topic Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

avimoore — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 21:29:48 GMT

Hi, a little while ago I bought a new Rebel T5i from Best Buy with money recieved from a warrantied T2i. I havent been using the T5i as much as I used to use my T2i, so it took a little while to notice this issue. It seems that the autofocus on my T5i is not focusing on what it intends to. It seems to be truely in focus a little behind what the camera will beep saying is in focus. It is especially noticeable with my 50mm f1.8 with a narrow depth of field. I use single point autofocus and the camera will say it is focused on a certain point in the frame, but then the picture will always be slightly out of focus, with whatever is slightly behind the subject looking a bit sharper. Anybody else have this problem? I can take some test shots and upload them too. It makes all pictures slightly off with every lens, so it also exagerates finging and abberation and blurriness that I didnt have when using the same lenses on my T2i.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

RobertTheFat — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 22:25:26 GMT

You have blundered onto one of the major annoyances of Canon's product line. Your camera needs autofocus microadjustment, which is a way to correct for slight mismatches between the focus calibration of the camera and one or more of its lenses. All of Canon's midrange and professional cameras currently have this feature, but Canon has resolutely resisted providing it on the Rebel series. So your choices are to 1) accept the situation and live with the fact that your kit isn't quite as sharp as it should be, 2) return the camera to Best Buy (if it isn't too late) and hope that its replacement will be better, or 3) send the camera and lenses to a Canon repair center for calibration.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

ScottyP — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:18:55 GMT

Yep. Camera is back focusing. Should be something you can fix yourself, and it would be if this were a 70d, 7d, or any of the full frame offerings. Inexplicably however Canon thinks of autofocus micro adjustment as a luxury feature to be withheld from the entry level cameras rather than as a necessary basic feature that helps the user cope with Canon's manufacturing goofs.

Maybe they will eventually change their thinking on this. Maybe they will develop a way for cameras to automatically perform AFMA as you shoot. Maybe not.

Mailing Canon your camera and lenses in cannot be much fun. Doing it again every time you buy a new lens seems like something that would make me reluctant to buy more lenses, which cannot be what Canon wants its customers to feel.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

RobertTheFat — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:47:59 GMT

@ScottyP wrote:
Yep. Camera is back focusing. Should be something you can fix yourself, and it would be if this were a 70d, 7d, or any of the full frame offerings. Inexplicably however Canon thinks of autofocus micro adjustment as a luxury feature to be withheld from the entry level cameras rather than as a necessary basic feature that helps the user cope with Canon's manufacturing goofs.

Maybe they will eventually change their thinking on this. Maybe they will develop a way for cameras to automatically perform AFMA as you shoot. Maybe not.

Mailing Canon your camera and lenses in cannot be much fun. Doing it again every time you buy a new lens seems like something that would make me reluctant to buy more lenses, which cannot be what Canon wants its customers to feel.

Well, my response has been to swear off of Rebels - which, in my case, may or may not be what Canon wants to hear.

My wife's T2i, a particularly good camera for its time, has receded into the technological past. (And it's infuriating not to be able to use DPP4 to edit its pictures.) So I'd like to get her a new camera for Christmas. She'd really prefer one of the new Rebels for its lighter weight. But they don't have AFMA, so I'm trying to talk her into a 7D Mk II. If I succeed, I suppose Canon will be happy. If not, I'll probably keep lending her my spare 7D, which is what I've been doing lately.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

TCampbell — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:05:22 GMT

A 70D is probably about as close to the weight of a Rebel as you can get and and still have AFMA.

A 7D II -- while a vastly higher performance camera -- will be noticeably heavier. But perhaps if you also snuck in a comfy strap ... that might end the complaint about weight. I find the weight complaint is more often actually a "comfort" complaint and I confess that the traditional neck strap isn't very comfortable to wear a camera for hours on end unless the camera is extremely light. I find the sling straps to be especially comfortable.

Meanwhile back to the OP's request...

The lack of AFMA is annoying especially since the need for AFMA is to compensate for inaccurate factory calibration because the distance from the secondary mirror down to the focus points has to be the same as the distance to the imaging sensor in order for the photograph to be in accurate focus when the focusing sensors say it would be in focus.

You can read this article: http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/12/this-lens-is-soft-and-other-myths

You have some choices... you could try to return the camera and hope for one that is calibrated closer to your old camra (which may also not have been accurate but each lens has a tolerance and each camera has a tolerance so if you happen to have a lens AND a camera that are both off by amounts that work well together you will believe that the camera and lens are fine -- until you try to use the same lens with a different body or the same body with a different lens. The issue mostly only shows up in lenses that have very shallow depth of field because lenses with larger depth of field wont reveal the issue.

