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T8i lens calibration?

techcoast
Apprentice

I just bought the T8i, and for the most part I'm happy with it, except I'd like to get sharper images. I'm sure the camera is capable but I seem to be running into issues. SO, I tried setting up a calibration wedge and my lens shows that the 20cm to the back is sharper than the 20cm to the frontpyramid.jpg

 

. I can't find a setting to correct this. Am I SOL? Should I be sending the body back to Canon for re-tooling? How do I avoid this problem with other lenses I'll have down the line? I'm using tripods and remote shutter trigger, so it's as stable as it's gonna be (At least until I get a better tripod) but it's pretty solid. (No extension used on the tripod) Help!

9 REPLIES 9

FloridaDrafter
Authority
Authority

I'm pretty sure that the T8i does not have an AutoFocus MicroAdjustment (AFMA) feature, so I'm not sure how you would go about having that fine tuned.

Which lens are you using, f/stop, and what is the distance to the target?

Newton

Waddizzle
Legend
Legend

The Rebel Series of DSLRs does offer the lens focus calibration feature. At best, you could send the camera and lens to Canon to check focusing.  But, I am not certain if micro-adjustments are possible on a Rebel body.  

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"Fooling computers since 1972."

jrhoffman75
Legend
Legend

There is no in-camera adjustment possible with Rebels. Is this your only lens? If not, do other lenses have the same discrepancy.

You can send to body and lens to Canon and they will adjust both to factory specs.

John Hoffman
Conway, NH

1D X Mark III, M200, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, Lr Classic

techcoast
Apprentice

Oi. Not the news I wanted to hear. But thanks y'all. Any idea what the turn-around is for something like that? ? I do have the 55-200 as well, but haven't tried to shoot the calibration tool just yet. I'll try it later tonight and see if that's an issue. Thanks again.

I’ve sent a number of items to Canon for cleaning and adjustments. Turnaround was less than two weeks door to door. 

John Hoffman
Conway, NH

1D X Mark III, M200, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, Lr Classic

Previous responses are correct. There is no Micro Adjustment feature on the T8i or any of the other Rebel (or "Kiss" or EOS xxxD, xxxxD) series cameras. That feature is only found on the EOS xxD and xD series DSLRs. (It is also not a feature or even necessary on any of the mirrorless cameras.)

Honestly, I would forget about it. Throw that focus calibration tool in a drawer, go shoot and enjoy your camera.

You still haven't told us what lens you were testing for the sample photo. Maybe the EF-S 18-55mm? Or perhaps the EF-S 18-135mm? Those and the EF-S 55-250mm simply aren't critical of precision focus, the way large aperture lenses are. At "normal" shooting distances with those lenses the natural depth of field of f/3.5 to f/5.6 lens apertures will obscure any minor focus error.

In fact, you probably should try stopping down a little if sharp images are your goal. Most lenses are sharpest a stop or so smaller than their max aperture. And that stopping down will further increase your depth of field, making focus precision even less crucial.

By all means test your lenses.... go shoot a highly detailed, flat surface like a weathered fence or brick wall... keep parallel to the subject... shoot at different focal lengths and apertures to "learn" where you're lenses perform best.

Other things that can help sharpness...

  • Look at your camera holding technique and stance. Is it the best it can be?
  • Read up on and learn to use "hyperfocal focusing distances". There are apps you can put on your phone to help calculate the ideal distance, but it's also pretty easy to learn to eyeball it.
  • Remove any and  all filters that aren't serving a purpose.
  • Only use very high quality, multi-coated filters.
  • Keep your sensor clean. Of course keep the lens clean, too (especially the rear element).
  • If shooting very close, macro or nearly so, where depth of field is shallow, switch to Live View. This uses a different form of autofocus... slower, but more precise. 
  • Manual focus using Live View, using the magnification feature to check focus.
  • Use a good quality tripod and don't over-extend it.
  • Use a remote release (or use the self timer to delay shutter release, so you aren't touching the camera during exposure).
  • Keep IS...image stabilization... turned on (most lenses... there are five older Canon lenses where it needs to be turned off when on a tripod).
  • Learn "focus stacking" for macro and some landscape/architectural photography.
  • Avoid using too small lens aperture, which can cause diffraction that softens images. With a 24MP, APS-C camera like yours, I would probably try to use no smaller than f/11.
  • Don't evaluate image sharpness and focus accuracy at ridiculously high magnifications on your computer monitor.  A 24MP image "at 100%" on a typical monitor is like making a 3 foot by 5 foot print, then viewing it from 18 or 20" away. If you looked at the Mona Lisa that close, all you would see is Rembrandt's brush strokes! It's fine to use 100, 200% or higher while doing fine, precise image edits... but back off to maybe 24% or 33% for a more realistic evaluation of images sharpness and focus
  • Sharpen your images in post-processing. (This should be one of your last steps... after the image has been sized for its intended use.)

Stephen
Moderator
Moderator

Before you send it in, it'd be helpful to know which lens you're using, and the exact settings, as this could be absolutely normal for the shooting conditions. 

You might also try the test again in really good lighting without distractions in the background of the shot. 

wq9nsc
Elite
Elite

My first quality digital camera was a 1D Mark II I bought in 2005 and it was built before Canon included micro focus calibration by lens in the body.  I sent it and several L series lenses to Canon for calibration, at that time turn around was just over a week.

Pretty much all of my camera lenses are wide aperture and when I get a new body or lens, I immediately do a micro-focus calibration with the new gear.  IF the AF calibration is far enough off to impact your typical photography, then it is worthwhile to have the calibration done by Canon.

Rodger

EOS 1DX M3, 1DX M2, 1DX, 5DS R, M6 Mark II, 1D M2, EOS 650 (film), many lenses, XF400 video

kvbarkley
VIP
VIP

Does it happen in Live View?

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