7D focus and 17-55 2.8

Hello,

I was conviced after 2 threads I posted to buy a 7D+17-55 2.8.
But now I saw a few threads about focusing problems with the 7D.

Together with the dusksucking 17-55, it's not a pretty feeling for a hurry to the shop.
How commen are those problems??

I also noticed on the Nikon d300 forum less problemthreads about that camera (d300).
What should I think about it??

You should think about cameras and lenses as being tools. Brands/features are interesting things to discuss and compare, but mostly it's the guy or gal behind the viewfinder.

I also read that for the dustsucking problem an uv-filter is a good solution, but then I saw on anaother thread about focusproblems that it's mayby because an Uv-filter that the camera has a focusproblem.
That will make you go crazy

Dude... you will drive yourself to drink if you get hung up on everything you read here. As I told you in a different thread, the whole dust sucking thing is a big red herring. There are hundreds upon hundreds of posts here from people who absolutely love the 17-55 (count me among those) and have not encountered this problem. And, there are a few very noisy folks who would have you believe that focus issues and dust sucking are endemic to the 7D and 17-55 respectively. Believe who you will, but recognize that complainers are always the ones who speak with the loudest voice, and in both of these cases, I absolutely believe they are very much in the minority.

BTW, I use good quality filters on all my lenses and have not seen any focus or IQ issues as a result of using one. What few problems I have encountered with AF were adjusted nicely with MA and those couple of lenses (and all the rest) are now sharp as a tack.

And one other point. Were you seriously expecting folks who frequent a Canon forum to recommend that you look seriously at a D300? You're asking the wrong group. Read, research, handle the cameras in the store, and make your decision. Lots of good information here, but you'll need to take what you read with a grain of salt and it's always colored with lots of strong opinions.

Leopold2 said:

Hello,

I was conviced after 2 threads I posted to buy a 7D+17-55 2.8.
But now I saw a few threads about focusing problems with the 7D.

Together with the dusksucking 17-55, it's not a pretty feeling for a hurry to the shop.
How commen are those problems??

I also noticed on the Nikon d300 forum less problemthreads about that camera (d300).
What should I think about it??

Click to expand...

I bought my 17-55 used after purchasing the 7D. Two years old, no dust, and tack sharp. Prior to that I have borrowed/rented multiple 17-55's with no issues whatsoever.
--
Jim Blair
Chula Vista California

For me the 17-55 is the best all round lens I have ever used and I've been shooting now for over 30 years. Its versatile, focuses well, sharp at 2.8, has good color. I've had no dust issues and IS at 2.8, especially at wide end, under low light is remarkable.
--
LT

I've had my 17-55 for a year now and have taken quite a few thousand pictures with it. If I look really close I can see some very small dust particles inside it. But, they have absolutely no effect on the image quality. I have a high quality UV filter and I did tests with and without it on my XSi and 7D and didn't see any difference in focus or image quality.

Yes, there are some 7Ds that have focus problems and a trip to Canon seems to always correct it. But, the 7D has a very sophisticated focus system with enough options to give you 1000 ways to shoot yourself in the foot regarding focus issues. You have to learn how each focus mode works, where to use it, and where not to use it. I've had my 7D about a month now and still get some OOF images and they have been caused by trying to use too slow a shutter speed (even with IS), shooting in very windy conditions with a 100-400 @400mm, or just plain operator error. I'm still learning and the percentage of keepers will continue to increase as I get more accustomed to the 7D.

I have had the 17-55 2.8 for 3 years and photographically I love it. Just not too impressed with it's reliability.2 major problems I have had are the IS unit packed up and recently I got 99 errors caused by faulty 3rd element (I think that is what it was) which they changed. Repairs have so far cost me 2/3rds of the price I originally paid for the lens. These 2 failures happened one year apart at exactly the same function, my Daughters School Ball.

The 7D and 17-55mm f2.8 is my favorite combination.

VERY well said, Jerry!

Man I hope no one talks about thew banding problem the 7D has

Dave

JK
--
7D with Zeikos grip, 17-85 EFs USM IS
Sigma 50 1.4 EX DG HSM, 24-70 2.8 EX DG HSM, 50-150 2.8 EX DC HSM II

James Blair said:

I bought my 17-55 used after purchasing the 7D. Two years old, no dust, and tack sharp. Prior to that I have borrowed/rented multiple 17-55's with no issues whatsoever.

Click to expand...

. . . and one thing to know is that a minimal to moderate amount of dust on/in the lens will not affect the photo at all! Chances are if you (the OP) buy the lens, it will not suck dust into the mechanism, and even if you do shoot in a very dusty environment and it does suck some dust over the course of several years of heavy use, you will not notice. It's a non-issue.

James Blair said:

--
Jim Blair
Chula Vista California

Click to expand...

--
Why hate newly-announced cameras when your current camera works perfectly well?

Leopold2 said:

I also read that for the dustsucking problem...

Click to expand...

The "dustsucking problem" is purely anecdotal, and having owned a 17-55 for about 3 years now, I suspect it never existed.

You have to bear in mind that people who worry excessively will look for what worries them until they find it. And if you look hard enough, I'm sure you could spot a speck or two of dust in most any lens.

Also, even people who claim to have found this "problem" in their lenses freely admit that it has no effect at all on image quality, and that it just "bothers" them. That, to me, says a lot about the people who propagate this (IMO) myth.

Oh yes, and I'm not alone here. In every thread about this myth, there have been many posters who also have owned the lens for some time, and have never seen any such problem.

You should be concerned about things you read from qualified testing institutions (none of which has ever reported any dust issue with this lens), but worrying about some urban myth that exists only in open forums (where trolls post regularly)? A waste of time and nervous energy...

--
Canon since 1969

On a completely different tack, I would suggest you consider the new Canon 15-85 lens. It has more reach than the 17-55, and while it's not as fast, it's still razor-sharp wide open throughout its (considerable) range, and is about $300 cheaper. And given the 7D's stellar high-ISO performance, there isn't nearly as much need for fast glass as there used to be.
--
Canon since 1969

One of my fav "tools". It does gather dust. I just remove the four small lens screws and clean it myself. However, for it's price, this should not occur.

My 17-55 IS a dust sucker..... its no urban myth. It does bother me. I do not see an effect in the images. But at some point it must.

I have also read that people who use UV filters on this lens the whole time don't seem to get this.

I don't want to do this. I have had some shots ruined using those filters so I prefer to protect my lens with a hood.

So there is MHO

Wayndom said:

Leopold2 said:

I also read that for the dustsucking problem...

Click to expand...

The "dustsucking problem" is purely anecdotal, and having owned a 17-55 for about 3 years now, I suspect it never existed.

You have to bear in mind that people who worry excessively will look for what worries them until they find it. And if you look hard enough, I'm sure you could spot a speck or two of dust in most any lens.

Also, even people who claim to have found this "problem" in their lenses freely admit that it has no effect at all on image quality, and that it just "bothers" them. That, to me, says a lot about the people who propagate this (IMO) myth.

Oh yes, and I'm not alone here. In every thread about this myth, there have been many posters who also have owned the lens for some time, and have never seen any such problem.

You should be concerned about things you read from qualified testing institutions (none of which has ever reported any dust issue with this lens), but worrying about some urban myth that exists only in open forums (where trolls post regularly)? A waste of time and nervous energy...

--
Canon since 1969

Click to expand...

--
Bob Keenan
http://bobbyk.smugmug.com/Photography