This new firmware does not solve the problem, I have the latest firmware on both camera and the lens, and I have run my tests. Also, the FW change log does not tell that I would solve the problem.
Today I compared RF 70-200 and EF 70-200 2.8 IS (the lens I have had15 years). I made the tests at 1.4 m (4.6 feet) as this is the MFD for the EF lens. There were no difference between AF and MF with the EF lens. With RF lens AF does not hit the target (at 1.4 m), but RF with manual focus give the best (sharpest) results, sharper than EF (of course). The RF lens focus problem is evident and very easily reproducible.
I will return the lens to retailer if Canon cannot confirm they do have solution for the problem. Waiting for CPS feedback if there is known solution for this problem.
Jesse Evans wrote:
I tested this, and using my eyes I get sharp focus, the Focus Guide shows you as out of focus when the point is tack sharp.
jkochuni wrote:
I tried manually focusing the lens with focus peaking, and my sharpest results were not in correlation with focus peaking’s confirmed focus.
Thanks. That actually make the most sense. At least to me.
Well I got some not great news on my lens today. A representative from Canon called to tell me that everything is within spec and they really don't see the problem. They have had the lens for 4 business days, unusual for a CPS Gold member repair (which she also mentioned on the phone, and said they have been running tests on it). She said that my lens is the only RF 70-200 they have received at the repair center (Virginia), and the only one with this problem.
The agent who called me is not a tech- she is customer service. I asked her if she could get the technicians to comment on whether A. they simply can't reproduce the front-focus error that I was seeing, or B. they can reproduce the front-focusing but this is simply deemed "within spec." I had sent them my test images on a SD card, and I also asked them to comment on what they see in my images are "in spec." She said she would see if they can relay to her that information and will call me back.
As I wait for the answer on that question, it is clear that there is nothing Canon is going to do for this lens to fix it. I will run my tests again when it comes back, but then I think I will go for an exchange with the retailer. That will give me one more copy to test, however I am not that optimistic. If that lens is flawed too, then I face a choice, as my return window expires on 12/25.
Is a lens that is flawed and essentially unusable from .7m to somewhere around 1.5m (I will need to run tests to confirm this latter number of where the problem ends in the distance scale) acceptable? After all, the MFD on the old EF lenses is 1.2. So basically we lose that "upgrade" spec, but the rest of the attributes of the lens are still excellent. I have some wonderful images I've taken with it at distances far beyond MFD, and shooting at MFD would not be my main use for this lens. But it certainly is a disappointment that Canon made a lens this expensive that has such a huge and easily reproducible flaw. And as I shoot with this lens, it will be a pain to have to avoid using the lens near the 1.5m mark in practical use (or whatever that number is), or face blurry eyes in portraits, etc. There's no warning light or hard stop like hitting MFD to tell you you're inside the "front focus" zone. So inevitably as I use the lens but try to avoid getting too close, I will probably end up with a lot of throw-aways.
I just sold my EF 70-200 f2.8 IS II, in anticipation of this lens. So that brings me to my next option, which is to just return this lens altogether and then rent an EF version over the next 6 months or so, for the occasions I really need it. My fallback would be my 100mm 2.8 macro and 85mm 1.4 IS.
My advice to any of you sitting on a copy of this lens that exhibits the front focus problem is to send it in. Canon won't really know they have a problem on their hands from a bunch of threads on message boards and facebook groups, and as the lady told me my lens is the only one that's come in so far, (meaning nobody else has had the problem). So if you've got plenty of time on your return window, I would let them have a look which would at least help move the needle.
Ultimately I am also waiting for a proper review form lens rentals or digital picture. If there really are "good" copies and "bad" copies out there, then that is hopeful.
I don’t really want to pay the money to ship the lens to Canon when I can just return it to Amazon and move on with my life if they don’t issue a firmware upgrade to fix the issue.
