Major 7D focus issues

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teppy1
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p.3 #1 · Major 7D focus issues

IanCale wrote:
Photon wrote:
Sorry yours is bad. Here's someone who seems to have a 7D with excellent AF performance:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/821100

most of them look way oversharpened, look at the artifacts in the blue skies . halos etc..

yes, alot of them are over sharpened. it looks like too much radius on the USM. thats what causes the the large black outline. there are some that are OOF in my opinion and just not in focus. it looks like he may have just missed the focus from panning though because alot of the over sharpened images would be fine if he had not overdone the USM radius.

Oct 07, 2009 at 11:53 AM

goldscout
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p.3 #2 · Major 7D focus issues

mine's sharp as tack

Oct 07, 2009 at 11:55 AM

kenski
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p.3 #3 · Major 7D focus issues

Oct 07, 2009 at 11:58 AM

kenski
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p.3 #4 · Major 7D focus issues

Just came back from DC with my 7D and all my shots were perfect... Nothing that I can notice...

I dont sit there and blow my pictures up to 5000000% either and examine every pixel. If it blows up to a 20x30 good, Im happy....

Oct 07, 2009 at 12:01 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.3 #5 · Major 7D focus issues

I think you have to keep in mind that when thinking about these shots you have to consider their intended use. I had assumed that Ian wanted to make prints from shots like these. After seeing these crops on my computer I have no doubt that these shots would make very nice 8 X 10 or even 11 X 14 prints. The 100% crops are just huge magnifications and reducing them to these sizes for printing would hide the focus errors we are talking about here. It seems, however, that Ian is interested in stock photos and that probably means a different and a higher standard. With that in mind I think that before we get too worked up about the focussing of the camera a couple of things should be addressed in the shooting technique. First, for optimal sharpness--and that appears to be what Ian is after--then on a camera like the 7D (crop with high pixel density), IMO the shutter speed needs to be 2X the focal length. Second, I think there needs to be better placement of the focus point and for portraits like these I think that means that it needs to be on the eye rather than the nose and the spot AF of the 7D should probably be used. Third, I think the lens and body need to be carefully adjusted using the MA feature and a system like lens align or a carefully set up focus chart. It does appear that the combination of Ian's camera and the lens used in these shots is back focussing slightly and needs MA. Once these three things are put in order, then I think we can start to talk about whether the camera has a problem. I think these three things would likely fix the relatively small problems here. In fact, it seems that the only reason we are seeing the problems is because we are looking at them at such huge magnification. Whether more problems would emerge at narrow apertures, however, is an interesting question, and if Ian needs sharpness at these huge magnification at wider aperture then it remains to be seen whether the system can deliver it.

Oct 07, 2009 at 12:06 PM

PetKal
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p.3 #6 · Major 7D focus issues

teppy1 wrote:
IanCale wrote:
Photon wrote:
Sorry yours is bad. Here's someone who seems to have a 7D with excellent AF performance:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/821100

most of them look way oversharpened, look at the artifacts in the blue skies . halos etc..

yes, alot of them are over sharpened. it looks like too much radius on the USM. thats what causes the the large black outline. there are some that are OOF in my opinion and just not in focus. it looks like he may have just missed the focus from panning though because alot of the over sharpened images would be fine if he had not overdone the USM radius.

While I tend to agree that Conrad has gone heavy handed on USM/cropping/PP on some of those images, I see just about all of them as being in focus. In some cases, imperfectly so, but still in focus.
However, images like those are of limited usefulness when seeking some evidence that the camera Servo AF works well on BIF. For that, one needs a series of shots fired while tracking a bird. Even 40D is quite good in initial focus pickup of a BIF....it is what happens afterwards with the subsequent frames that separates an ordinary EOS body from a fairly good EOS body such as 1DMkIIN.

Therefore, all I can say by looking at those images is that the photographer's 7D seems to have a good initial focus pickup (or it is capable of getting in focus sometime in a burst) and that his BIF capture skills have developed nicely.

