topic Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:10:03 GMT

Hello all,

I hope everyone is well.

I've been using my EOS600D for a while now. I've been very happy with it, but I do notice that sometimes it struggles to focus either through the screen or the viewfinder (terminology maybe off as I have next to no knowledge with cameras).

I use my camera to photograph items of clothing hung up on a hanger. I'll provide examples. The settings I use are 1/80, F8 and 1600 ISO. I also use the kit lens and take around 800-1000 photos per week, so I tend to use the lens until it dies, then I just replace it.

I've noticed that my camera has been struggling when I've been trying to take a profile picture of the item (the main photo). Whenever I zoom in, it works absolutely fine.

I'll include a video of the problem I'm dealing with. It's mainly the noise the camera makes as I had to hold my iphone next to it.

If anyone has advice, I'd massively appreciate it. I'm also open minded to a new camera. My main is to take as many photos as possible, as quickly as possible, with at least a good quality image (it's mainly used for eBay, Etsy etc).

Thank you!

Video:

Images:

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

rs-eos — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:15:39 GMT

@danielk17 wrote:
I also use the kit lens and take around 800-1000 photos per week, so I tend to use the lens until it dies, then I just replace it.

Are you saying that your kit lens breaks and you've been replacing that lens over and over? If so, there would seem to be a serious problem with your camera. Do you have access to another camera that you can try the lenses on?

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:28:31 GMT

Hi Ricky,

Thanks for your reply.

My kit lens breaks roughly ever year or so. Sorry, I didn't really explain that. My point was that I probably haven't invested heavily in a 'better' lens as I do around 1000 photos per week. I normally replace my kit lens maybe once every 2 years, sometimes less, sometimes more.

Thanks

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

Peter — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:49:08 GMT

What if you print this and try to use AF? I think low contrast for the AF.

http://www.clipartbest.com/chess-board-pattern

Will it work much better?

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:01:30 GMT

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your reply.

I'm not sure I understand properly. I should take a photo of the chessboard?

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

Peter — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:14:31 GMT

If the lens works with the chessboard and not the clothes, then the issue is low contrast.

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:23:21 GMT

Ohh, that's well clever! Thanks for that.

So I just take a photo of the screen with the chessboard? Or is it better to print off?

The problem is, my camera has been working fine. I've only noticed the last 2 days it's been struggling.

In terms of contrast, apologies if I sound stupid, but as the item is very bright on a white background, surely that's enough contrast?

Thanks

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

rs-eos — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:33:28 GMT

It should be, but what is the focusing mode your camera is set to? Spot? Evaluative? I would expect that if spot, it may struggle if what is at that spot is very flat color with little to no detail. Try evaluative instead.

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:58:45 GMT

Hi Ricky,

Thanks for the reply.

I've just checked my focusing mode. It's set to 'One Shot'. The selection is set to auto selection. Is this what you meant? I've googled spot and evaluative and I'm unsure if I can do something like that with my camera.

Thanks

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

Peter — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:27:11 GMT

You can use the computer screen with the chessboard pattern.

With 600D, only the centre AF point is cross type, meaning it detects vertical and horizontal lines. All the others detect only vertical or horisontal lines.

First picture from my 5D, the red AF point can only detect horisontal lines and will not lock on the vertical line.

Second picture from my 5D. Rotating the camera 45 degrees and the red AF point will now detect and lock on the line.

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

rs-eos — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:35:47 GMT

Sorry, meant to say "Metering Mode" and not focusing mode. See page 102 in the User Manual for details.

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

shadowsports — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 17:03:55 GMT

That noise the camera or lens is making in the first video sounds to me like cause for concern. Seriously, it sounded like a sick power saw. 😬

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:13:45 GMT

Hi Peter,

Thanks for that thorough response.

Yeah that makes complete sense. When I used to have problems with this, I realised that i had a manual focus point. I would change it back to automatic and it would work fine.

The problem is, on the main photo I'm trying to take, it's making that noise and not taking a photo when I have it set to automatic. If I change the point to the centre, it will take it... but then struggles for close up of the garments.

Hope that makes sense

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:14:22 GMT

Hi Rick!

Yeah I don't understand why it's doing it, it's almost as if it's struggling to know what to focus on. It's only just started doing this as well.

Thanks

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

Peter — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:46:31 GMT

Is the AF sound worse now than for one month ago?

If centre AF point works for everything else than close up it may indicate that there is no contrast for the AF to lock on.

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 11:51:19 GMT

Yeah it's worse. It's basically just not picking up anything.

The thing is, it was working absolutely fine, the products haven't changed at all. I understand that white items on a white background is hard.

I've contacted my local photography shop and he said the autofocus on the lens is on it's way out. He told me to revert to using an Iphone but I can't get the same quality.

Thanks for the help, I think I'll need to buy a new lens!

If you have any recommendation for a lens that would be great. My worry is, I wouldn't want it too expensive as I take 1000 photos per week and I know i'll be replacing them in the future.

Thanks!

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

Peter — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:20:15 GMT

You can get a kit lens for less than $50.

Re: Product Photograph: EOS 600D Struggling to focus through viewfinder

danielk17 — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:28:46 GMT

Yeah that's what I normally do. I was wondering whether it would be better to invest in something that'll last longer.

I'm fine buying a new lens though!

Thanks