When I shoot very shallow depth of field, you can switch to "live view". Live view uses a completely different focus system and due to the way it works, it wont be subject to the focus adjustment errors. When I shoot macro or food photgraphry I typically switch to manual focus anyway because it's too difficult to control the focus point and composition.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

ebiggs1 — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:25:28 GMT

Just pull back on the reins there cowboy! How many lenses are we talking about? You say all you current lenses are mis-focusing?

Although it is possible that several lenses can and wil be mis-focusing, it is unlikely. Especially all in the same direction? You are talking a small percentage that even do. Let alone all the lenses you have if it is more than two or three. Most are fine by a large margin. In your case the suggestion of returning the camera might be the best.

The average Rebel user is not into photography deep enough to do micro-adjusting so I see Canon's reasoning. Correct or not. Putting a feature into a Rebel is going to be more to the video and wi-fi arena than micro focus adjustment. That is where the Rebel user lives!

So, ITWM, I would return the camera or have it serviced.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

avimoore — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:22:57 GMT

Thanks for all the feedback. It's really hard to tell with lenses that have a wide depth of field, but it still just seems like every one of my 5 lenses are less sharp thn they were on my T2i. (50m f1.8, 18-135 stm, 70-200 f2.8, 10-18, and a 6.5mm fisheye. They all just seem like junk lenses now, even at fairly high apertures. And I know they were all tacks sharp on my T2i.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

RobertTheFat — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:36:08 GMT

@avimoore wrote:
Thanks for all the feedback. It's really hard to tell with lenses that have a wide depth of field, but it still just seems like every one of my 5 lenses are less sharp thn they were on my T2i. (50m f1.8, 18-135 stm, 70-200 f2.8, 10-18, and a 6.5mm fisheye. They all just seem like junk lenses now, even at fairly high apertures. And I know they were all tacks sharp on my T2i.

Not surprising. The T2i was one of the best Rebels.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

ebiggs1 — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:37:58 GMT

OK, so it really isn't "all" your lenses? It is pretty hard to see mis-focus on a 10-18mm unless you are shooting really close to the subject and have an open aperture. And you really can't mis-focus a 6.5mm fisheye. Could you share a before and after photo for us to see?

The 50mm f1.8, version 1 was/is not a great lens in the first place so I am going to move on from it. The 18-135mm and the 70-200mm should be pretty good with your new T5i. What 70-200mm f2.8 do you have? Is it the Canon brand? If it is I can understand the possibilty of an issue.

I would consider sending it along with the 18-135mm to Canon and have them looked at. Accept the others.

The T2i and the T3i and the T4i and the T5i are nearly the same camera. The featuers are what got changed. You are shooting the same sensor. The processor is different but I can't imagine the IQ can be much different.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

ThomD — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 23:47:18 GMT

I too have a t5i and have had it too long that returning it is not an option. I also have been noticing what looks to me like poor autofocus performance with the Canon 18-135. I just brought the body and this lens in to a reasonably respected Canon-authorized repair center here in NYC, namely Chrysler Camera/Phototech on 36th St. They say they don't see the focus error, and I don't think they're lying, they get great press about their work; and more importantly, they're not asking me for money to fix something they say is not broken.

So I'm mystified. My shots, even when taken with flash, are looking a bit soft to me on both this lens and my Sigma 50. Sigh.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

ThomD — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 23:49:59 GMT

I know how you feel; I have a t5i and I'm experiencing the same thing as you, almost exactly. More than one lens looks a bit soft. Did you ever come to a resolution of your problem?

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

Waddizzle — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 13:48:29 GMT

@ThomD wrote:
I know how you feel; I have a t5i and I'm experiencing the same thing as you, almost exactly. More than one lens looks a bit soft. Did you ever come to a resolution of your problem?

Which focus point(s) are you using? Which focus mode are you using?

What are your shooting? What are the conditions?

What lens are you using? What exposure settings?

How are you making the determination that "one lens looks a bit soft"? Which lens is it?

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

scottjg24 — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 20:52:58 GMT

When the Autofocus isn't as good as it should be, my Sigma 18-300mm lens has manual focus in which I had to use when attempting to photograph parakeet budgie birds. Your ket lens, or any lens should have both automatic and manual focus.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

damianwasser — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 19:10:55 GMT

I have the same exact issue. Missed focus on very close range or large apperture photos. I bought the camera outside of my country of residence and to make matters worse, I just started noticing this problem a couple of months ago. Thought it was the lense, so I interchanged lenses with my T3i and shot test shots with both cameras under exact same situations. T3i delivered crisp photos, while the T5i did not. Of course it is not noticeable when the depth of field is larger, but gets critical in some extreme situations. I mostly shoot macro, so for me it's super annoying. I found that after focusing I have to back off a little to get a truly sharp picture, otherwise my camera focuses a tiny bit behind the chosen focus point.