Oct 07, 2009 at 12:24 PM

Greg Schneider
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p.3 #7 · Major 7D focus issues

The initial focus acquisition on the 7D is in the same league as the 1D3, which in turn is faster than the IIN. In my very limited testing, I would guess that the 7D may be even better in tracking, especially with all the new AF options. It certainly is extraordinarily stable with low contrast subjects and locks very quickly.

Oct 07, 2009 at 01:24 PM

Andre Goli
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p.3 #8 · Major 7D focus issues

IanCale wrote:
Well I happened to find a store that had a 7d in stock while away this weekend, Took a bunch of shots of whatever I saw, and tested the servo and video and such, when I got home and looked at the images nothing in sharp focus, so I've been playing around with it since Sunday , did every focus test , and them some, Micro adjusted both ways to the max in increments, tried 2 lenses so far , 28-135 and a 50mm, both with the same results nothing sharp, seems a major backfocus problem, with the servo even worse , (I'm shooting single point),, So about 10mins ago , thinking it could be a lens issue. I took the trusty, never failed ,best AF on a canon camera to date , beat to hell, half broken 1D , and what do you know, all images razor sharp as they always are,

I'm very dissappointed since I've heard good things in the beginning , now not hearing good things , and mine is junk . I stayed away from the 1D3 for these reasons, and it seems that this camera might be heading down that road now that more people are getting them and posting the flaws,

I've shot over 500 frames so far tesing and not one is in proper focus,It will be going back this weekend,

Come on Canon Wake the F' up,

Be careful, when I bought a 35L six months ago, I immediately tested it with my 5DII on fixed objects. I was at first disappointed because everything looked front focussed. Then, I changed it with the other lenses which have been always rasor sharp, and to my big surprise, there were blury as well !!!!!!!!! That surprised me... Strange.....Then I tried them again on my backup camera (5D), and then every lenses were sharp again, included the 35L.... Weird...... So I came back to my 5DII and checked out what was different in the options... My brother played with my 5DII just before, and changed the one shot focus option to the servo option, what I didn't know. I selected back the one shot focus option, and tataaaaaa, every lenses were sharp again on the 5DII, included my new 35L. I never shot servo, but if you want to test fixed subject, it is a very bad idea..... I am 99% conviced that is your case... I helped another fellow in Fred who had the same problem a while ago, he was pissed by a L lens he just bought, and got the same successful results after my explanations.......

Oct 07, 2009 at 01:39 PM

Nowhere Man
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p.3 #9 · Major 7D focus issues

tanglefoot47 wrote:
I wonder how many of these people have no idea how to set up the camera? My 7D is excellent

+1

IanCale wrote:
With any product, no matter how good, there will always be a few defective units out there. Nothing to fear...just exchange it for a different one.,

should not be that way, canon is really messing up, I just read in the past 5 mins online, about 8 posts with problems, from , errors', to batteries frying the camera itself, other focus issues, not good as now more are hitting the shelves, and since the major issue with the 1D3, you would think canon would make sure that these things were friggin perfect.

Oh brother. Yeah, you read 8 posts on here. And how many members are on FM.com, somewhere above 100,000? Give me a break. Show me one company who has a perfect record with any mass produced product, whereby not one defective product ever come off the assembly line.

Oct 07, 2009 at 02:12 PM

IanCale
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p.3 #10 · Major 7D focus issues

here is another sample of what i'm dealing with,red , focus point, white, whats in focus, 100% crop, didnt show exif data, shot f8 , 1/640 , Iso 400

I'm waiting for the battery to charge and will take it out today to do some more shooting with different settings

Oct 07, 2009 at 02:37 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.3 #11 · Major 7D focus issues

Hi Ian,

Yep, it appears to me in all four shots that it is back focussing about an inch to an inch and a half. Some time you have enough DOF to cover it other times you don't and at the high magnifications you are looking at you will see even the slightest bit that it is off focus. The problem should be correctable with MA. Once you do so you should be a lot happier with the camera. For the high precision work you are trying to do here, you will need to work out MA with all your lenses. I would suggest investing in the lens align system, which looks pretty easy to use.

