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Should I return/replace my lens? EF-S 55-250mm sharpness/focus

Started Jun 7, 2018 | Questions thread
plantdoc Veteran Member • Posts: 4,339
Re: Should I return/replace my lens? EF-S 55-250mm sharpness/focus
1

This lens can take some very sharp images; however, there can always be a problem that can be tested for. In very bright light, find a target with plenty of sharp, contrasty detail. Some signs work well . With either a tripod or a shutter speed of 1/500+ and iso 100 take some pics with live view and the optical finder. Use a f stop wide open and 1 stop down. Examine the pics (highest quality jpegs are ok) and look for a difference between live view and optical finder. If they are equally sharp, focus is OK. If not, and live view is sharper, you have a front/back focus issue that you can only be corrected if your camera has micro focus adjust. Rebels lack this feature unfortunately. I find this lens works best with center point AF, shutter speed 1/250 minimum. Use servo focus for moving subjects but don't expect consistent results with fast, irregular action. Also, keep in mind, that telephoto has a shallow depth of field on closer subjects. Small sensor, wide angle cameras like most phones can keep almost everything in focus with little difficulty.

Greg

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