I just finished an engagement shoot, and I used 4 lenses during the shoot. I shot with a Canon 5D Mark III, and used 3 lenses... the Canon 16-35 F2.8, Canon 24-70 F2.8, and the Canon 70-200 IS F2.8 L USM 2... all L series. I've been using this camera with these lenses successfully in weddings and seniors for years. All of the sudden, the focus seems off, the images are blurry and cloudy and the pixels don't seem right. I feel like it is the 70-200 that is the issue, and I get some clear images, but at least 50% are awful! I have a wedding next weekend, and need to do something now... I live 70 miles from the nearest camera shop. I took it to the camera shop about a month ago, and they cleaned them and updated the firmware, but I'm still having the issue. What could it be? What is a good methodology for testing that will let me know if it's my camera, a setting, or the lens or maybe it's me! I just looked at the images that were blurry in the camera with the focus points on, and the focus point is right on... I used the 9 squares with the dot in the middle, but I've tried spot as well. Could it be a camera adjustment? Can someone give me some good advise please? I also have a 5D Mark II that I can use for testing, but what tests should I do? And what settings should I be using, since the focus points are not the same within those cameras. Is there a logical sequence that I can use for testing purposes? Thanks for any advise ya'll have.
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Suddenly I have Blurry images and I don't know where to start
- Thread starter Bonnie G
- Start date
dmbibeault
Well-known member
First try to determine if it’s all lenses or just the 70-200.
where the lenses ever MFA? If so is the setting still correct?
Get a focus chart and set up at 45 degree angle to test if it consistently front or back focus or if it is just randomly wrong
If consistently wrong in same direction, use micro adjustment to fix.
If randomly wrong all the time, send back to canon to fix. Could be a lot of things.
I went through this process this year and sent to canon to fix. Was dirty autofocus screen and works great now.
If consistently wrong in same direction, use micro adjustment to fix.
If randomly wrong all the time, send back to canon to fix. Could be a lot of things.
I went through this process this year and sent to canon to fix. Was dirty autofocus screen and works great now.
KE_DP
Veteran Member
Your equipment list shows 2 cameras and a lot of lenses. A simple test will tell if it's one camera, or a lens or systemic problem.
A focus chart is good but really anything will do. You know the drill - tripod, camera, lens, good light - test. Change to the next lens and compare. Repeat everything on the other camera (B) and compare all the files of same lens/focal length/settings to camera A.
An extremely low hit rate is very bad for a wedding. :-( Best get it fixed ASAP!
A focus chart is good but really anything will do. You know the drill - tripod, camera, lens, good light - test. Change to the next lens and compare. Repeat everything on the other camera (B) and compare all the files of same lens/focal length/settings to camera A.
An extremely low hit rate is very bad for a wedding. :-( Best get it fixed ASAP!
justinwonnacott
Senior Member
Is the image stabilization switch on?
Make sure you turn IS off for tests. Put it on a tripod.
Photomonkey
Senior Member
Make sure the AF switch has not been flipped by accident.
That happens to me with some frequency. The AF is so quiet and the screens today do not show OOF images like the days of manual focus so one can tripped up.
If it has been switched, some will be in focus some won't.
"Even a stopped watch is right twice a day."
That happens to me with some frequency. The AF is so quiet and the screens today do not show OOF images like the days of manual focus so one can tripped up.
If it has been switched, some will be in focus some won't.
"Even a stopped watch is right twice a day."
Hello Friends who made suggestions to me! So, yesterday I set up a test... I used both the Mark II and the Mark III and tested 4 lenses... the 16-35, the 24-70, the 50, and the 70-200.
I set up the camera(s) on a tripod, and set the focal length at the lowest and highest for the lens, and set the target 50X the focal length away. Set on One Shot focus, single point, center AF point. I shot two test shots, then moved the card and lens to the other camera and shot the same...then moved to the next focal length and moved the camera. The target was a yard stick. My mini cooper was behind it and I always focused on the number in the yardstick in front of my horizontal racing stripe. I made a mistake and set the ISO on 100 on the II, and Auto Iso on the III.
