topic Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working in EF & RF Lenses

EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

canonbirds — Tue, 19 May 2020 20:50:14 GMT

Had this lens since Sep 2019 and worked beautifully for about 6-7 months and I've started noticing issues with it's AF for a couple months.

I mainly shoot birds, f/5.6 to f/8. IS mode set to 2 on the lens for movement. AI Servo on the camera body. Av mode on the camera body so it chooses the shutter speed, I only change the f-stop sometimes and possibly the ISO but not much (maybe 2-400). Like I said, it worked great for months and months had no issues.

Now with everything being exactly the same and still using multiple point AF it will not consistently focus on the bird I'm aiming directly at and clearly have in my sights. Press the shutter halfway down, you can hear the motors in the lens trying to work and it just doesn't focus on the subject anymore. Every now and then I might get lucky based on proximity.

I called Canon today and was on the phone 20 minutes explaining the issue. He said I would receive Emails with directions on mailing the lens to them. He repeated my Email address back to me perfectly and I have not received any notifications.

Should I clean the lens without the caps off in any way? Should I do anything before sending it or taking it to repair? Any help anyone can provide is much appreciated. I've taken great care of it and I kind of expect a $2k piece of equipment to work properly.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

kvbarkley — Wed, 20 May 2020 16:04:10 GMT

So the lens is moving but not getting the right focus point?

That could be the camera. Does it work in Live View?

Does the camera work with other lenses?

In any case, you might want to send the camera with the lens.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

Waddizzle — Wed, 20 May 2020 17:29:20 GMT

Your settings sound reasonable. Check your distance switch. The lens focuses faster on the 3-meter to Infinity range on distant objects. Are you using a teleconverter? What camera body are you using?

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

canonbirds — Wed, 20 May 2020 17:35:39 GMT

Yes, I've used my 18-135 on the camera and the AF seems to work fine. It's a less capable lens so it's difficult to compare it much more than that. Doesn't have an ultrasonic motor like the lens in question has. I feel like these motors inside the lens are too loud but I could be wrong.

The 100-400 just doesn't want to focus lightning quick anymore on the subject and sometimes just doesn't at all.

Yesterday was the last straw when I was aiming the center focus point (I have multiple focus points set around the center point) at a Pileated Woodpecker (not a small bird) on the ground, not moving. The entire head, body and everything was blurry. I halfway pressed the shutter several times and it just couldn't focus.

Side note: I have taught kids how to use robots and one of the sensors we use is the ultrasonic which uses ultrasonic waves that are sent out and bounce back to detect distance. It's essentially used for distance control in tandem with robot movement. I'm not a lens and camera expert but when a $2,000 lens says it has USM (ultrasonic motor) capability then I assume it uses the same idea for autofocusing on subjects, no? To me that is the aspect of the lens that is malfunctioning: the lens is having trouble with focusing because it can't correctly place the distance between it and the subject. But I don't really know, that's why I'm here.

Thanks for responding, appreciated.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

canonbirds — Wed, 20 May 2020 17:43:18 GMT

I've always had the distance switch set to Infinity and not Full I believe. I am not using a teleconverter or anything else on the lens, never used a hood either. Should I clean the actual lens? Could there be moisture or something blocking the AF from working properly?

Camera body is the 7D Mark II

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

kvbarkley — Wed, 20 May 2020 18:13:14 GMT

No, the ultrasonic refers to the tpe of motor, they also have STM and nano-USM now.

Lenses focus too far out for ultrasonic - though Polaroid used to have ultrasonic focusing.

The distance feedback comes from phase detection across the lens.

You still haven't said which camera.

Since LiveView uses contrast detection, it would be helpful if you tried that.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

canonbirds — Wed, 20 May 2020 18:19:55 GMT

Sorry, I replied to someone else with the body. It's a 7D Mark II.

Not familiar with what you keep referring to as Live View? Maybe I am but I can't recall anyone mentioning this when I was first was learning how to use the camera and lens through tutorial and practice.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

kvbarkley — Wed, 20 May 2020 20:07:26 GMT

It is when you use the sensor and not the viewfinder to compose and focus:

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

Waddizzle — Wed, 20 May 2020 20:16:02 GMT

@canonbirds wrote:
Yes, I've used my 18-135 on the camera and the AF seems to work fine. It's a less capable lens so it's difficult to compare it much more than that. Doesn't have an ultrasonic motor like the lens in question has. I feel like these motors inside the lens are too loud but I could be wrong.

