upgraded from the 300D...love just about everything the 20D has to offer, except SHARPNESS. Seems that my 300D images are sharper.

As a 20D newbie, what are the known focusing issues associated with this camera? Has anyone encountered them? How did you get them fixed?

Thanks! Any info you can provide will be welcomed!

Chuck
 
looks like there is too many miss calibrated copies , my advice is to send it for calibration if you are getting to much front/back focus.

all best
kristian
canerino said:
I recently upgraded from the 300D...love just about everything the
20D has to offer, except SHARPNESS. Seems that my 300D images are
sharper.

As a 20D newbie, what are the known focusing issues associated with
this camera? Has anyone encountered them? How did you get them
fixed?

Thanks! Any info you can provide will be welcomed!

Chuck
Click to expand...
 
As I recall, the 300D does more in-camera sharpening than the 20D, when using the default settings. Is this what you are seeing? Try bumping up the sharpness on your 20D and see if you get something more like what you remember from the 300d.
--



No, that's not my middle finger....
 
brought up at least a 100 times. Do a search and you'll find the answer.

Post processing is essential.

--
EOSMan
http://www.pbase.com/eosman

Any personal attacks from me are a temporary lack of judgment on my part and I apologize before it happens.
 
You should be able to tell the difference between less sharp and out of focus. I have compared both cameras side by side and found no real difference in sharpness. The 20d shows more detail and some see this as less sharp.

My guess is you'd find a 1ds less sharp than your 300d as well. Be aware that camera shake is easier to see with higher resolution or so they(forum experts) tell me.
--

http://www.pbase.com/paulyoly/root
 
I had a 300D and was very happy with its image quality. Together with a Tamron 28-75 XR Di and a 70-200 f4L it produced wonderful images. I upgraded to the 20D and this is when the trouble started.

With the 20D (with the same settings as the 300D), 17-40L, 24-70L and a 70-200 f4L, the results were inconsistent and worse (less sharp) than the 300D. I didn't know what was going on - so, I had it calibrated. After calibration, it was better but after some serious use, I still wasn't happy - in fact, I ended up hating the 20D.

So, my solution was to switch to Nikon. I now have a D70s and a 17-55 f2.8 DX. After an initial AF glitch, the world is rosey again - AF is very accurate and consistent. I get sharper results (because the DOF is where it is supposed to be) with the Nikon wide open at f2.8 than I got with the 24-70L + 20D at f5.6.

I don't think that all 20Ds have a problem, but mine definately did and as a result, I'll be sticking with Nikon and will be getting a D200 when the feeding frenzy calms down.

I hope that you can get yours fixed to your satisfaction.
canerino said:
I recently upgraded from the 300D...love just about everything the
20D has to offer, except SHARPNESS. Seems that my 300D images are
sharper.

As a 20D newbie, what are the known focusing issues associated with
this camera? Has anyone encountered them? How did you get them
fixed?

Thanks! Any info you can provide will be welcomed!

Chuck
Click to expand...
 
you know, i have had the same question about my 20d... i adjusted the diopter and am able to better identify whether i have achieved focus or not, but i still find the camera hunting. switch to manual, and it seems that i am better able to adjust for my subject than the camera. i am using a 28-135mm IS, and a Tokina 12-24mm and am experiencing similar issues with both lenses.

did yours come with the 2.0.3 firmware? when did you get it?

--
go shoot, it'll make you smile
 
question then, how does one find out if he/she are hallucinating and it's soft because of the resolution, or if there is a focusing issue internally? can you go down to Ritz Camera and have them set it up on a tripod and see if it works properly there, or do you have to send it to Canon to check to see if there is a problem, and then recalibrate it if necessary?

thanks for the help...

by the way, i am really enjoying my 20d. if i could do it all over again, i would have bought the same camera.

--
go shoot, it'll make you smile
 
so, is there a test you can do to see if your camera is not focussing correctly?

--
go shoot, it'll make you smile
 
Firmware is 2.0.0

Let me clarify a few things:

1. I shoot raw, so its not the in camera processing that is "fooling me".

2. I didnt do any formal "tests", just my observations as to sharpness. I shoot mainly portraits and use the eyes of my subjects to tell me how sharp the shot is. The 300D produces sharper images so far.

3. I post process every keeper.

4. I am not a newb to DSLRs, just the 20D. I know what my skills are (and arent) so I am ruling out user error here.

Like I said, I am new to the 20D, just trying to find out its quirks. To this point, I am not really impressed with sharpness. I am going to wait to get my 85 1.8 before I make any decisions.

Chuck
 
I'm having the same issues it's driving me nuts, My camera is very inconsistant with the autofocus.

I sent mine back twice, I'm still not happy, I have been seriously thinking about the Nikon here lately.

I'm in the process of working with Canon one more time to resolve my problem if it comes back again soft it's gone.

Good Luck with yours

Steve
--
If you would like to view my gallery http://froggy.smugmug.com/
 
thanks steve, what have been your issues? How has Canon attempted to solve them?

I LOVE everything the 20D offers, but sharpness just isnt on par with my ol 300D images.
 
Are you talking soft or out of focus? They are not the same thing. A 300D and Nikon D70 will be sharper out of camera than a 20D because they are set up to please point and shooters.

Focus is easy to test for; Set up a target, use a good tripod, get the settings correct, use mirror lock up and take some test shots. Try with different lenses to make sure it is not a lens problem.
 
i shoot raw, parameters dont matter...I think its misfocusing. I am well aware of in camera processing and prefer to do all of my own. Thats not it at all.
 
I had about the same problem with 20D. Got sick dealing with it and returned it back to the store (COSTCO). Bought the new 20D from the same place. Problem is gone.

Aliksis
 
Hi,

Its not you, its the camera. It seems to have focusing issues ( too many comments on this for it to be a fantasy of the operator). The 300d is as sharp as a tack performer but it is noisy compared to the 20D. Had a 300 and lots and lots of pics to compare. Now I have hot pixels with the 20 that I want mapped out, while its in service, I will let them know about the focus issue. But not holding my breath for a complete fix. I still think its a good DSLR, just has a few quirks.
 
Nikon understands af issues much better - through the whole company, including front line sales reps. I was amazed to see they were equiped with all the technical documents the service guys used. it was the complete opposite at canon.

The 20d was average with f4, very good with f2.8, and poor with f1.2/f1.2.

The 5d seems to have fixed the f1.2/f1.4 issues - hopefully the 30d will carry those same fixes, to help those that invested heavily around the 20d. Also heard it's shutter causes less shake at slow shutter speeds - but it may just be a rumour.

Regards,
Kev
 
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