I think I'd better sell my crappy Canon T5i sooner than later and shift to my good old Nikon friends!

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

Waddizzle — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 23:14:16 GMT

@damianwasser wrote:
I have the same exact issue. Missed focus on very close range or large apperture photos. I bought the camera outside of my country of residence and to make matters worse, I just started noticing this problem a couple of months ago. Thought it was the lense, so I interchanged lenses with my T3i and shot test shots with both cameras under exact same situations. T3i delivered crisp photos, while the T5i did not. Of course it is not noticeable when the depth of field is larger, but gets critical in some extreme situations.

I mostly shoot macro, so for me it's super annoying. I found that after focusing I have to back off a little to get a truly sharp picture, otherwise my camera focuses a tiny bit behind the chosen focus point.
I think I'd better sell my crappy Canon T5i sooner than later and shift to my good old Nikon friends!

Sounds like a little operator error is creeping into the equation. Once you have achieved critical focus manually, switch the lens to MF mode. In fact, the lens should be in MF mode if you are manually focusing.

The very close range or large photo shooting scenarios usually add up to very narro depth of field. Have you ever tried focus stacking a series of macro shots?

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

damianwasser — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 01:37:31 GMT

@Waddizzle: I'm a seasoned jewelry photographer. I've been doing the same kind of job for more than 15 years. I've used Canon XTi, T2i, T3i, and now T5i. I'm used to working at the shortest possible distance and I've tried different lenses, but never had focus problems before. So "operator error" is out of the question. I even ruled that out by testing my T5i and T3i side by side under the same conditions of light, subject and exposure. The T3i performed as expected, while the T5i consistently focused a bit off towards the back of the photo. "Back focus" I think it's called. An easily solved problem in top tier cameras, but not possible in the Rebel series.

I know of the stacking technique, but that would usually be used to extend the DOF. Not applicable in my workflow, for it would substantially increase processing time.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

Waddizzle — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 12:39:32 GMT

@damianwasser wrote:
@Waddizzle: I'm a seasoned jewelry photographer. I've been doing the same kind of job for more than 15 years. ... So "operator error" is out of the question.

.... "Back focus" I think it's called. An easily solved problem in top tier cameras, but not possible in the Rebel series.

.... I know of the stacking technique, but that would usually be used to extend the DOF. Not applicable in my workflow, for it would substantially increase processing time.

In that case, you may have been making the same mistake for more than 15 years. Are you manually focusing, and then pressing the shutter with the lens set to AF? It really sounds like it.

I assume that you are using a tripod for your macro photography. If you are manually focusing the lens, then whether or not the body front or back focuses is irrelevant. But, that assume you switch the lens to MF. Leaving it as AF is a major mistake.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

RobertTheFat — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 00:46:29 GMT

@damianwasser wrote:
@Waddizzle: I'm a seasoned jewelry photographer. I've been doing the same kind of job for more than 15 years. I've used Canon XTi, T2i, T3i, and now T5i. I'm used to working at the shortest possible distance and I've tried different lenses, but never had focus problems before. So "operator error" is out of the question. I even ruled that out by testing my T5i and T3i side by side under the same conditions of light, subject and exposure. The T3i performed as expected, while the T5i consistently focused a bit off towards the back of the photo. "Back focus" I think it's called. An easily solved problem in top tier cameras, but not possible in the Rebel series.

I know of the stacking technique, but that would usually be used to extend the DOF. Not applicable in my workflow, for it would substantially increase processing time.

I think you may have exposed the crux of the matter. If you're a professional or semi-professional photographer, why are you using a Rebel (a product line that lacks autofocus microadjustment)? Sometimes you have to have the right equipment to get the right result.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

ebiggs1 — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 15:14:50 GMT

Robert, I wondered the same thing?

"...why are you using a Rebel (a product line that lacks autofocus microadjustment)? Sometimes you have to have the right equipment to get the right result."

To the OP...

"I even ruled that out by testing my T5i and T3i side by side under the same conditions of light, subject and exposure."

You realize it is the lens that does the focusing not the camera. What lens are you using? A very good lens for what you are shooting would be the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens.

Re: T5i Autofocus Not Accurate

damianwasser — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 15:31:16 GMT

I think we're missing the point here. Of course I could have a better camera/lens and there might also be a few workarounds to achieve correct focus, but the question here is that I'm doing the same job with my T3i and my T5i under the same conditions. The T3i achieves accurate focus in autofocus mode at the shortest possible distance of the lens, while the T5i does not.