topic Re: EOS 80D not focusing in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS 80D not focusing

michaelk2 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 20:52:42 GMT

yesterday I was out shooting and halfway through I changed my focus points and when i went to start shooting again the camera wouldn't focus on anything. and sometimes wont even take a picture.

I have look at a bunch of different videos trying stuff but nothing has worked.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

kvbarkley — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:04:12 GMT

Did you try another lens?

Did you try to reset the camera?

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

michaelk2 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:12:56 GMT

i have done both of those.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:20:08 GMT

What happens if you switch the lens to manual focus?

Does the shutter fire with lens off the camera?

What happens if you shift to Live View?

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

michaelk2 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:42:43 GMT

the camera is able to shoot in manual focus and without the lens on but won't do anything with autofocus switched on.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:44:28 GMT

Is that both in OVF and Live View?

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

deebatman316 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:45:23 GMT

Will the lens focus in live view mode. Ie (using the rear LCD screen to compose and take a shot). If it works there's a problem with the dedicated viewfinder AF system.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

michaelk2 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:52:59 GMT

the camera will not shoot in either view. but if I go into the custom function and switch the setting for the half pressed shutter button to metering start it will shoot. but if it set to autofocus and metering then it will not.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

deebatman316 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:03:11 GMT

Are you trying to shoot in low light or low contrast. Will the camera achieve focus with built-in flash providing an AF Assist Beam "disco flash" or if you use an external speedlite's AF Assist Beam. The AF Assist Beam from a speedlite can be "IR" or Intermittent Flash Firing/ "disco flash".

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:08:11 GMT

@michaelk2 wrote:
the camera will not shoot in either view. but if I go into the custom function and switch the setting for the half pressed shutter button to metering start it will shoot. but if it set to autofocus and metering then it will not.

You said you reset the camera, but it looks like you didn't also clear all custom functions.

I suggest you do that.

Your original post states that you were taking images and all worked well. You changed focus points and it stopped focusing. Was that a matter of a few minutes?

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

michaelk2 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:10:59 GMT

the flash didn't help with the focusing and it still wont shoot even with the flash going off.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

deebatman316 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:13:43 GMT

Does the item your taking a picture have contrast. The viewfinder AF system relies on contrast to find focus. For instance the camera won't focus on a clear blue sky because it lacks contrast. Also are you taking pictures inside. This can affect the AF system if its dark inside.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

michaelk2 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:17:12 GMT

when I reset the camera I also cleared the custom function settings.

when I was out shooting I took a picture changed the focus points then tried to take a picture again but then it wasn't focusing. so in the time it took me to select a new point it stopped focusing.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

deebatman316 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:36:47 GMT

Since you reset the camera back to factory default. Will the camera take a picture in Full Auto (A+ Mode). Also what are your shooting conditions ie the lighting and contrast.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:40:56 GMT

@michaelk2 wrote:
when I reset the camera I also cleared the custom function settings.
when I was out shooting I took a picture changed the focus points then tried to take a picture again but then it wasn't focusing. so in the time it took me to select a new point it stopped focusing.

Since the time between working an not seems like it was minutes it is likely the problem is camera related. Just shot gunning here since you've tried everything else.

Remove battery and SD card from camera. Power on and cycle the shutter button a few times.

Reinstall battery and card and try again.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

michaelk2 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:42:57 GMT

with it in full auto it sometimes takes a picture and other times it doesn't. right now I am in my house with a lights set up but on the day it stopped it was a bright and sunny day and I was outside.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

deebatman316 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:48:54 GMT

It can be bright and sunny but if the subject lacks contrast. The camera won't lock focus and won't take a picture.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

michaelk2 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:57:13 GMT

that did not work. at this point I think I'm going to take it in and get looked at. I think someone who knows what they are doing with there hands on it would have to best chance.

Re: EOS 80D not focusing

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 23:03:31 GMT

@michaelk2 wrote:
that did not work. at this point I think I'm going to take it in and get looked at. I think someone who knows what they are doing with there hands on it would have to best chance.

Agree.