Best wishes,

Steve

Oct 07, 2009 at 02:43 PM

CarlG
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p.3 #12 · Major 7D focus issues

Steve Spencer wrote:
but 1/60 for with a 85mm lens on a crop camera is a pretty margin shutter speed and could be causing the problem. In fact, if it were me I would want faster shutter speeds on all the shots--but I do not have the steadiest hands.

ditto!!!

Oct 07, 2009 at 03:22 PM

Daan B
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p.3 #13 · Major 7D focus issues

Steve Spencer wrote:
Hi Ian,

Yep, it appears to me in all four shots that it is back focussing about an inch to an inch and a half. Some time you have enough DOF to cover it other times you don't and at the high magnifications you are looking at you will see even the slightest bit that it is off focus. The problem should be correctable with MA. Once you do so you should be a lot happier with the camera. For the high precision work you are trying to do here, you will need to work out MA with all your lenses. I would suggest investing in the lens align system, which looks pretty easy to use.

Best wishes,

Steve

+1 Seems like the most logical analysis/solution.

Oct 07, 2009 at 03:23 PM

thw2
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p.3 #14 · Major 7D focus issues

Canon service called. They told me it's easily fixable through electrical calibration. They've done it before with other models. (interesting)

HOWEVER, Canon Japan has yet to release the calibration software for 7D. So, they can't do anything just yet.

Since I will be traveling for the next 1.5 months, I guess I may not get the chance to have the AF fixed until much later. Sigh... I can only use the camera with live view manual focus for now.

Oct 07, 2009 at 03:53 PM

orangefirefish
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p.3 #15 · Major 7D focus issues

Oct 07, 2009 at 03:57 PM

fraga
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p.3 #16 · Major 7D focus issues

People should think twice before jumping on Ian.

He has received a new camera and it's just not working up to spec.

He has all the right in the world to be upset.

Yes, we all know that there isn't one single company that does everything right, and that even Hondas break down, but please, give the guy a break...

Oct 07, 2009 at 04:22 PM

anorphirith
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p.3 #17 · Major 7D focus issues

just send it to canon

Oct 07, 2009 at 04:23 PM

stiksandstones
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p.3 #18 · Major 7D focus issues

One series user here...7D owner for a week, no AF issues for me yet.

Oct 07, 2009 at 05:00 PM

abqnmusa
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p.3 #19 · Major 7D focus issues

No autofocus issues on my 7D

I sure like the 7D autofocus performance and options.
Great to see Canon produce a nature and birding camera other then 1D/1DS.
I just cannot afford the 1 series cameras.

Oct 07, 2009 at 05:29 PM

patrickphoto
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p.3 #20 · Major 7D focus issues

then sell your camera IanCale.

Mine works wonders.

And as for the images posted online in the previously mentioned link, the ones with halos and serious noise are HEAVLY cropped images (as for as the poster stated).

also, no one said the 50 fantastic was not sharp, just that it has a slower drive for focus and doesn't track as well. so not a great tester of servo AF.

Oct 07, 2009 at 05:59 PM

Gil_W
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p.3 #21 · Major 7D focus issues

After a week of clouds and rain the sun was out today. I took the 7D out using AI Servo and had absolutely no focus issues. Wonderful sharp images.

As some have mentioned to me I may have been expecting too much out of the camera in low light, in the woods conditions. I guess I jumped on the situation a bit to quick.

Oct 07, 2009 at 07:33 PM

Skyehigh
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p.3 #22 · Major 7D focus issues

I have my d700 and other Nikon gear on ebay now so I can switch back to Canon and I dont want to be reading this nonsense again about a new Canon dslr . It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people that think its ok to fork out this kind of money and get a faulty product .
Canon cannot afford another balls up regarding new cameras !

