Canon 60D out of focus through Viewfinder

[Squiddib]

Hi Guys, my old 60D workhorse camera has developed an issue.  Looking through the viewfinder everything is out of focus, settings and view.  The Diopoter does nothing to correct it, I tried cycling one click at a time through each of the diopters magnifications and it seems to make no difference.

This poor camera has taken well over 1 mil photos but its a good model for taking on holiday for widlife shots so I would like to get it resolved.  It was working correctly 2 weeks ago and has been stored in a padded camera bag since, so its a mystery why it should suddenly drop the focus.  All photos taken come out perfectly but its very hard chasing a bird in flight when its out of focus in the viewfinder.  Tried multipul lenses, not sure if anyone has any ideas or has heard of similar issues.

Many Thanks

[ezpop]

Did you check the focusing screen ?

[Squiddib]

Erm no, lol never even thought of it.  I will have to see if I have one of those tools laying about to check it, maybe just a reseat will help.  Thanks for the reply,

I will post an update once I have finished rummaging through boxes of camera bits to find that tool thingy-me-bob. 

[Squiddib]

Hi, I checked that focussing screen and its fine, I removed the screen and re-inserted it.  Looking through the viewfinder without the focussing screen the image is exactly the same, all of the camera settings are blurred to the point they are unreadable, re-inserting the focussing screen made no difference.  

Starting to wonder if the viewfinder has died.  Not sure if I can buy the viewfinder parts myself and install them, I am due to be heading away to Africa soon and would like it resolved before I go as all of my long lenses are callibrated to this camera.

Any other ideas would be very welcome.  Thank you

[ebiggs1]

"This poor camera has taken well over 1 mil photos but its a good model ..."

If that statement is true, which I am almost in unbelief , it is probably time to consider a new camera.  This would truly be a rarity.  I would not take it on a serious trip without a newer back-up camera.

[ebiggs1]

"Not sure if I can buy the viewfinder parts myself and install them, ..."

The viewfinder is optical so what would you replace?  Seriously consider a new replacement camera.

[RobertTheFat]

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@Squiddib wrote:

Hi, I checked that focussing screen and its fine, I removed the screen and re-inserted it.  Looking through the viewfinder without the focussing screen the image is exactly the same, all of the camera settings are blurred to the point they are unreadable, re-inserting the focussing screen made no difference.  

Starting to wonder if the viewfinder has died.  Not sure if I can buy the viewfinder parts myself and install them, I am due to be heading away to Africa soon and would like it resolved before I go as all of my long lenses are callibrated to this camera.

Any other ideas would be very welcome.  Thank you

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If you replace anything that involves the autofocus mechanism (and I guess the viewfinder does), you're going to have to recalibrate the lenses. So I don't see that as an issue.

And I agree with Ernie. For what your Africa trip is going to cost, the price of a 60D falls within roundoff error. Treat yourself to a new 70D or 7D2.

[Waddizzle]

How long is your Africa trip?  Push come to shove, try renting a camera, so that you can try it out.

[jrhoffman75]

As recommedned, new/rental should be a serious consideration for what is possibly a once in a lifetime trip.

Even if the photo count is 1/10 of what you estimate thats over the Canon rated life for the shutter.

You can get a refurb 70D from Canon for $730; any sort of repair to your camera would probably be close to half that, and its still a high-mileage camera when repaired.

[ebiggs1]

"Even if the photo count is 1/10 of what you estimate thats over the Canon rated life for the shutter."

To be honest it is unbelievable to the max!  I know of just a couple 1 series that made that number of actuation's.  300 to 400 thousand gets the best of them.  I know that is meaningless.   150 would be a high number for a xxD, IMHO.  But what do I know?