I'm reviewing the results and I'm still at a loss. The 5D Mark II was much softer (due to ISO 100?), but less in focus. Out of 16 shots at different focal on 4 lenses, over half of them were fuzzy. The 5D Mark III was perfect, although there was noise in the photo due to the ISO being around 1000 since it was a sunny afternoon...I was under a pop up and the yardstick was in the sun.
So, clearly, the 5D III camera passed that test as did all the lenses from that perspective. That is my working camera, and I'll have to check the Mark II out sometime. I can use the 7D in the meantime for my backup. But, it's still very worrisome!
So, could it be the auto focus, even though I tested auto focus on a tripod? When I took it to the camera shop and they updated the firmware, it reset the factory settings to default. Does anyone have any advise on additional testing?
Also, just looking at some of the bad images in both LR and on the disk in the 5D III when I was using the 70-200. One of the best images was a close up at f2/8 ISO 100 and 1/125 TV. Then the couple was walking towards me... and the images were all off in that sequence - like the autofocus wasn't working, and the metering wasn't working either.
The full sun was hot at 1:00, and they were walking under a tree towards me. Some of the images were full silhouettes and some were completely focused on the brush behind them even though the focus was definitely on her face. I double checked the focus points by looking at the disk in the camera and turning on the setting to show the focus point.
This was with the 70-200 IS F2.8 L. Evaluative metering, Shutter Priority. I've had that lens for about 5 years, and when I first got it I had to send it back for repair, but now sometimes takes beautiful images, and sometimes not, and so not sure if it's the AF in the camera, the Lens, the settings, or it's me! And I'm running out of time, because I have a wedding this weekend.
I think I will send the lens and the camera into Canon to get maintenance after this weekend. It's way less expensive than a new camera, and this one has 66,000 clicks, so it should be good for a while, right?
Can I ask what anyone with experience and knowledge using the Mark III and/or the 70/200 lens...
1) What AF point selection would you use for a couple walking towards you? I was using the 9 point, with the dot in the middle, Expand AF area: Surround. It was strange because some of the vertical columns were blinking, and i had never noticed that before, but I thought the focus would expand out to the guy as well as the girl...not sure about that?
2) What is the highest ISO you find acceptable?
3) What settings do you use on the 70-200 IS II lens? 1.2m or 2.5m? Stabilizer mode 1 or 2?
Sorry for the questions...it's hard for me because I live in a remote area, and although I took the course in professional photography through the NY Institute of Photography 8 years ago, there has never been anyone around to ask questions to or work with in person, so I've basically practiced and learned by myself or on line. There's no physical groups to join in my area, or friends who are photographers. So I appreciate the knowledge in this forum.
I did not drop my camera, as someone asked. And yes, the lens was set to autofocus.
Thanks in advance for anyone taking the time to answer and help me! Cheers!
I set up the camera(s) on a tripod, and set the focal length at the lowest and highest for the lens, and set the target 50X the focal length away. Set on One Shot focus, single point, center AF point. I shot two test shots, then moved the card and lens to the other camera and shot the same...then moved to the next focal length and moved the camera. The target was a yard stick. My mini cooper was behind it and I always focused on the number in the yardstick in front of my horizontal racing stripe. I made a mistake and set the ISO on 100 on the II, and Auto Iso on the III.
I'm reviewing the results and I'm still at a loss. The 5D Mark II was much softer (due to ISO 100?), but less in focus. Out of 16 shots at different focal on 4 lenses, over half of them were fuzzy. The 5D Mark III was perfect, although there was noise in the photo due to the ISO being around 1000 since it was a sunny afternoon...I was under a pop up and the yardstick was in the sun.
So, clearly, the 5D III camera passed that test as did all the lenses from that perspective. That is my working camera, and I'll have to check the Mark II out sometime. I can use the 7D in the meantime for my backup. But, it's still very worrisome!
So, could it be the auto focus, even though I tested auto focus on a tripod? When I took it to the camera shop and they updated the firmware, it reset the factory settings to default. Does anyone have any advise on additional testing?
