topic Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

jjjstc — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 01:18:41 GMT

I accidently pointed the camera to the sun and burned the AF. The three f/2.8 AF points fail in auto focusing, but the other 6 AF points can still work well.

What is the problem with those 3 AF points? Is there any part I can buy and change by myself? If sent to Canon for repair, how much will it cost?

Thanks,

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

kvbarkley — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 04:05:01 GMT

You burned out the phase detection autofocus chip in the mirror box. I have no idea how much it will cost.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

shadowsports — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 05:45:45 GMT

5D2... time for a new camera. OP, I'm sure you learned a valuable lesson too.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 14:58:43 GMT

" If sent to Canon for repair,..."

I doubt Canon will do anything as the 5D2 is beyond service life which is what your camera needs.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 15:21:41 GMT

"I accidently pointed the camera to the sun ..."

How long was the "accidentally pointed" time? DSLR's have a mirror in the viewfinder, which covers up most of the sensitive equipment most of the time. If you're looking at the Sun through your camera, you're really only damaging your eyes. When you take a photo you do expose all your camera's sensitive equipment to the Sun. A short glance at the Sun is unlikely to harm anything. Leaving your camera and lens, for that matter, pointed at the Sun for a long time can.

It also depends on what time of day and how intense the Sun is at that time. Sunrises or Sunsets for instance.

This small dose of Sun does not hurt anything, so it depends of how much and how long.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

kvbarkley — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 15:25:43 GMT

Except for autofocus where the chip is exposed through the partial silvering.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

jjjstc — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 15:41:21 GMT

I took the image of Mercury transit yesterday using my 5 inch telescope with a solar film covering the scope. My friend had a problem with his solar film, so I took mine onto his scope for testing. I covered my lens by a black jacket, but the jacket then fell off the ground. The scope was tracking the sun for at least ten minutes.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 15:54:54 GMT

"The scope was tracking the sun for at least ten minutes."

Not good!

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

jjjstc — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 15:59:41 GMT

Yes, I know. It is already burned. I can use the 6 f/5.6 AF points, but they are slow and not as accurate as the center f/2.8 AF point.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 15:59:42 GMT

"Except for autofocus where the chip is exposed through the partial silvering."

There is no except. If you read my post, it specifies "how long" and "most of the sensitive equipment". A short glance will not harm anything.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 16:03:03 GMT

" I know. It is already burned."

You can call Canon but I am pretty sure they won't repair a 5D2. You can try big repair shops like Midwest Camera Repair. If they have or can get parts, they will repair it.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

jjjstc — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:27:11 GMT

called Canon, and they still repair 5D2

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 20:41:30 GMT

Fantastic!

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

jjjstc — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 23:13:56 GMT

update:

Got email from Canon repair team. The AF sensor was melted, and the repair would cost $384.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

RobertTheFat — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 06:55:02 GMT

@jjjstc wrote:
update:

Got email from Canon repair team. The AF sensor was melted, and the repair would cost $384.

JJ

What's the going rate for a used 5D2? $384 for one that's been checked out by Canon may not be that bad a deal.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

ebiggs1 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:11:29 GMT

"$384 for one that's been checked out by Canon may not be that bad a deal."

I agree but $384 might also be a good down payment on a better 5D Mk III, or perhaps a Mk IV.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

jjjstc — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 19:31:06 GMT

just paid $384 to Canon. That is the easiest way for me.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

RobertTheFat — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:09:59 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"$384 for one that's been checked out by Canon may not be that bad a deal."

I agree but $384 might also be a good down payment on a better 5D Mk III, or perhaps a Mk IV.

For the type of work the OP cited (capturing a transit of Mercury), it isn't clear that the additional features of those more advanced cameras would contribute very much.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

ebiggs1 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 18:00:37 GMT

"...the additional features of those more advanced cameras would contribute very much."

I agree in specs but they offer younger gear. In the case of a Mk IV perhaps even new gear.

Re: three f/2.8 sensitive AF points failed in my 5D mark ii

Waddizzle — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 19:28:02 GMT

"...the additional features of those more advanced cameras would contribute very much."

I agree in specs but they offer younger gear. In the case of a Mk IV perhaps even new gear.

——————-

EOS Ra makes much more sense, if you want to go new. But I agree with Bob.