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135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

Started Dec 8, 2017 | Discussions
Marc dbr
Marc dbr Regular Member • Posts: 365
135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

Hello everyone,

So I love my 135L f2 for its bokeh, colors and sharpness, but since I bought the lens last summer I always got soft results when my subject is further away. I don't really want to fine tune the lens with AFMA because then it is not calibrated right for closer portraits which I mostly use the lens at. And it is weird because if I focus on a bigger subject at a far distance it is tack sharp, it really only happens when I focus on people that are very small in the frame. I have an example below (shot from 30-40 meters away, used one of the cross type points of my 5D III.

See here the plane of focus is a couple meters in front of the people

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 Marc dbr's gear list:Marc dbr's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM +6 more
J A C S
J A C S Forum Pro • Posts: 20,544
Re: 135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

I had the same problem and the lens had to go to Canon for repair.

Nickels Regular Member • Posts: 458
Re: 135L f2 inconsistently front focussing
  1. Marc dbr wrote:

Hello everyone,

So I love my 135L f2 for its bokeh, colors and sharpness, but since I bought the lens last summer I always got soft results when my subject is further away. I don't really want to fine tune the lens with AFMA because then it is not calibrated right for closer portraits which I mostly use the lens at. And it is weird because if I focus on a bigger subject at a far distance it is tack sharp, it really only happens when I focus on people that are very small in the frame. I have an example below (shot from 30-40 meters away, used one of the cross type points of my 5D III.

See here the plane of focus is a couple meters in front of the people

Mines not great in similar ways. I've already sent a camera and transmitter to Canon and never got the transmitter back yet (7 weeks ago!). I'm not bothering sending this in the mail too,lots if my Canon stuff is off frankly.

Marc dbr
OP Marc dbr Regular Member • Posts: 365
Re: 135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

And now it works great for you? Do you recommend me to do the same? I just bought a 5D IV so I guess I'll have to send it both bodies for fine tuning then.

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM +6 more
Nickels Regular Member • Posts: 458
Re: 135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

Marc dbr wrote:

And now it works great for you? Do you recommend me to do the same? I just bought a 5D IV so I guess I'll have to send it both bodies for fine tuning then.

Test the camera with other lenses,on a tripod etc

J A C S
J A C S Forum Pro • Posts: 20,544
Re: 135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

Marc dbr wrote:

And now it works great for you? Do you recommend me to do the same? I just bought a 5D IV so I guess I'll have to send it both bodies for fine tuning then.

It is OK now. I do recommend to send the lens only.

Marc dbr
OP Marc dbr Regular Member • Posts: 365
Re: 135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

Yes I’ll do! Why is the body not necessary?

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 Marc dbr's gear list:Marc dbr's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM +6 more
J A C S
J A C S Forum Pro • Posts: 20,544
Re: 135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

Marc dbr wrote:

Yes I’ll do! Why is the body not necessary?

A good lens should work well on any body. You may change the body in the future. If you have enough lenses and you are certain that the problem is the lens, I would not send the body. They may screw the body - make the tolerances cancel each other for that combo but create problems with future bodies or lenses.

Marc dbr
OP Marc dbr Regular Member • Posts: 365
Re: 135L f2 inconsistently front focussing

Yes that makes sense, I'll send it in to CPS here in Holland.

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 Marc dbr's gear list:Marc dbr's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM +6 more
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