Testing 450D for the "focus issue"

Hello!

It's been a few days since I got 450D.

Well, AFTER I bought it, I heard that 450D is known to have serious issues with focusing so I need:

1. ...to know is that only for AF or does it mess up in MF also?
2. ...is there a definitive way to test for this focus problem?

3. ...if it turns out that my camera is faulty, what should I do? Send it back to service? How do I prove that I've got the focus problem?

Any suggestions are welcome.

I wouldn't worry too much about 'testing' your new camera out. Just go and take some regular shots with it, and post them on here (make a flickr account if you want). Then we can see how the samples look. I wouldn't be too paranoid about the focusing issue. Just make sure you use a variety of settings for the shot (P mode, Av, Tv, etc...) so we can see a variety of variables should any problem exist.

Have fun with your camera!

I disagree with the previous post. If you're worried about your camera's technical performance, use a focus test chart and TEST it. Photos can be blurry for many many reasons having nothing to do with autofocus.

Google search for test charts, or check this one out:

http://regex.info/blog/photo-tech/focus-chart/

-John

Good site.

I think the spirit of the first post is that you have a new toy, go play with it, don't fret about it. The focus test can cause more agony then good if its not done properly with good light and setup.

Also, the focus issues that some people have had (problem can occur with the body or the lens) only manifest using auto focus.

--
Finding my way
http://www.thewolff.com/g2

Others have given good advice. I'd just say that if you have focus issues, they'll show up. Take lots of shots, indoors and out.

Set your focus point to center point only and set autofocus to one shot only.

Have enough light to focus, and look for a point of contrast. I like to focus on a person's eye, since we always want that in focus.

Now, there is a difference between out of focus and just soft. By default, Canon jpegs are a little soft, so you can set the sharpness up one or two points.

Good luck!

regards

jim

feraldruid said:

Now, there is a difference between out of focus and just soft. By
default, Canon jpegs are a little soft, so you can set the sharpness
up one or two points.

Click to expand...

--

as a new canon dslr user i want to emphasize this point.

i was happy before but i'm much happier after kicking up the sharpness on the camera.

hez gone said:

as a new canon dslr user i want to emphasize this point.

i was happy before but i'm much happier after kicking up the
sharpness on the camera.

Click to expand...

Ditto.

OK, thanks everyone.

I hope I'll do the shots today or tomorrow and I'll post them here so we can discuss them.

You want to shoot as many pic's as you can now before the option of sending it back to the shop for a replacement/refund runs out. This is what I did & I did find a focus problem with my 450d & it was bad, so was obvious , I got a refund.

I doubt very much that yours will have any problem so just get shooting now then see what results you get.

The normal phase contrast autofocus of an DLSR never gets the distance right if it does not have a high enough contrast border to focus on. Therefore using a focus test chart is essential to get a reliable idea of your cameras performance in the limited time you have for returning your camera.

But if you use a chart using a tripod and careful setup is essential for correct results. If you don't use a tripod you will likely change the distance between focusing and actually exposing the photo.

Early on when the 450D first came out, there was mass hysteria here in this forum. But the problem was often the tester, not the camera. For example, a lens tested wide open or closed down will not test well; if you don't understand what I just said, don't test your camera.

But let me thoroughly confuse you, here is an article to read; you'll see auto focusing life isn't so simple:

http://www.slrgear.com/articles/focus/focus.htm

--
Rationally I have no hope, irrationally I believe in miracles.
Joni Mitchell

Johns a geek said:

I disagree with the previous post. If you're worried about your
camera's technical performance, use a focus test chart and TEST it.
Photos can be blurry for many many reasons having nothing to do with
autofocus.

Google search for test charts, or check this one out:

http://regex.info/blog/photo-tech/focus-chart/

-John
--

Click to expand...

--

It seems the author of this thread has just bought a new camera and because of the number of threads in this forum in relation to focus problems, he is starting off concerned. If you start looking for a problem, chances are you will find it.

I agree with the previous poster, just go out and have some fun and take lots of photos. If you have a problem, then test it.

I have not even bothered to read all the posts, as its pointless.

Since the 300D, there has always been this thing about back focus, front focus, slow focus and soft focus. Each model has it, and then as time goes on, it seems to go.

But whats not know is it seems that the more and more experience you get with the camera, the more and more you seem to get the results you want. New users tend to buy the latest bodys, thus each release gets a new wave of people thinking they have a defective model.

The problem does exist, but in a majority of cases its the user and not the body.

I always thought my Rebel has front focus issues, but it cleared up all by its self after around 6 months.

Just to confirm, the problem "does" exist, but i am saying that in a fair few cases the symptoms of front/back focus are not the cause of a fault on the machines part.

If you really think there is an issue, canon will fix it, so send it back.

ffauk said:

I have not even bothered to read all the posts, as its pointless.

Since the 300D, there has always been this thing about back focus,
front focus, slow focus and soft focus. Each model has it, and then
as time goes on, it seems to go.

But whats not know is it seems that the more and more experience you
get with the camera, the more and more you seem to get the results
you want. New users tend to buy the latest bodys, thus each release
gets a new wave of people thinking they have a defective model.

Click to expand...

But there hasn't been a wave of threads about the 1000D focus problems has there? Maybe I've missed them as an intermittent lurker, but as a 450D owner that had a problem, I regard it as a very real one.

I've become very amused by the fact that it's perfectly acceptable on here to talk about the nifty fifty having focus problems in spite it's superlative image quality to price ratio. However, any comment about the 450D + kit lens focus issues is met in some quarters with a hysterical defence and complaints about camera having it reputation thrashed.

Why is one comment acceptable, but not the other? Why do people pretend that every new camera has hysterical complaints levelled against it, and that those complaints fade away over time?

The other aspect of all this that makes me laugh is the TASS like carry on of this site's owners, where subjective image stabilisation tests are performed in a pseudo methodical manner along with pages and pages of image quality comparison tests, but there is never any notable mention of the AF performance and how it compares against it's marketplace rivals when it's one of the most important parameters for the shallow DOF beast that is otherwise known as a DSLR.

In my specific case, in side by side tests I could see a clear focus difference between a D60 and a 450D under certain conditions, but I guess any difference in performance was just down to me learning to become a better photographer in the 20 seconds it took to swap over the cameras

(quote)

In my specific case, in side by side tests I could see a clear focus difference between a D60 and a 450D under certain conditions, but I guess any difference in performance was just down to me learning to become a better photographer in the 20 seconds it took to swap over the cameras
(end of quote)

I think you answered your own question. "under certain conditions" one camera focused more better than the other. Under other conditions it would be the reverse. So, why talk endlessly about a problem "under certain conditions" that no one here can fix for you.

You have two options. Return the camera that doesn't suit you and buy/keep the other, or send the 450/XSi into Canon for warranty service and be done with it. Endless threads with trolls everywhere pouncing on every mention accomplishes nothing and is a complete waste of time.

That's why folks are defensive about the mention of focus issues. The vast majority are caused by user inexperience, many more are just trolls and the few that are in fact real, can't be fixed in this forum. The reason the XS hasn't been pounced on is because it's not nearly as popular in this forum and fewer have them. I suspect the majority of XS buyers have never heard of this forum. Actually, that includes the vast majority of XSi buyers too.

My $.02 worth..

Jim