Missing Focus in Live View...

R2D2 wrote:

dwardMICS wrote:

So I've had my t5i for about a year, and it's been great. It was used, but still seems to be in good shape.

Hi there and welcome!

It looks super soft and grainy and out of focus. When I bring it into my video editor of choice (Premiere Pro or Resolve), it still looks great in the window, but when I play it full screen, it's the same story.

Have you been able to narrow things down at all?

Sort of...  When I take it out of my studio environment, I have no problems getting sharp video.  It was just so bad in my attached still...  This makes me think this could be a lighting situation leading to human error.

Maybe the video resolution setting got accidentally changed?

Nope, it's 1920x1080/24p.

Perhaps tried a different lens or computer? Different software? Direct to TV?

I ran it through Windows Media, VLC, Quicktime - all blurry.  Tried in Davinci Resolve 15, Adobe Premiere, and Hitfilm.  Looks great small then horrible full sized.

Have you checked the AF switch on the lens? (which lens?)

I am using the Canon EF-S 24mm set to manual focus.  My AF constantly hunts, and it drives me crazy.  I could also be shooting to open at F/2.8.  I should probably go to at least F/4 and just crank as many lights up as I can.

How about the image stabilizer? On or off? Mounted on a tripod?

No IS, but on a pretty decent tripod.

Something smeared on the lens? Moisture inside? Mold?

Man, I hope not!  It's brand new since December!

A messed up sensor?

Maybe.  I have noticed my regular pictures aren't quite as sharp as they were last year.  I did buy a used camera after all so it's not impossible that there is sensor gunk or the guts wearing out.

Noise reduction pushed to the max?

Nope.  I try to shoot my video between 100 and 400 ISO which doesn't have a LOT of noise.

Try a (menu) reset to factory defaults.

I will give that a go!

Has anything changed? I’m guessing that you’ve been using the same techniques before, but with success?

I haven't changed anything, which is why this is so confounding!

Have you tried (manual) focusing using the magnification feature?

Now that's giving me a light bulb moment...I didn't think about using the magnification feature...I'm such a n00b!

Or autofocus just to see if that’s working OK?

I'm not sure what I would classify my AF as.  In photos, when I set my focus points manually, I can get good results.  When I let the camera AF...ugh, so many misses.  I just can't do the AF for video because it always hunts.  My news boys are very animated and at all setting the AF is hunting for hands, faces or whatever else is up there.

Can you tell if anything is in focus? Or if so, where the focus is ending up?

Sadly, in that video, I couldn't because it's such a small area and setting.

I think we have to narrow things down a bit.

Best of luck!

R2

Thanks for the thoughtful questions!  I am going to use the magnification next time.  I am such a bonehead sometimes ha ha