Oct 07, 2009 at 08:55 PM

PhotogDave
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p.3 #23 · Major 7D focus issues

OMFG!. Why is it anytime anyone has a focusing issue with Canon its always "User Error"
And the comment:

yeah those shutter speeds are WAY too slow for such a high density sensor!
Are you kidding. WTF does pixel density have to do with shutter speed and focus plane being behind the target. If you are gonna make an assessment about the image flaws, at least be smart about it.

And I'm sure he didnt focus on the nose, I'm sure it was a focus recompose method. Jesus, you guys always want to do anythting you can to make sure its "User Error"

And the slow shutter speed would render nothing in sharp focus if it were the issue, yet you can clearly see the plain of focus in areas not intended. Cant even identify camera shake vs focus error. I'm convinced most peopel on web saying they have no issues, cant identify an issue if they had one. If he sells to Getty, he knows what he's doing.

Also, how the hell would the focus sensor pick up shirt contrast if it were on the teeth area. The focus point isnt that much larger than the box. And again, I'm sure the target was the eye, then recompose.

DOF aside, why cant Canon make a camera that consistently focuses correctly at large apertures. Nikon does. My 1D3 has been a joke. Now it looks like several 7D bodies are starting to follow the same path.

Ian also states his 1D is perfect, so why is he can focus correctly with that camera, but not the 7D. And you people who think these cameras are so hard to set up. Please. Dont try and make yourselves look so damn smart. Its not hard to set up. Anyone with photography experience can figure these out without a manual. Seems Conrad did. And to his pictures that all seem to be perfect. Again, I see the increased noise in the background from oversharpening and also, he is using a 7.1-8.0 aperture on these shots. The DOF is probably masking focus issues then. But just with my 1D3, use a wide aperture like 2.8 and the focus issue creep up and slap you in the face. Yet, I can mount a 70-200 f2.8 VR on a D3(which I dont own...or "know how to set up) and with even less DOF, get perfectly focus shots wherever I point the sensor. Hmmm, so people that use Canon and cant get focus shots are idiots, yet if they use Nikon, its seems to be fine. So a Nikon will focus for an idiot, but Canon wont. Seems Nikon doesnt discriminate then huh.

Its Canons new MO. Everything they produce from the 1D3 forward sucks. All over the place with inconsistent focus. Its rediculous how much you have to send Canon junk in for service. I really hope these issues on the 7D are just bad copies and they straighten this mess out quickly. If not, the 1D3 gets sold and I leave to Nikon. I think Canon has changed its Quality Inspection process and maybe some development engineers or something, cause they have been chasing the 1DII dinasour for a while and cant seem to catch it.

Oct 07, 2009 at 09:16 PM

Mike Farren
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p.3 #24 · Major 7D focus issues

PhotogDave wrote:
Its Canons new MO. Everything they produce from the 1D3 forward sucks.

! That's a bit strong based on the evidence of one person complaining of focus issues on their 7D. You're right to say that people shouldn't jump on the OP but to then engage in such ridiculous hyperbole weakens your point somewhat!

Me, I'm still saving for my 7D.

Oct 07, 2009 at 09:23 PM

PhotogDave
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p.3 #25 · Major 7D focus issues

Its not just one guy Mike. Read the posts just here alone on FM about the issues with this camera that hasnt even been selling a month yet....even after Canons past with the 1D3....they still are letting out some lemons.

I know they cant manufacture 100%. I get that, I worked at a Mercedes plant OK. But, its not just a few so far. Google search it on the 7D and these are already starting to pop up everywhere. I dont know if Canon can right the ship if they dont put these fires out quickly. People can call it user error if they want, but when thousands all over start buying and they cant get it to focus like the Nikon equivalents, or even their older Canons, they'll figure out its not them and give up on Canon. Dont misunderstand, I really hope this is all a small batch of bad cameras. Casue I want to replace my 1D3 with a 1D4 thats better. But I doubt it based on the try after try with the 1D3 that still isnt right. I tend to believe this is Canons new MO. Thing is, I'm not gonna act like everything is right with Canon when it aint just for the love affair. Damn that. I want a camera that focuses, and yes they're out there, Nikon has a slew of them.

Oct 07, 2009 at 10:03 PM


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