topic Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem in EF & RF Lenses

EF 70-200 F2.8 L II USM Tracking and Focusing Problem

EthanMcMahon — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:59:39 GMT

I have an R7 (less than a year old) and an EF 70-200 F2.8 L II USM connected with the canon brand mount adapter. So far I’ve had no issues but recently my camera/lens has been having focusing issues, my camera in most instances will still track a subject and know what it’s supposed to focus on but my lens just won’t do it. I’ve cleaned the already very clean contacts, clean the lens glass, updated firmware gone through every setting in the camera. I’m really hoping it’s not something huge like the motor in the camera is going but if someone could please provide some insight.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

jrhoffman75 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:36:53 GMT

Check that the range switch on the lens is set to maximum range (1.2M-INF) and reset the camera and clear all custom functions. (There is no motor in the camera; focusing motor is in the lens.)

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

EthanMcMahon — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:51:08 GMT

My mistake for the confusion meant to say lens instead of camera, was typing this up in my car. Ive actually already reset the camera along with switching back and forth all switch on the camera.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

deebatman316 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 18:52:58 GMT

Canon has a list of which lenses are fully compatible with Dual Pixel Autofocus. EF or EF-S lenses released prior to 2009 are not fully compatible.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

EthanMcMahon — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 19:05:27 GMT

Could you possibly find a list of those lenses, I believe mine was release in 2010 and the list I found said it was “Maximum vertical and horizontal AF area of approx.100%”. This is also a new issue. I’ve done over 35 sports games with this camera and lens along with some events and street photography and had no issues until recently.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

deebatman316 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 19:16:53 GMT

Here is the list below. Also Canon has NEVER used an AF Motor in the camera body for AF. Nor does the EF-RF Mount adapter contain a motor for AF. All AF lenses for Canon have a motor in the lens. Aperture control is electronic and there is no mechanical aperture level. The mount is 100% electronic with no mechanical interface at all.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

EthanMcMahon — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 19:15:51 GMT

Yeah I have the EF 70-200 IS L II USM. Also don’t know if it’s relevant but I’m not shooting in H+ Continuous just H.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

deebatman316 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 19:18:39 GMT

I posted the wrong list in forum. I thought I posted the right list in the forum. I will correct it when I find the right one.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 22:15:00 GMT

I believe the II version of the lens came out in 2010.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

Tronhard — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 21:00:56 GMT

FWIW, I had one until recently and the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM came out in 2010, I bought mine in 2012.

Re: EOS R7 Tracking and Focusing Problem

deebatman316 — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 21:12:15 GMT

My uncle still owns the 70-200mm F/2.8 version 2. He purchased the lens new in 2013. My friend's dad still owns his copy from 2010. He pre-ordered his new in 2010 to replace the original non-IS F/2.8 model from 1995. I own the current 70-200mm F/2.8 version 3 lens.

Re: EF 70-200 F2.8 L II USM Tracking and Focusing Problem

Michieltje — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 21:07:33 GMT

Hi, I have the same problem, only with R6-body. I had it twice now, with some months in between without any issues. Executed all the actions you did as well after the 1st occurrence, but this weekend it ‘came back’. I am thinking if temperature might be an issue. On both occasions it was warm and sunny, camera out all day in direct sunlight (1st time was at an open field soccer tournament, 2nd occurrence during an airshow). Both times it happened after some hours (at the warmest hours of the day). Absolute temperature was about 32degC (90degF), so should be no issue, however direct sunlight might have heated the converter? I found, for the lens itself, direct sunlight should not be any problem because is a ‘special’ heat reflective coating. However the converter is all black, so might heat up (I did not check it at the time, but thought of it the day after). The morning after the 2nd occurrence, problem was ‘gone’. Autofocus and tracking functioned as normal.

I have no proof for the theory above, but might temperature be an issue at your side as well? At least curious to know!

Thanks for your reaction!

Re: EF 70-200 F2.8 L II USM Tracking and Focusing Problem

Tronhard — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 21:12:10 GMT

I notice you say you are shooting in H+ mode. Have you tried throttling back the frame-rate to just H? It may be because the lens cannot handle the rate of change and has suffered over time. If nothing else, worth a try...

Re: EF 70-200 F2.8 L II USM Tracking and Focusing Problem

Losart3d — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 07:29:02 GMT

I just noticed I have the same issue
Been doing mostly manual focus macro with my r5
This weekend I toon the levs out to a dress rehearsal and auto focus motor seemed dead 😞

Re: EF 70-200 F2.8 L II USM Tracking and Focusing Problem

Losart3d — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 07:46:27 GMT

Ok, so I just fixed mine

Have you by any means used macro rings with your lens?

It looks like the last time I used the macro rings, the lens was left in a wonky state where the autofocus wouldn't work

To fix it, I put on my macro ring and ran a couple of focus tests. The focus motor was operating the entire range. After I removed the macro ring, the lens started working correctly again. I am Not sure what that was about, but my macro rings are 3rd party and could be overdriving the lens 🤷🏻‍♂️