Canon f/2.8 300mm IS USM II - How to set to "0" again

When I first got my Canon f/2.8 300mm IS USM II is was tack sharp with my 1DX.

Out of the box

I noticed after one session of shooting about 10,000 pictures that it was not as shrp or quick to focus.

I've had the 300mm back to CPS twice and it's still not as good as it was.

I'm wondering if there is an "outside" service that can set this lens back to factory specs. Canon can't seem to get this right after two tries.

Can anyone suggest any service in the NYC area that can get me back to "0"

P.S.  MA does not improve anything from  0 all the way to 20 using manual 10 ft increment objects or FOCAL

Thank you

Can you post sample images? Seems weird this kind of failure
--
George Spyros,
www.georgespyros.com

you have sent it with camera to cps?

it only happens on this lens?

it still happens with other bodies?

expro wrote:

you have sent it with camera to cps?

Yes

it only happens on this lens?

Yes

it still happens with other bodies?

Yes

Deorum wrote:

Can you post sample images? Seems weird this kind of failure
--
George Spyros,
www.georgespyros.com

Thank you. I will this evening.

Here is an example of an OOF shot

rebel99 wrote:

tvstaff wrote:

When I first got my Canon f/2.8 300mm IS USM II is was tack sharp with my 1DX.

Out of the box

I noticed after one session of shooting about 10,000 pictures that it was not as shrp or quick to focus.

I've had the 300mm back to CPS twice and it's still not as good as it was.

I'm wondering if there is an "outside" service that can set this lens back to factory specs. Canon can't seem to get this right after two tries.

Can anyone suggest any service in the NYC area that can get me back to "0"

P.S. MA does not improve anything from 0 all the way to 20 using manual 10 ft increment objects or FOCAL

it happens to my 300mm f2.8II and 600 4.0II on my 1dmk4/1Dx also. i'd shoot a burst in which half of it would be in focus and the other half won't but when it is in focus, it is tack sharp, so, sounds like camera is the culprit!

cheerz.

BigBen08 wrote:

Are you using IS? I wonder if the problem occurs with IS on or off, or in different modes. If the problem is there with IS off, then this can be ruled out.

Maybe a problem with the AF motor. Is this happening with action shots only, or static also? I'm trying to understand if the problem is AF speed (too slow for action shots) or lack of AF accuracy.

We have all read good & bad reports about Canon service centers. I wonder how thoroughly the tech tested your lens.

Hi BigBen

IS is on. Case 5 w/1DX. Action Shots only. Using standard Case 5 with only second shot set to focus vs. speed.

Thank you very much for writing

Logically it sounds like the AF is just reacting too slowly - which is a new and not normal phenomena - so unfortunately as you say must go back to Canon or find a reputable equivalent....

have you you tried calling either lens rentals or even b&h and asking their advice or where they would recommend?

get another 2.8/300 on loan from CPS and look whether it reacts different. Sounds more like the camera to me maybe changed AF settings to when you got the lens.

rebel99 wrote:

drbird wrote:

get another 2.8/300 on loan from CPS and look whether it reacts different. Sounds more like the camera to me maybe changed AF settings to when you got the lens.

op mentioned that this issue developed over time! my personal experience suggests that it has to be the camera because after a burst of shots (may be 5-6 shots), half are focused very well and the other half out of focus. and i mean shots in the same sequence. i had a thread going a couple of moths ago on the same subjects with photos to prove my point. both 1dmk4 and 1Dx do the same thing i find this issue very frustrating, to say the least. so, i suggest to op that it has to be the camera, not the lens. i hope he tries his lens on a different camera(hopefully on a 5D3) to find the culprit for good

cheerz.

Hi Rebel,

I'm having the same issue with the lens on other bodies.

Again I setup FOCAL and tried to mate it as best as possible to another 1DX and a 7D.

Very frustrating!!!!

I hope CPS can get this lens back to what it was when I got it. It's less than a year old.

I had a f/2.8 70-200 IS USM that went out of whack last year.  The clips that hols the lenses came loose and no amount of MA could fix it.

This is a pain but I need the lens for sports.... It's a MUST!

Best regards,

TV

tvstaff wrote:

Here is an example of an OOF shot

rebel99 wrote:

tvstaff wrote:

When I first got my Canon f/2.8 300mm IS USM II is was tack sharp with my 1DX.

Out of the box

I noticed after one session of shooting about 10,000 pictures that it was not as shrp or quick to focus.

I've had the 300mm back to CPS twice and it's still not as good as it was.

I'm wondering if there is an "outside" service that can set this lens back to factory specs. Canon can't seem to get this right after two tries.

Can anyone suggest any service in the NYC area that can get me back to "0"

P.S. MA does not improve anything from 0 all the way to 20 using manual 10 ft increment objects or FOCAL

it happens to my 300mm f2.8II and 600 4.0II on my 1dmk4/1Dx also. i'd shoot a burst in which half of it would be in focus and the other half won't but when it is in focus, it is tack sharp, so, sounds like camera is the culprit!

cheerz.

