topic Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Inconsistent focus with 70D

paulbpilot — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 23:45:30 GMT

I'm struggling with gettng consisten focus results with my 70D. I can take two shots, one auto-focused right atfter the other, restablishing focus for each, and get very different focus results.

The setup:

Mode: AV

Lens: New Canon 70-20 mm 2.8 IS USM, zoomed to max

ISO: Auto

Style: Standard or Auto

Single Shot

Single point focus

Shooting across my back yard, approx 75 ft at woodend fence that contains lots of grain, and high contrast weathering. I can take on shot, handheld, refocus on another object, come back to the exact same spot on the fence, re-foucs and shot. One pic will be tack sharp on close inspection (fine grain in the wood is crisp) the other will have all the wood grain blured out with no definition. What the heck is going on?

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

Yorptunes — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 01:29:12 GMT

I have a new 70D and went out shot some test frames at about 75 feet using my canon 70-200 1:2.8. I shot on AV with auto focus through the viewfinder. My lens was set to 2.5 mm oo, with stabalizer mode on 1, stabalizer on.

My test frames came out identical. I up loaded them to my MAC Pro using a 42 incc monitor. I could not see any difference.

I am sure you doubled checked all your settings, if so I have no idea why your not getting considtent auto focus.

John

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

Yorptunes — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 01:30:42 GMT

On second thought try using a tripod and see if there is any improvement.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

paulbpilot — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 03:32:16 GMT

Definately looks like focus and not camera shake. I was shooting in broad daylight at 2.8. Didn't note shutter speed, but it woulda be fast. What's puzzles me, is that the only vaiable in the equation is the focus on a new object inbetween the shots. I never moved, changed a setting, or anything. It's strange for sure.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

ebiggs1 — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:10:39 GMT

Paul, "... is that the only vaiable in the equation is ..." and you!

Even at high shutter speeds you can get movement just not as likelky.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

paulbpilot — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 01:00:35 GMT

If focus. Not movement.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

Maria — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 01:21:04 GMT

Makes me wonder more about my issues with my new 70d .... Would sort of explain why some back to back shots are in focus and some not... Or in my case 'sharp' - I can't tell if which...

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

paulbpilot — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 02:48:29 GMT

Yep. At first I thought it might be the Tamron lens I'm using, because they don't yet say it's fully 70D compatible. Still testing. But a new Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II should be spot on.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

SGFFX — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 02:54:03 GMT

Are you manually setting an AF point? If so, try putting that AF point on the same spot every time.
Another thought: did the light change between shots? There may have only been seconds between shots but maybe the sun went behind a cloud and there was less contrast for AF to use.

Lastly, I have a 6D and was seeing inconsistent focusing. I shoot in RAW and I have turned off High ISO Noise Reduction (this is one parameter that is applied even in RAW). This made a big difference in correcting "softness" in the focus.

Note that even when shooting in RAW what you see on the LCD is jpg. So any optional "enhancements" are applied to the LCD image and will not be applied to the RAW image file. In other words what you see on the LCD in not necessarily what you will see in the image file. If you turn off all of the corrective/enhancement settings then RAW and what you see an the LCD should be very similar. This last suggestion only matters if you shoot RAW.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

ScottyP — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 19:48:05 GMT

I'm with SGFFX. Are you using just the center AF point, or are you letting the camera pick whatever points it feels like?

Try something other than the fence. Try an actual object/target that stands out away from the background. A fence sounds like it would kind of BE the background, and it could be hard to get the camera to grab just one part of it without a clearer subject in the foreground.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

Ifly1956 — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 14:07:31 GMT

The 70d will allow you to display the focus points the camera used when you view the pictures with the cannon software. Turn this option on, and retry your tests. If the focus points are not the same, you really are not shooting the same picture each time, as the camera is focusing on different points.

This also lets your see the focus point, enlarge the picture, and see if that spot is tack sharp. This will let you know if it's the camera or the lens.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

Duped — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 08:32:43 GMT

I have this problem too. Canon EOS 70D. 50 mm f1.8 II lens. When I take two same shots (on a tripod, exact same distance (7 feet, camera on two-second shutter delay, with on camera manual flash set at minimum power, at f1.8, ISO 100, shutter set at 1/250s) of a plastic container with printed markings which I use as basis for gauging sharpness, one image would be tack sharp while one would be blurry. Did this test repeatedly. My 70D is a lemon. Dreading the day too that it would for no reaon, suddenly die. Regretting buying the 70D. Regretting buying Canon. I got my 70D for its auto focus while shooting video. And I love it, except for these reasons.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

Waddizzle — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 12:50:26 GMT

@Duped wrote:
I have this problem too. Canon EOS 70D. 50 mm f1.8 II lens. When I take two same shots (on a tripod, exact same distance (7 feet, camera on two-second shutter delay, with on camera manual flash set at minimum power, at f1.8, ISO 100, shutter set at 1/250s) of a plastic container with printed markings which I use as basis for gauging sharpness, one image would be tack sharp while one would be blurry. Did this test repeatedly. My 70D is a lemon. Dreading the day too that it would for no reaon, suddenly die. Regretting buying the 70D. Regretting buying Canon. I got my 70D for its auto focus while shooting video. And I love it, except for these reasons.

Can you tell me which AF focus point the camera is using? If not, then you are most likely the problem, not the camera. If you are allowing the camera to select an AF point for you when you shoot still photos, then that is the problem. The camera will look for the nearest object to the camera and focus on that.

Learn how to select focus points. My advice is set the camera to always use the center AF point. I suggest using One Shot mode, too. Your lens is not the best Canon makes. In fact, it is one of the cheapest, and consistent, repeatable focus is not one of its' strong points.

If you are using a tripod with a two second delay, then how are activating the shutter? If you can afford the time for a two second delay, then I suggest that you manually focus the lens, using Live View to magnify the subject.

Re: Inconsistent focus with 70D

ebiggs1 — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:20:52 GMT

" I got my 70D for its auto focus while shooting video."

You need to cal one of the 'friendly' Canon Support people. You are doing something wrong and they can tell you exactly what.