L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

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Archive 2008 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

gdsf2
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p.1 #1 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

MAAN = Much ado about nothing

So, now that I have your attention, let me explain. I like this forum, and I have learned a lot. And I have read the MANY posts about Canon L lenses front/back focusing. However, I have owned about 10 Canon Ls, including zooms and primes, and never have I had one front/back focus. Believe me, I've tried, but alas, nothing but spot on focus.

Maybe I am just very lucky. Maybe we just hear from those with problems. I don't know, but I aim to find out with this poll.

Jerry

Edited by gdsf2 on Jun 20, 2008 at 09:15 AM GMT

Edited on Jun 20, 2008 at 02:15 PM

Jun 17, 2008 at 07:19 PM

mendofr
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p.1 #2 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

I had 3 L's that had problems. 70-200 f4 IS, 35mm L & 100-400 L. I guess I'm just unlucky.

Jun 17, 2008 at 07:29 PM

Jman13
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p.1 #3 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

I've owned 3 Ls, (only one still), and all three have been fine.

I have had Canon and Sigma lenses with focus errors, though.

Jun 17, 2008 at 07:29 PM

RT v Genugten
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p.1 #4 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

500L, 85LII, 200 2.8L, 17-40L
All of them spot on, tack sharp and very pleased with them!

RT.

Jun 17, 2008 at 07:36 PM

Beni
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p.1 #5 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

it could well be that the problem was camera based not lens based, both of my 5D's were sent for calibration with lenses, all focus perfectly now so I wasn't making it up...

Jun 17, 2008 at 07:39 PM

davidrwilliams
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p.1 #6 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

1. 70-200 f/4L (non-IS) consistently backfocused, but adjusted perfectly by Canon the first time.

2. 50/1.2L consistently backfocused at lots of different subject distances - 3 copies all did the same thing - I gave up.

(...and by the way, it's not my 5D, as it's fine with everything else including 85/1.2L.)

Everything else has been fine.

Jun 17, 2008 at 10:28 PM

stanj
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p.1 #7 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

Off: 24L, 35L, 400DO, my first 24-70L (by a LOT).

Jun 17, 2008 at 10:30 PM

mendofr
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p.1 #8 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

mendofr wrote:
I had 3 L's that had problems. 70-200 f4 IS, 35mm L & 100-400 L. I guess I'm just unlucky.

The good: 400 f5.6, 24-105, 135f2

Jun 17, 2008 at 10:37 PM

gdsf2
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p.1 #9 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

Interesting results so far but we need a larger sample size.

Jun 17, 2008 at 10:45 PM

GeneO
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p.1 #10 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

4 Ls with problem. 500/4L with a factory defect returned, 500/4L back focusing, 400/5.6L front focusing, 100-400L soft at 400 and IS died within warranty period.

and..... 1D MArk IIN back focusing.

And fornt/back focusing weren't nit picking but unusable.

My 135L was the only lesn I got that I haven't had an issue with.

Sigh

Edited on Jun 17, 2008 at 11:01 PM

Jun 17, 2008 at 11:00 PM

stanj
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p.1 #11 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

Not to mention that my 1Ds3 back-focuses by +15. Or all of my 11 lenses front-focus by that much

Jun 17, 2008 at 11:20 PM

JDSA
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p.1 #12 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

Like GeneO I had trouble with one of Canon's super-telephotos. My first 600 f/4 IS (B&H, March 2008) front focused by up to a couple of meters wide open. The replacement is perfect.

A family member recently also bought a 600 f/4 IS. Irvine couldn't even fix that one. B&H also replaced it. Two good out of four copies of Canon's currently most expensive lens model is not such a good record.

Jun 17, 2008 at 11:41 PM

gdsf2
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p.1 #13 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

Interesting finding so far: The "no problems" outweigh the "problems" by a bunch but more folks with "problems" replied in writing.

Jerry

Jun 18, 2008 at 01:41 AM

DavidP
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p.1 #14 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

If you haven't had any with problems, you're either blind, don't know how to test, or just haven't tried enough of them yet.

Jun 18, 2008 at 01:42 AM

RobertLynn
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p.1 #15 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

Not all L's, but I've owned or own

17-85 IS (2 of these)
24 2.8
50 1.8
24-70 2.8
70-200 2.8IS

Not a problem with any of the above.

Am I to think that I'm lucky that I've got 2 Canon L zooms that have no issues? Or am I to think I got what I paid for, a product that works?

Jun 18, 2008 at 01:56 AM

obroni
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p.1 #16 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

My first 24-70 backfocused, returned and bought another one which was spot on.

Bought second 5D body and both 24-70 and 70-200 2.8 L frontfocused, even though they were OK on the other 5D - but this is more like a body problem. Repaired by Canon.

Edited on Jun 18, 2008 at 02:09 AM

Jun 18, 2008 at 02:06 AM

mendofr
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p.1 #17 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

You got what you paid for Robert and you are lucky.

Jun 18, 2008 at 02:13 AM

chez
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p.1 #18 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

gdsf2 wrote:
Interesting finding so far: The "no problems" outweigh the "problems" by a bunch but more folks with "problems" replied in writing.

Jerry

I would hope the "no problems" would outweight the "problems" by a huge margin. If not, then Canon has a major QC problem with the top of the line lenses. Most people pay top dollar for the L lenses and expect top results.

Jun 18, 2008 at 02:16 AM

RobertLynn
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p.1 #19 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

mendofr wrote:
You got what you paid for Robert and you are lucky.

I was just snapping some shots, and it seems that the 70-200 focuses quite a bit faster than the 24-70. I know it's normal, but it makes me panic

Jun 18, 2008 at 02:17 AM

jhom
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p.1 #20 · L Lens Back/Front Focusing - MAAN

I'm not sure how to vote. My 35L backfocused with my 1D2 but not with my XT. The 1D2 along with the 35L were recalibrated. Now my new 40D backfocuses with the 35L. They are both in for recalibration. None of my other Ls have shown any problems with any of the bodies. So, is the 35L the problem or the bodies?

Jim

Jun 18, 2008 at 02:36 AM

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