Has anyone heard an update on the focusing issues with the 50/1.2? Reports from earlier this year were that Chuck Westfall was aware of the problem, but I have not heard whether Canon has confirmed the backfocus issue and has devised a solution, or whether the 50/1.2 will be remaining the same as when first released.
no news yet. it's been months since chuck last wrote anything to me about the 50L. i talked to my CPS rep last week and he had no idea there was a problem with this lens. chuck said that canon japan were aware of a possible problem and was investigating it, but nothing definitive regarding their findings or a solution. chuck's only suggestion was to use MF for shots 5' and closer until a solution has been found.
i'd recommend emailing chuck directly at [email protected] and inquiring about the lens' status. perhaps if enough inquiries roll in then canon usa will make a public statement.
SoundHound wrote:
Interested to see if the new MKIII's individual lens calibration and fast focusing helps the problem.
The MkIII isn't an option for me now, but who knows later in its production life...
However this is the first time I read about this "individual lens calibration" capability. Seems to me that this would be extremely handy on any DSLR, not only pro bodies. It will never replace full calibration, but minor variation in lenses can be compensated in camera by tuning the AF, right? It doesn't take a super computer to compensate for these variations.
A large capacity to storage up to dozen or so lens settings, incl. zooms, should be enough satisfy even the most obsessed of us (remember you only need to fine tune the lenses that are off - not all of them, although you could do so if you feel the need). But even at that level, the actual amount of memory needed to store such settings would be small.
Front- and backfocusing should quickly become a thing of the past, and safe Canon some money in calibrating after sales, and customers some frustration.
SoundHound wrote:
Interested to see if the new MKIII's individual lens calibration and fast focusing helps the problem.
Probably not, if I understand the problem and the M3's mechanism correctly. The 50/1.2 has an alleged problem with backfocussing at distances 5' or less - over 5' and it's OK. The 1DMkIII does an overall + or - adjustment on a lens according to it's model. It's not a variable setting.
OSev wrote:
The 50/1.2 has an alleged problem with backfocussing at distances 5' or less - over 5' and it's OK.
No, in my experience it's just more noticeable the closer you get since the DoF gets shallower. The real issue is that the lens backfocuses more and more as you stop down, so yes... the MKIII's adjustment won't be helpful since you can't calibrate according to aperture.
hahr wrote:
i'd recommend emailing chuck directly at [email protected] and inquiring about the lens' status. perhaps if enough inquiries roll in then canon usa will make a public statement.
-erik
Thanks for the email address. I've emailed Chuck with a link to some test shots I've made of the problem. I'm not holding my breath awaiting a reply or even action by Canon.
I've now seen a fair number of folks relate their satisfaction with the lens but haven't seen any shots that prove for sure that this is just an isolated problem with some lenses. Most say it is really only a problem with test charts and not the real world but I see it in real world head and shoulder shots. I've had success by focusing on the tip of the nose instead of the eye. Its not a natural thing though and I often forget and thus ruin the shots.
To Canon's credit, I've received a response from Chuck Westfall, as follows.
Canon Inc. is definitely aware of the claims concerning the AF accuracy of the EF50/1.2L USM. They've been investigating for the past couple of months, and I am told that there will be some kind of public announcement forthcoming in the near future. Stay tuned, and thanks for using Canon equipment!
Best Regards,
Chuck Westfall
Director/Media & Customer Relationship
Camera Marketing Group/Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Galibier wrote:
To Canon's credit, I've received a response from Chuck Westfall, as follows.
Canon Inc. is definitely aware of the claims concerning the AF accuracy of the EF50/1.2L USM. They've been investigating for the past couple of months, and I am told that there will be some kind of public announcement forthcoming in the near future. Stay tuned, and thanks for using Canon equipment!
Best Regards,
Chuck Westfall
Director/Media & Customer Relationship
Camera Marketing Group/Canon U.S.A., Inc.
I got the same reply. I was very surprised to get any reply at all so I'm very pleased.
I dont know what the ultimate outcome will be, but if they come up with a fix this will be a most excellent lens!
