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Canon 85 1.8 can't focus under 2 meter.

Started Oct 12, 2014 | Discussions
phcphc
phcphc New Member • Posts: 10
Canon 85 1.8 can't focus under 2 meter.

Hi

Suddenly my trusted 85mm 1.8 can't autofocus under 2 meter.

The autofocus works fine above 2 meter.

Any ideas ?

Best

Peter

Rad Encarnacion Regular Member • Posts: 292
Re: Canon 85 1.8 can't focus under 2 meter.

Get it fixed.

The 85/1.8's minimum focus distance is, if I recall correctly, approx. 3 feet or 1 meter. If the lens can't autofocus under 2 meters (approx. 6 feet), then it's clearly way out of spec and needs to be re-calibrated by machine.

 Rad Encarnacion's gear list:Rad Encarnacion's gear list
Canon EOS Rebel T4i Canon EOS 6D Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM +3 more
photosen Veteran Member • Posts: 6,226
That's the way the cookie crumbles

In other words that's part of the lens specifications, its Minimum Focusing Distance I think is 1.8 meters.

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Steve Balcombe Forum Pro • Posts: 15,582
Re: That's the way the cookie crumbles

photosen wrote:

In other words that's part of the lens specifications, its Minimum Focusing Distance I think is 1.8 meters.

Nope, 0.85m.

Ring USM is incredibly robust and reliable but it sounds like this one has a fault.

phcphc
OP phcphc New Member • Posts: 10
Re: Canon 85 1.8 can't focus under 2 meter.

ill send it to service.

Been using this lens every second day for 5 years without problems.

Put it on my 5dmk2 yesterday and suddenly it did not AF under 2 meter.

Tested in on my second 5dmk2 - the same.

Tried cleaning the contacts - still the same.

I was just surprised that the lens went from FINE to FAIL by just being in my roller case for 2 days. I mean, I havent dropped it or in any other way mistreated it, but I guess thats just what happens.

Peter

Rad Encarnacion wrote:

Get it fixed.

The 85/1.8's minimum focus distance is, if I recall correctly, approx. 3 feet or 1 meter. If the lens can't autofocus under 2 meters (approx. 6 feet), then it's clearly way out of spec and needs to be re-calibrated by machine.

Scott Larson Veteran Member • Posts: 7,505
Re: Canon 85 1.8 can't focus under 2 meter.

I had a similar problem with my 135mm f2 around infinity. It would try to focus but would just whip around until it gave up and give me a blinking green in the viewfinder. It had no problems focusing up to 80 or 90 feet away.

Canon fixed it. Things break sometimes.

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