The 100-400 just doesn't want to focus lightning quick anymore on the subject and sometimes just doesn't at all.

Thanks for responding, appreciated.

If the AF motors are suddenly louder than they were in the past, then contact Canon again. Your lens needs service.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

canonbirds — Wed, 20 May 2020 21:38:58 GMT

Thanks for that guide, I've never used Live View and couldn't imagine capturing birds like that but I could try.

Was playing around with it at home earlier just to double check the AF is screwed up and it couldn't focus on a black remote 5 feet in front of me but a couple feet past that black, red, and blue items on my dresser it focused on perfectly fine. I don't get it. I need to reach out to Canon again to send my lens in.

Thanks for your replies and insight.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

wq9nsc — Wed, 20 May 2020 22:12:46 GMT

You stated earlier that you have always had the distance switch set on infinity and not full. If the switch is still in that position, then it can't focus on a remote 5 feet away because it is restricted from focusing closer than 3 meters with the switch set to restrict the range.

As a quick test, set the camera to Av (aperture priority) mode and set your aperture to f8. While looking through the viewfinder, press the depth of field preview button and see if the viewfinder grows darker. The aperture should be wide open when focusing and if the aperture blades got stuck in a slightly closed position then AF becomes slow to impossible.

Rodger

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

Waddizzle — Wed, 20 May 2020 23:18:50 GMT

I totally agree with Rodger. If the distance switch is set to 3-meters to infinity, then it cannot focus on a subject that is only 5 feet away. You can confirm or deny this behavior by switching to One Shot AF mode. Set the switch to "Full", and observe the Minimum Focusing Distance spec. I think it right around 4.5 feet. You're cutting it pretty close.

In One Shot AF mode, the focus lock ball in the viewfinder may flash and then turn steady for a focus lock. When the camera cannot lock focus, then the focus lock ball will blink very rapidly. As a general rule, anything blinking in the viewfinder is an alert that you have done something wrong and the camera needs your help to resolve it.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

canonbirds — Wed, 20 May 2020 23:26:11 GMT

That makes sense, thanks. I checked it at full and it does focus on the remote now. I also pushed the depth of field button and the viewfinder grew darker. What does that tell me exactly?

However, when I'm in the field, even yesterday with the woodpecker it was further than 3m away so I don't get why it wouldn't focus on the bird. Maybe there were too many shadows but the lens didn't have problems like that the first 6 months.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

wq9nsc — Thu, 21 May 2020 00:53:54 GMT

The Depth of Field preview button steps the lens aperture down to the setting that will be used when actually taken the photo, otherwise the lens is left wide open for the brightest viewfinder display and best AF performance. When you pressed the button and the display dimmed it shows that the aperture in the lens is behaving normally.

The DoF preview button is a handy feature to use when you are trying to make sure that everything you want is in focus (from front to back). As the aperture is closed down, the depth of field increases and although the view grows darker in the viewfinder, you will be able to see what will and will not be in focus in the actual image.

How many AF points are you allowing the camera to use to achieve focus? With telephoto lens, both for sports and for wildlife, I most commonly restrict AF to a single point and sometimes a single point with expansion. Any chance you changed the AF point selection and that is causing the AF to now behave differently for you as it decides which AF points to use? For birds in flight, you probably want to use a single point with expansion but for a perched bird I would try using a single AF point to see how that works for you. The widest aperture with the 100-400 isn't fast enough to actuate the dual cross type sensors which provide the fastest and most accurate AF but that hasn't changed since you purchased the lens so that isn't the reason for a change in its focus performance.

Rodger

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

canonbirds — Thu, 21 May 2020 10:43:22 GMT

I use single point expansion where there is 4 around it like a cross. I've previously used more and didn't like the obstructed view or the results. I've also previously used just single point but that just doesn't work very well when I'm trying to capture small songbirds.

I've used this for a while so I think it could be something in the camera settings I've changed and just forgotten about. Possibly something in the AF menu or the menu where there are 6 options with the tracking features.

Thanks for the replies Rodger

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

ebiggs1 — Thu, 21 May 2020 14:10:56 GMT

"I've also previously used just single point but that just doesn't work very well when I'm trying to capture small songbirds."

Yes, yes it does and it is what you need to use. If you have a small bird and have other AF points available the lens may focus on a closer object (that's normal) and not the bird. Keep just the center point active, shut all the others off.