Also, just looking at some of the bad images in both LR and on the disk in the 5D III when I was using the 70-200. One of the best images was a close up at f2/8 ISO 100 and 1/125 TV. Then the couple was walking towards me... and the images were all off in that sequence - like the autofocus wasn't working, and the metering wasn't working either.
The full sun was hot at 1:00, and they were walking under a tree towards me. Some of the images were full silhouettes and some were completely focused on the brush behind them even though the focus was definitely on her face. I double checked the focus points by looking at the disk in the camera and turning on the setting to show the focus point.
This was with the 70-200 IS F2.8 L. Evaluative metering, Shutter Priority. I've had that lens for about 5 years, and when I first got it I had to send it back for repair, but now sometimes takes beautiful images, and sometimes not, and so not sure if it's the AF in the camera, the Lens, the settings, or it's me! And I'm running out of time, because I have a wedding this weekend.
I think I will send the lens and the camera into Canon to get maintenance after this weekend. It's way less expensive than a new camera, and this one has 66,000 clicks, so it should be good for a while, right?
Can I ask what anyone with experience and knowledge using the Mark III and/or the 70/200 lens...
1) What AF point selection would you use for a couple walking towards you? I was using the 9 point, with the dot in the middle, Expand AF area: Surround. It was strange because some of the vertical columns were blinking, and i had never noticed that before, but I thought the focus would expand out to the guy as well as the girl...not sure about that?
2) What is the highest ISO you find acceptable?
3) What settings do you use on the 70-200 IS II lens? 1.2m or 2.5m? Stabilizer mode 1 or 2?
Sorry for the questions...it's hard for me because I live in a remote area, and although I took the course in professional photography through the NY Institute of Photography 8 years ago, there has never been anyone around to ask questions to or work with in person, so I've basically practiced and learned by myself or on line. There's no physical groups to join in my area, or friends who are photographers. So I appreciate the knowledge in this forum.
I did not drop my camera, as someone asked. And yes, the lens was set to autofocus.
Thanks in advance for anyone taking the time to answer and help me! Cheers!
KE_DP
Veteran Member
Sounds like the test worked. Looks like it's off to the shop for the MKII - try a hard reset first - but straight up (based on your report and not actually seeing the samples) it shouldn't be that bad regardless of IS or ISO settings.
As far as brand specific advice, let the Canon users comment more...
You originally said:
Meaning, you had the issue BEFORE you took it in last time? Y/N
If so - and they didn't find the issue - time for a better repair center (mail in).
If not - maybe they dropped it?
Photomonkey
Senior Member
What do the guys at the camera store think?
The camera store is 70 miles away...they cleaned the sensors and did a firmware upgrade and said it was good to go... they reset all my settings back to default as well, so that was a pain - because they didn't tell me, and I did a photoshoot in JPEG. Yes, I've noticed this issue for a while, but honestly, I have not been shooting regularly...maybe once every few months lately because my husband has some serious health issues and I backed off on weddings when that started a few years ago - since he was my lighting and camera assistant. I'm trying to do small weddings and solo events now. thanks
S
SaltyPeanut
Guest
Did you ever fine tune the focus in the past? If so, sounds like they wiped out those settings.
You said you tested your cameras, but did you try to fine tune the AF? Maybe you can do that to regain focus enough for your next wedding until you can send it into the shop after for a closer look.
You can also rent the same camera for the wedding while you send yours in (same camera since you already know how to set it up and can be up and running quickly - still need to check focus here since each camera is different).
Do you mean MFA? No, I've never done that.
Is this the MFA?
I do have a 7D and a 5DII as backups... just need to get used to them again.
I have a question on Al Servo... Once you get focus, then what? ...just keep holding it down the shutter for continuous shooting? So you must be in also always be in continuous shooting mode?
S
SaltyPeanut
Guest
Not sure what Cannon calls it but basically the manual adjusting of the AF.
For continuous AF you typically hold the AF button down so the camera's AF tracks the subject as it moves. You may take photos as you wish during this time, in single or continuous shooting modes.
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