Im lost as to why this happens, but i've never read about this kind of problem again.
I'm gonna think out of the box. Maybe what i say is nonsense, but i go on anyway.

Maybe some bad custom functions in AF settings? Have you tried single AF point for example ? (without expansion?). If that would work, it would rule out lens problem.
Have you even tried a static subject? 
Try doing a controlled test.

tvstaff wrote:

Here is an example of an OOF shot

rebel99 wrote:

tvstaff wrote:

When I first got my Canon f/2.8 300mm IS USM II is was tack sharp with my 1DX.

Out of the box

I noticed after one session of shooting about 10,000 pictures that it was not as shrp or quick to focus.

I've had the 300mm back to CPS twice and it's still not as good as it was.

I'm wondering if there is an "outside" service that can set this lens back to factory specs. Canon can't seem to get this right after two tries.

Can anyone suggest any service in the NYC area that can get me back to "0"

P.S. MA does not improve anything from 0 all the way to 20 using manual 10 ft increment objects or FOCAL

it happens to my 300mm f2.8II and 600 4.0II on my 1dmk4/1Dx also. i'd shoot a burst in which half of it would be in focus and the other half won't but when it is in focus, it is tack sharp, so, sounds like camera is the culprit!

cheerz.

Im lost as to why this happens, but i've never read about this kind of problem again.
I'm gonna think out of the box. Maybe what i say is nonsense, but i go on anyway.

Maybe some bad custom functions in AF settings? Have you tried single AF point for example ? (without expansion?). If that would work, it would rule out lens problem.
Have you even tried a static subject? 
Try doing a controlled test.

tvstaff wrote:

rebel99 wrote:

drbird wrote:

get another 2.8/300 on loan from CPS and look whether it reacts different. Sounds more like the camera to me maybe changed AF settings to when you got the lens.

op mentioned that this issue developed over time! my personal experience suggests that it has to be the camera because after a burst of shots (may be 5-6 shots), half are focused very well and the other half out of focus. and i mean shots in the same sequence. i had a thread going a couple of moths ago on the same subjects with photos to prove my point. both 1dmk4 and 1Dx do the same thing i find this issue very frustrating, to say the least. so, i suggest to op that it has to be the camera, not the lens. i hope he tries his lens on a different camera(hopefully on a 5D3) to find the culprit for good

cheerz.

Hi Rebel,

I'm having the same issue with the lens on other bodies.

Again I setup FOCAL and tried to mate it as best as possible to another 1DX and a 7D.

Very frustrating!!!!

I hope CPS can get this lens back to what it was when I got it. It's less than a year old.

I had a f/2.8 70-200 IS USM that went out of whack last year. The clips that hols the lenses came loose and no amount of MA could fix it.

This is a pain but I need the lens for sports.... It's a MUST!

Best regards,

TV

since you didn't mention.

is the firmware updated? this was announce sept 19th of this year

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024805fb8c0

it may work or help as this is the summary:

Changes the control algorithm of the focus drive, and enhances the drive’s responsiveness for more precise focus and adjustments. In particular, the new firmware enhances the AI servo AF capability of the lenses to track objects that move irregularly in sports events, such as soccer or rugby.

rrccad wrote:

tvstaff wrote:

rebel99 wrote:

drbird wrote:

get another 2.8/300 on loan from CPS and look whether it reacts different. Sounds more like the camera to me maybe changed AF settings to when you got the lens.

op mentioned that this issue developed over time! my personal experience suggests that it has to be the camera because after a burst of shots (may be 5-6 shots), half are focused very well and the other half out of focus. and i mean shots in the same sequence. i had a thread going a couple of moths ago on the same subjects with photos to prove my point. both 1dmk4 and 1Dx do the same thing i find this issue very frustrating, to say the least. so, i suggest to op that it has to be the camera, not the lens. i hope he tries his lens on a different camera(hopefully on a 5D3) to find the culprit for good

cheerz.

Hi Rebel,

I'm having the same issue with the lens on other bodies.

Again I setup FOCAL and tried to mate it as best as possible to another 1DX and a 7D.

Very frustrating!!!!

I hope CPS can get this lens back to what it was when I got it. It's less than a year old.

I had a f/2.8 70-200 IS USM that went out of whack last year. The clips that hols the lenses came loose and no amount of MA could fix it.

This is a pain but I need the lens for sports.... It's a MUST!

Best regards,

TV

since you didn't mention.

is the firmware updated? this was announce sept 19th of this year

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024805fb8c0

it may work or help as this is the summary:

Changes the control algorithm of the focus drive, and enhances the drive’s responsiveness for more precise focus and adjustments. In particular, the new firmware enhances the AI servo AF capability of the lenses to track objects that move irregularly in sports events, such as soccer or rugby.

Thank you again.  My lens is outside the advisory but shows ALL faults of the advisory.

This is beyond my ability to fix.  I'll have to let Canon try again.

Thank you