Here is what we should do. First reset the camera, BTW, what camera are we using? Anyway reset it to factory. (Menus, tools, clear all settings and clear all custom settings) Now set it to P mode, ISO 200, average WB. Select to use just the center AF point. Do not mess with or set any other setting, only those I recommended. Now make sure the lens is set to AF, full range and IS on. Double check.

Now go outside on a nice day and take random shots, Go to a park or some place nice. Don't shoot any birds just stuff, anything. If your camera/lens makes good shots, nice focus, exposure, there is nothing wrong with it or the lens.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

Waddizzle — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:17:38 GMT

@canonbirds wrote:
I use single point expansion where there is 4 around it like a cross. I've previously used more and didn't like the obstructed view or the results. I've also previously used just single point but that just doesn't work very well when I'm trying to capture small songbirds.

I've used this for a while so I think it could be something in the camera settings I've changed and just forgotten about. Possibly something in the AF menu or the menu where there are 6 options with the tracking features.

Thanks for the replies Rodger

Exactly, losing track of setting changes is one reason why I have saved custom shooting modes for action and wildlife photography. I have disabled the automatic update to the custom shooting mode settings. You might consider this for your 7D2

I call C1 "bird on a branch" mode. It uses just the center AF point, One Shot AF mode, Single Shot drive mode, and back button focus. I use center weighted metering, too. Pick your favorite shooting mode.

I call C2 'action photography" mode. It uses the center AF point as the starting point for tracking. It uses AI Servo AF mode, Continuous drive mode. I use the BBF button for [AF-OFF], though, instead of the more typical [AF-ON]. I use evaluative metering, but I may change it to center weighted average.

If you are only using the center AF point, or just the center and its' assist points, then the AF Case settings are moot and become totally meaningless. The case settings only apply to AF tracking in Zone AF or with all AF points enabled. If you are only using the center AF point, then you the photographer are doing 100% of the AF tracking, not the camera.

[EDIT]. One benefit of saving these custom shooting modes is that a standard camera reset does not clear them out.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

canonbirds — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:44:49 GMT

I may try that at some point with the custom settings. I didn't realize the tracking menu was meaningless if you weren't using all 65 points, I guess that makes sense.

I still feel like it may be a camera setting I changed at some point and just forgot because I have months and months of being out in the field with great, sharp pictures using AF expansion (4-point cross shape) on small birds, large birds, medium-sized birds, birds in flight, you name it, I've got it.

It's a setting that's preventing me from autofocusing and I don't know what that is, or it's the lens.

Thanks for the replies

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

Waddizzle — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:56:50 GMT

@canonbirds wrote:
I may try that at some point with the custom settings. I didn't realize the tracking menu was meaningless if you weren't using all 65 points, I guess that makes sense.

I still feel like it may be a camera setting I changed at some point and just forgot because I have months and months of being out in the field with great, sharp pictures using AF expansion (4-point cross shape) on small birds, large birds, medium-sized birds, birds in flight, you name it, I've got it.

It's a setting that's preventing me from autofocusing and I don't know what that is, or it's the lens.

Thanks for the replies

Follow Ernie's advice to reset the camera. Some setting have their own reset. The AF Case settings, Custom Shooting Modes, Custom Controls, and a couple of other topics have their own separate reset.

Speaking of Custom Controls, press the [AF-ON] button, just in case you set up BBF and have forgotten about. It.

Re: EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Autofocus suddenly not working

wq9nsc — Thu, 21 May 2020 17:53:39 GMT

The 7D Mark II may be different from the 1DX and 1DX II where AF cases 1 through 4 are also applicable to single point AF with only 5 and 6 not applicable to a single AF point. The 1DX III is a little different with only 4 cases but a lot more is done by the camera. So check the AF guide for the 7D II to ascertain exactly what is happening/being modified as you step through the cases and whether you accidentally modified the settings for the case you are using. To get around all of this I would first test AF in one shot mode so that AI servo and the various cases/modifications don't come into play.

Another option that is probably in the 7D II is how priority is biased for the first shot and then for subsequent shots in a burst mode where you can bias towards shutter release over focus or focus over shutter release. If it is biased towards focus, it could increase lag before the shutter releases but it would NOT slow actual focus speed. But if you go with shutter release priority, then it does increase the likelihood of getting more out of focus shots.

Rodger