topic Re: EOS 6D Out of Focus in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS 6D Out of Focus

ivanti — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:52:26 GMT

Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

Shooting available fluorescent light at an all day, multi-day event when suddenly on day 2 or 3(?) started losing focus. First, slightly out of focus then completely out of focus. All subjects were at least 20-30 feet away. A couple of times, the shutter would not release. Over 2k photos had reasonably sharp focus. I did get samples (attached). I suspect a lens issue, but am not sure. Is there a setting that would cause this? Several times, I noticed changes to settings when pulling out of camera bag. Can autofocus lenses be fixed?

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

Tintype_18 — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:42:59 GMT

Does the camera have different settings for lighting as fluorescent, etc. That would be my first guess.

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

ivanti — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:52:01 GMT

Yes, however, the lighting was constant. My camera wasn't.

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

Peter — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 17:30:37 GMT

Is it hair on the two first pictures? Something in the way for the AF sensor?

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

shadowsports — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 17:49:49 GMT

Greetings,

Start with a simple inspection. Flashlight and airpuffer (puffer, not canned air). Remove the lens and inspect the mirror box with a flashlight. Remove any debris (airpuffer). Now check the lens (rear). Same drill (airpuffer) and light.

Remount the lens. Put Camera into M, Tv, Av, etc. Perform a full reset of main and custom (C) settings. Check the buttons on the lens. Ensure AF, turn off IS if on a tripod. Retest.

Your images depict a complete AF failure. If there is not a mechanical failure with the lens, its a setting or switch.

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

ivanti — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:19:05 GMT

Thanks, Rick. I will try this.

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

ivanti — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:07:43 GMT

Good catch. Hair is likely at a dog show. I didn't notice it when shooting.

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

ebiggs1 — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:03:12 GMT

First, "Can autofocus lenses be fixed?"

Yes they can but if you have the first version of the100-400mm zoom Canon probably can't service it. So you will need a private shop to do service which may be quite expensive. I doubt it is a hair on the AF mech. It would take a lot of hair to prevent it from working. However it never hurts to clean'er out once in a while.

What I would do is reset the 6D to factory and try again. You might want to do it on a bright sunny day outside. Set P mode. One shot and preferably just the center focus point. BTW for this test never use Ai-servo and a good idea to never use it at all (Ai-servo could have been the problem all along). ISO 200, WB daylight. Shoot several subjects, not just dogs, from varying distances and make sure there are vertical lines in some. If it doesn't work doing this test it needs service.

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

ebiggs1 — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:05:43 GMT

Keep in mind......................🤔

A full reset to factory is a critical step and mandatory.

Re: Canon 6D Mark I with Canon 100-400 EF IS lens

ivanti — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:21:36 GMT

Thanks. I did a reset. hopefully, I did a full reset, but I'm not sure. Since the problem wasn't consistent, it's going to take me longer to determine if that was the solution,

Re: EOS 6D Out of Focus

ebiggs1 — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:48:17 GMT

Menu>Tools tab>Clear all settings and also Clear all custom settings.

Do the test!

"You might want to do it on a bright sunny day outside. Set P mode. One shot and preferably just the center focus point. BTW for this test never use Ai-servo and a good idea to never use it at all (Ai-servo could have been the problem all along). ISO 200, WB daylight. Shoot several subjects, not just dogs, from varying distances and make sure there are vertical lines in some. If it doesn't work doing this test it needs service."

Re: EOS 6D Out of Focus

ivanti — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:21:51 GMT

Thanks! I will try that. I wasn't set to AI Servo, but when the issues started, I tried it. I had forgotten when to use it so I wanted to rule it out. For as bright as it appeared to be in that room, I really was having to crank up the ISO and I was getting too much grain.

Re: EOS 6D Out of Focus

ebiggs1 — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 14:42:25 GMT

Most people don't understand how Ai-servo or most of the other focus assisted modes work. 98% of the time One Shot will be the best focus mode to use. Ai-servo does not confirm focus achieved and will fire the shutter no matter what.

Re: EOS 6D Out of Focus

ivanti — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:45:41 GMT

Do you know if AI shows in the metadata? I'm wondering what my setting was when the focus problem occurred?

Re: EOS 6D Out of Focus

FloridaDrafter — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 18:04:12 GMT

@ivanti wrote:
Do you know if AI shows in the metadata? I'm wondering what my setting was when the focus problem occurred?

Yes. I opened two of the images you posted in DPP 4 (first and third) and the first one you used "AI servo", the third is "AI focus AF". I could also see the focus points the camera used.

Newton