20D Poor focus issues - How much of a problem?

[guzinta]

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1 Guzinta 2, 2

 

[jerryk]

Mine seems to focus great. I have a split ring focus screen and the AF and split ring agree almost all of the time. Very nice.

jerry

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jerryk.smugmug.com

 

[cmitwac]

What lens? If it's not a max aperture of f2.8 or bigger it's going to struggle in the dark.

 

[bill hansen]

....from my own experience, but I've read that autofocus with the 20D is faster than with the 300. As for accuracy, the two cameras should be exactly the same except for action shots using servo focus, where the 20D will probably have the advantage. Again, I have no personal experience there. - Bill

 

[Dduval]

I'd say about 40% of my shots were in focus. The rest were mostly
slightly OOF with maybe 5%-10% being badly OOF.

Then this summer I tried something different. I switched the
camera to AI servo mode, placed the selected focus point on the
subject, and mashed down the * button continuously (I set CFn 4-1).
Blammo - my in-focus % shot up to about 90%. Turns out all this
time it was me leaning slightly back or forth between when the
camera focused and when I actually took the picture. It's so good
now I'm debating whether I really need to take one or two extra
shots "just to be sure" I get one with good focus.

HOLY CR*P!!! I just tried that and this is awesome! With highest jpeg setting, +2 sharpness, +2 saturation my pics are sharp as a razor, even with the kit lens!!
John, thank you so much!

Respectfully,
Dduval

 

[Sheila Smart]

I'd say about 40% of my shots were in focus. The rest were mostly
slightly OOF with maybe 5%-10% being badly OOF.

Then this summer I tried something different. I switched the
camera to AI servo mode, placed the selected focus point on the
subject, and mashed down the * button continuously (I set CFn 4-1).
Blammo - my in-focus % shot up to about 90%. Turns out all this
time it was me leaning slightly back or forth between when the
camera focused and when I actually took the picture. It's so good
now I'm debating whether I really need to take one or two extra
shots "just to be sure" I get one with good focus.

HOLY CR*P!!! I just tried that and this is awesome! With highest
jpeg setting, +2 sharpness, +2 saturation my pics are sharp as a
razor, even with the kit lens!!
John, thank you so much!

Respectfully,
Dduval

I have been shooting with Custom Function 4:01 for awhile now and highly recommend it to those with focusing issues on their 20D. It does take awhile to get used to this but on the whole, its a great improvement. I have never been happy with focusing and exposing with the same action but now splitting between focusing and exposing works for me.

Cheers
Sheila

Sheila Smart
Sydney, Australia
http://www.pbase.com/sheila

All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice - Elliott Erwitt

 

[p li]

Just one question, use AI Servo also for the stable subject?

 

[Rusty1]

Not for me, unfortunatley when I have a soft image, examination always points to camera movement, subject movement, too slow shutter speed and a few other areas I can improve in. Not many of us max out our gear.
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Good luck and good shooting.

Regards Rusty