topic Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues in Camera Software

Canon camera connect focus stacking issues

MarkP32 — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 17:33:49 GMT

I have a 70d. I've recently got 8nto macro using the old non-IS 100MM 2 8 lens. Today I found out the delights of using the CCC app to step focus for stacking. It's a bit slow but works fine for the most part except for one annoying thing that I can't figure out. When using the MF function to bracket focus for stacking the app will only focus in one direction. There are three pairs of arrows for stepping the focus forward or backward in differently sized increments. The arrows to the right of the shutter button work fine but the arrows to the left don't do anything.
I was running on the original firmware so thought it might need an upgrade but that made no difference - I'm now running 1.1.3
I haven't tried a different lens so might do that tomorrow but was wondering if anyone had any ideas.
Running Android 11. Have reconnected multiple times, turned the camera on and off, removed and reinserted the battery. Rebooted the phone and reinstalled the CCC software.
Can't think of anything else to try....

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

kvbarkley — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 01:20:53 GMT

Is this a stepping macro rail, or are you connecting to the camera?

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

MarkP32 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:16:18 GMT

Connecting to the camera via WiFi using camera connect

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

Waddizzle — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:27:10 GMT

Is the 70D a typo in your original post? You mention "focus bracketing", which is feature found in the 90D, not the 70D.

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

MarkP32 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:37:41 GMT

I actually meant I was manually focus bracketing using the stepping function within camera connect

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

Waddizzle — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 13:57:30 GMT

@MarkP32 wrote:
I have a 70d. I've recently got 8nto macro using the old non-IS 100MM 2 8 lens. Today I found out the delights of using the CCC app to step focus for stacking. It's a bit slow but works fine for the most part except for one annoying thing that I can't figure out. When using the MF function to bracket focus for stacking the app will only focus in one direction. There are three pairs of arrows for stepping the focus forward or backward in differently sized increments. The arrows to the right of the shutter button work fine but the arrows to the left don't do anything.
I was running on the original firmware so thought it might need an upgrade but that made no difference - I'm now running 1.1.3
I haven't tried a different lens so might do that tomorrow but was wondering if anyone had any ideas.
Running Android 11. Have reconnected multiple times, turned the camera on and off, removed and reinserted the battery. Rebooted the phone and reinstalled the CCC software.
Can't think of anything else to try....

This is very confusing. The 70D does not have "focus bracketing". Like most DSLRs of its' time, it has AEB, or Automatic Exposure Bracketing.

What is the "MF Function to bracket focus"? You say it only works in one direction. Are you saying the Camera Connect app has been updated to include a focus bracketing feature? The 70D should not be compatible with this feature of the 90D.

What pairs of arrows are you talking about? Can you show us a screenshot?

I wish that you could create a reply that better describes your issue.

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

kvbarkley — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 18:14:41 GMT

OK, it looks like he is using the Canon Connect App on his phone and manually stepping the focus in order to do focus bracketing manually.

It could be that various lenses/cameras have different abilities to control focus.

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

MarkP32 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 18:41:50 GMT

OK. So a reply I made earlier seems to not be here. KVBarkley is correct. I am manually stepping the focus using camera connect in order to produce a stack of images for macro photography. When I have everything connected I am able to step the focus in one direction (using the arrows pointing to the right) but I cannot move the focus back or in the other direction using the arrows pointing to the left.... I would have assumed that if the lens/camera was not compatible then I wouldn't be able to adjust focus in either direction.

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

jrhoffman75 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 19:24:12 GMT

@MarkP32 wrote:
OK. So a reply I made earlier seems to not be here. KVBarkley is correct. I am manually stepping the focus using camera connect in order to produce a stack of images for macro photography. When I have everything connected I am able to step the focus in one direction (using the arrows pointing to the right) but I cannot move the focus back or in the other direction using the arrows pointing to the left.... I would have assumed that if the lens/camera was not compatible then I wouldn't be able to adjust focus in either direction.

To be clear in my mind - are you saying that if you focus close and select the right arrow the lens will step towards infinity, but if you focus far and select the left arrow the lens won't step towards the camera?

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

MarkP32 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 19:32:24 GMT

Bingo... Exactly that... The left arrows do nothing regardless of where the focus is set. The right arrows will step the focus the full length of the lens motion. Once the lens has gone past where I want it to go in have to manually turn the focus ring on the lens back the other direction. The lens works fine in normal use ie when using AF not via the connect app.

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

jrhoffman75 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 19:46:57 GMT

Give Canon a call at 1-800-OK-CANON and report a bug.

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

kvbarkley — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 21:10:23 GMT

It might not be a bug, it might be a function of the lens. Have we established it happens on more than one lens?

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

MarkP32 — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 21:19:07 GMT

Not sure why the lens would focus in one direction and not the other. I have two bodies - both 70d - and it does the same thing on both. I have logged a ticket with the Canon support desk. The person I spoke to didn't really seem to know what I meant but he said he would get back to me by Monday.
I will try it with a different lens and see what happens.

Re: Canon camera connect focus stacking issues

MarkP32 — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:27:07 GMT

OK - so I rang Canon UK support. the person I spoke to took my details and promised an email or call back within 48 hours.

Nothing.

But. Weirdly, the issue resolved itself.

I took the batteries out of both cameras and recharged them,

When I replaced the batteries I tried the Macro lens again and it still wouldn't work. So I tried my 100-400 - that one worked.

Then my nifty 50 - that one worked. So I went back to the macro, fully expecting it not to work and, for no apparent reason - it now works.

Solved but no idea how...

Re: Canon camera connect ficus stacking issues

kvbarkley — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:31:25 GMT

@MarkP32 wrote:
Not sure why the lens would focus in one direction and not the other.
I will try it with a different lens and see what happens.

Control loops are funny things, especially if there is a lot of backlash or a dead zone in the system when you change direction. They might drive it one direction, and if it overshoots, rather than trying to correct in the reverse direction, just give it a big nudge and try again in the first direction.

But, this appears to be moot.