topic Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues in EF & RF Lenses

Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

Dash — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 19:52:21 GMT

Hi, I covered a wedding yesterday. Used a 5Dmk111 and a Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11. A lot of my shots were at 24-30mm @ f2.8 or f3.2 and a large proportion of these were out of focus. The chosen focus point was in centre but the focus in the shots was at extreme left or right! I used the same camera body with a 70-200 F2.8 L without trouble.

The 24-70 lens is only 10 months old.

Been shooting for the last 30 years, so can confidently say "human error" is unlikely.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

ebiggs1 — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 10:46:58 GMT

"Been shooting for the last 30 years, so can confidently say "human error" is unlikely."

I am going out on a limb and guess "human error" is the cause. Of course there is always the posibility of equipment failure.

Barring that, however, you know very well (30 years worth) f2.8 is going to have shallow DOF and a slight miss focus point is going to result in what you are seeing in your photos.

On weddings I use center point only. Focus carefully and deliberately. Make sure your camera is not cocked slightly or angled toward the subject.

And, I always use two or more cameras!

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

TCampbell — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 12:23:00 GMT

Lots of questions spring to mind... primarily I'm wondering what AF point selection mode you were using since the 5D III is quite a bit more sophisticated than most other bodies and it is not at all unusual to find 5D III owners who aren't familiar with how they all work and why a person would select one over another.

Canon has a great article covering the focus system here: http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/1dx_guidebook.shtml (look near the lower left corner of that page and you'll find a link to download their PDF guide on the focus system.) They also have a number of instructional videos that they've recorded and posted to YouTube. You can search for info on the 1D X focus system as well as 5D III since both camera have the same options for AF point selection modes and tracking. They effectively have the same focus system (although there's one slightly nuance which Canon explains on that web page I linked above.)

Shooting everything mostly at f/2.8 is also not without it's own hazards. Subjects all need to be at the same focus distance rather than composed diagonally, etc. to keep everyone in the acceptable focus range.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

sandyn — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:01:21 GMT

I had a similar problem with my 24-70 f2.8. It turned out to be the UV filter. For some very strange reason the particular type of filter caused incorrect focussing (was in inexpensive filter). If I tried the same filter on my 200mm f2.8 it worked fine. Replacing with a Hoya cured the problem.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

Sksherwani — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 23:40:35 GMT

Hey Dash this happens to me sometime if I shoot on HSS, to prevent this stop using HSS then you will get sharp images on this same focal length and F-stop.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

Sksherwani — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 23:42:59 GMT

Hey sandyn can you please tell me which lens version you have 24-70mm 2.8 IS or IS ll??

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

Waddizzle — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 09:28:40 GMT

@sandyn wrote:
I had a similar problem with my 24-70 f2.8. It turned out to be the UV filter. For some very strange reason the particular type of filter caused incorrect focussing (was in inexpensive filter). If I tried the same filter on my 200mm f2.8 it worked fine. Replacing with a Hoya cured the problem.

I am not surprised by that news. I noticed the same issue with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lenses. My photos were softer when I used any kind of filter, except for a Clear protective filter, especially the 100-400.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

sandyn — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 15:22:46 GMT

It is the 24-70 2.8 MkII (I wish there was a IS version of the f2.8!:-) )

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

ebiggs1 — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 15:30:02 GMT

The Hoya is an Ok filter. The B+W 72mm XS-Pro Clear MRC-Nano 007 Filter is a great protecto filter. Don't forget the most important fact, filters remove just as easily as they went on. When in a situation where the filter may impact, very rare, the shot, take it off.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

ebiggs1 — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 15:36:37 GMT

"... the 24-70 2.8 MkII (I wish there was a IS version of the f2.8l"

I would guess you will get your wish. The next upgrade of this lens will probably have IS. In the meantime if you think it such a necessity, both the Tamron and Sigma models have IS or OS or VC or some other S ! The Tamron works well but the Sigma is just a switch on the side of the lens.

At one time no lens had IS and guess what we still managed to get the shots.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

RobertTheFat — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 16:18:00 GMT

@sandyn wrote:
It is the 24-70 2.8 MkII (I wish there was a IS version of the f2.8!:-) )

I see your point, but the Mk II is already big and heavy enough.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

ebiggs1 — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 16:47:31 GMT

"I see your point, but the Mk II is already big and heavy enough."

Not wishing for it or opposed to it, but the other makers seem to be able to include image stabilization. IMHO, image stabilization isn't a deal breaker or maker. It is the best lens of its kind made. All comers, no question.

"...big and heavy enough."

How about price? IS goes in, price goes up!

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

RobertTheFat — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:41:24 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"I see your point, but the Mk II is already big and heavy enough."

Not wishing for it or opposed to it, but the other makers seem to be able to include image stabilization. IMHO, image stabilization isn't a deal breaker or maker. It is the best lens of its kind made. All comers, no question.

"...big and heavy enough."

How about price? IS goes in, price goes up!

Yeah, that too. But I already have a 24-70 II, so I don't care what they do next.

Used the 24-70 (and occasionally the 70-200) in a volunteer photo shoot at our local library the other day. It went well enough that the client was pleased. 8^)

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

ebiggs1 — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 21:30:13 GMT

"It went well enough that the client was pleased."

And there lies the bottom line. No spec, no review , no MTF chart, no nothing, matters as long as the client is "pleased".

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

Sksherwani — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 11:46:55 GMT

Oh yes it’s USM not IS

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

Sksherwani — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 11:49:00 GMT

Oh yes it’s USM not IS, what’s a different between IS and USM I didn’t notice this before

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

RobertTheFat — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 12:41:12 GMT

@Sksherwani wrote:
Oh yes it’s USM not IS, what’s a different between IS and USM I didn’t notice this before

USM is the type of autofocus motor.

IS ("Image Stabilization") is a method of correcting for camera shake.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

ebiggs1 — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 15:08:05 GMT

"Oh yes it’s USM not IS, what’s a different between IS and USM I didn’t notice this before"

Wanting to drop two grand on a lens you may want to educate yourself better on what the lenses actually are and the nomenclature.

Re: Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 mk11 focusing issues

limvo05 — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 18:46:30 GMT

I am no expert in this arena, however, I do have the same lens and noticed a slight back focus with my 5Ds. After making a slight micro adjustment, the issue is resolved and I don't use any filter with it other than Lee's ND filters. That said, I don't do portrait or wedding, as said earlier, I am still learning how to take photos.

Cheers,