Issue with Focusing?

Discussion in 'Technical Troubleshooting' started by bkc134, May 4, 2019.

  1. bkc134

    bkc134 New Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    5
    Equipment:
    Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
    I usually shoot photos of my dogs and/or food photography, but the last couple of days my shots look as though the objects are moving really fast when they're completely still. GD2A6685.JPG I've attached a photo to show what I mean as I'm not sure I'm explaining it properly. I'm not sure if the settings were somehow changed or if there's an issue with my lens or camera. I've tried resetting the settings on the camera and I'm still having the same issue. Any ideas what may be causing this?
     

  2. rayallen

    rayallen Well-Known Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2017
    Messages:
    1,277
    I think that we need more information before we can help you. What camera and lens were you using, focal length setting, shutter speed, f stop, ISO?
     
  3. bkc134

    bkc134 New Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    5
    Equipment:
    Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
    I use a canon 5D Mark III and a 24-70mm f/2.8 L II. I usually shoot in Tv mode at 640 or 800 and f stop varies. I usually have my lens all the way zoomed in.
     
  4. rayallen

    rayallen Well-Known Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2017
    Messages:
    1,277
    I don't mean generally. I mean the precise details for the image you have presented.
     
  5. bkc134

    bkc134 New Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    5
    Equipment:
    Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
    F/2.8, expose time 1/160 sec iso 100 exposure bias 0 step focal length 70mm
     
  6. rayallen

    rayallen Well-Known Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2017
    Messages:
    1,277
    Exposure looks OK but at f2.8 you are going to get a very shallow DOF around the point you have focused on. It doesn't look like you have achieved critical focus. What focusing method are you using? For this type of work I would be using single point focus and probably on a tripod. Although your shutter speed is appropriate a tripod avoids any camera shake. You are nearly there, you just need to get the focus point exactly where you want it with no camera shake. Do you have IS switched on?

    Does anyone else have some thoughts on this?
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2019
  7. GDN

    GDN Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2018
    Messages:
    2,166
    Location:
    South Island, NZ
    Equipment:
    A little Canon stuff
    Nothing looks in focus, and yes it does look as if the food is on the move. You can see the out of focus points in front, and behind the point of focus.

    To trouble shoot this, do you get the same problem with another lens attached to your 5Diii? Can you turn off autofocus and manually focus and get a sharp image? What happens if you take an image at infinity?

    Can you clean the contacts on the body, and the lens and try again. I guess that you haven't dropped the lens or camera of late? No new funny rattles?

    Regards

    Gary
     
  8. Craig Sherriff

    Craig Sherriff Well-Known Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2017
    Messages:
    3,171
    Location:
    Tasmania, Australia
    Equipment:
    60D, 10D, 50D 1dmark3, T70, AV1, lenses ranging from 28mm to 600 mm, canonet Junior, Canonet QL 25, Mamiya C3 and 3 lens sets,Mamiya 645 pro TL and 3 lenses. Pentax MG and various lenses, Toyoview 4 * 5 inch large format camera,Calimat C1 8*10 inch ultra large format camera.
    There is not much more I can add but if the shot can be taken say 300 mm or 1 foot father away as it seen that the camera is a bit close to the subject and not letting the lens to focus as you have said Ray 2.8 has a very shallow depth of field, now I am fudging figures a bit but have a shutter speed of 200 on TV this, that is 2 stops of light, that should give a F stop of F8.0 a greater depth of field before and after the subject placing it in focus. To use Depth of Field tables I need to know the lens distance from subject. this would help.
    My last suggestion is the use of macro filters say 1+ or 2 +, this will allow the lens to get closer to the subject if it is too close for the lens.
     
  9. bkc134

    bkc134 New Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    5
    Equipment:
    Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
    Typically when I shoot in AV mode it is still tack sharp around the focus point and blurred in the background. When I'm out in the woods though I don't have the option of using the tripod, because I'm moving around too much. When I take photos of my dogs outside I shoot in TV mode with around 1/640 or 1/800 shutter speed. I haven't dropped or hit my camera at all. What is concerning to me is that I haven't changed how I'm shooting my photos, but all the sudden the pictures are coming out extremely blurry even when myself and the subject are completely still.

    EDIT: I'm thinking there is something wrong with the lens itself. I tried shooting with the original version of the lens (not the mark II I usually shoot with) and I don't have the issue with that lens.
     
  10. Craig Sherriff

    Craig Sherriff Well-Known Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2017
    Messages:
    3,171
    Location:
    Tasmania, Australia
    Equipment:
    60D, 10D, 50D 1dmark3, T70, AV1, lenses ranging from 28mm to 600 mm, canonet Junior, Canonet QL 25, Mamiya C3 and 3 lens sets,Mamiya 645 pro TL and 3 lenses. Pentax MG and various lenses, Toyoview 4 * 5 inch large format camera,Calimat C1 8*10 inch ultra large format camera.
    Without seeing the lens you might have to have the lens tested by a technician as something seems to be out of wack with it. I am not familiar with the process but I believe they focus on a scale and adjust the focus, all the best with it.
     
  11. porkphoto

    porkphoto Well-Known Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 9, 2017
    Messages:
    871
    Location:
    Southern California, USA
    Equipment:
    Cameras 1DmkIII, 1DSmkII, 50d, 7d, 6d, 70d, 5Ds ,90D , R7, R5
    Lens 17-40 f4L, 24-70 f4L IS, 100 f2.8L IS macro, 200 f2.8L, 300 f4L IS, 300 f2.8L, 100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS, 500mm f4L IS
    Hmmm...I would do the following and analyze your shots again.
    1: get off of f2.8, stop down 2 or 3 stops
    2: get off of 70mm
    3: accomplish mfa on the camera/lens combination
    4: re-analyze your shots
    Good luck I hope you can figure this out, it sure is puzzling. It could be that you are closer to the subject than its closest focusing distance.
     
  12. bkc134

    bkc134 New Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    5
    Equipment:
    Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
    Yes, I’m going to send it to a canon facility to have it looked at since it’s within the year of warranty. I wasn’t sure if it was an issue with the camera or lens itself but I’ve been using my other lenses and haven’t had the issue. Not sure if the lens is misaligned or what the problem would be. I have tried adjusting multiple settings and shooting different locations and subjects all with the same problem with my mark II version.
     
  13. Craig Sherriff

    Craig Sherriff Well-Known Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2017
    Messages:
    3,171
    Location:
    Tasmania, Australia
    Equipment:
    60D, 10D, 50D 1dmark3, T70, AV1, lenses ranging from 28mm to 600 mm, canonet Junior, Canonet QL 25, Mamiya C3 and 3 lens sets,Mamiya 645 pro TL and 3 lenses. Pentax MG and various lenses, Toyoview 4 * 5 inch large format camera,Calimat C1 8*10 inch ultra large format camera.
    Taking it to Canon is your best option especially since it is under warranty, like all mechanical \ electronic things mass produced there will be errors creep into the final produce.
     
  14. rayallen

    rayallen Well-Known Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2017
    Messages:
    1,277
    I think that you have made a wise decision. It sounds like the lens may have a decentred element. If that is the case, you may end up with a new lens as a replacement. I'm sure they will sort it for you if it is under warranty.
     

Share This Page