I'm seeing the same issue with mine. I called Canon US Support today, and they said they'll pay for shipping the lens to them (waiting for the UPS label). I'm a bit discouraged by this response that they'll simply state the same thing, and ship it back to me but I do think it's worth going through this to assure Canon gets the messages and does something about this issue.
jdavidse1901 wrote:
Well I got some not great news on my lens today. A representative from Canon called to tell me that everything is within spec and they really don't see the problem. They have had the lens for 4 business days, unusual for a CPS Gold member repair (which she also mentioned on the phone, and said they have been running tests on it). She said that my lens is the only RF 70-200 they have received at the repair center (Virginia), and the only one with this problem.
The agent who called me is not a tech- she is customer service. I asked her if she could get the technicians to comment on whether A. they simply can't reproduce the front-focus error that I was seeing, or B. they can reproduce the front-focusing but this is simply deemed "within spec." I had sent them my test images on a SD card, and I also asked them to comment on what they see in my images are "in spec." She said she would see if they can relay to her that information and will call me back.
As I wait for the answer on that question, it is clear that there is nothing Canon is going to do for this lens to fix it. I will run my tests again when it comes back, but then I think I will go for an exchange with the retailer. That will give me one more copy to test, however I am not that optimistic. If that lens is flawed too, then I face a choice, as my return window expires on 12/25.
Is a lens that is flawed and essentially unusable from .7m to somewhere around 1.5m (I will need to run tests to confirm this latter number of where the problem ends in the distance scale) acceptable? After all, the MFD on the old EF lenses is 1.2. So basically we lose that "upgrade" spec, but the rest of the attributes of the lens are still excellent. I have some wonderful images I've taken with it at distances far beyond MFD, and shooting at MFD would not be my main use for this lens. But it certainly is a disappointment that Canon made a lens this expensive that has such a huge and easily reproducible flaw. And as I shoot with this lens, it will be a pain to have to avoid using the lens near the 1.5m mark in practical use (or whatever that number is), or face blurry eyes in portraits, etc. There's no warning light or hard stop like hitting MFD to tell you you're inside the "front focus" zone. So inevitably as I use the lens but try to avoid getting too close, I will probably end up with a lot of throw-aways.
I just sold my EF 70-200 f2.8 IS II, in anticipation of this lens. So that brings me to my next option, which is to just return this lens altogether and then rent an EF version over the next 6 months or so, for the occasions I really need it. My fallback would be my 100mm 2.8 macro and 85mm 1.4 IS.
My advice to any of you sitting on a copy of this lens that exhibits the front focus problem is to send it in. Canon won't really know they have a problem on their hands from a bunch of threads on message boards and facebook groups, and as the lady told me my lens is the only one that's come in so far, (meaning nobody else has had the problem). So if you've got plenty of time on your return window, I would let them have a look which would at least help move the needle.
Ultimately I am also waiting for a proper review form lens rentals or digital picture. If there really are "good" copies and "bad" copies out there, then that is hopeful....Show more →
IMO that's worse then "not great news". I wouldn't want a lens that will produce soft results if I lock focus on something that happens to be within its problem distance range, no matter how good it is at other distances. That's just unacceptable, and certain to screw up a lot of photos over the years.
This lens along with the upcoming high resolution Canon mirrorless body were on my radar, but without any decent RF mount 70-200 I wouldn't consider the camera.
Canon just called me back, and she said the charts they have run are “zeroed” at all focal lengths and all focus distances. Essentially, they say the lens is working perfectly. It’ll be shipped back today. I’ll run my tests again when I receive it and post the results here
Tom_W wrote:
I wonder if they’re bench-testing the lens with calibration equipment instead of trying it on an actual camera.
That's a great point. These lenses may only have the problem in combination with with either a particular Canon camera model (there are only 2 possible at this point) or in combination with all RF mount cameras. It's possible this could be a camera firmware bug, a lens firmware bug, or both.
Tom_W wrote:
I wonder if they’re bench-testing the lens with calibration equipment instead of trying it on an actual camera.
Agree. This lens was not finalized when the R's and RP's started rolling with the all new 12 pin configuration on the RF mount. So maybe the problem is actually with the Camera and not the lens. If so, then it would seem logical that a camera firmware update might resolve the issue.
