17-55 distant focus issues

[shoey]

Hey everyone,

Its been a while since i've posted anything, and it's a shame that now that i do, it's a problem.

Anyway, when i got my 17-55 the first copy seemed to front focus, so i sent it back and get a new one that did the same. Thinking lightening couldn't strike twice i sent my body off for re-focussing. Sure enough the body was out of focus. Thinking my problems were solved, i set about my ways thinking everything was fine, until yesterday.

There seems to be some trouble with focussing on distant objects at f/2.8 (wide-open), near focussing is still slightly OOF but only a couple of mm, so in real world photos it hasn't really bothered me, but the far focussing is a real issue. Has anyone else had this trouble?

Examples: All shot @2.8 @55mm (focus indicated with the red ring)

http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/01.jpg
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/01b.jpg
See, not too bad really!

http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/03.jpg
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/03b.jpg
Gets a bit worse sometimes(A more focussed than H)

http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/04.jpg
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/04b.jpg
Not too bad in low light either.



See, i've been reasonably happy with the short distance focus, never enough to really bother me anyway.

Now check the distance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/02.jpg
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/02b.jpg
:(Focus was on the wheel arch, the whole wheel is completely OOF, now look at the gravel which is in focus!!!!!!!!!

What the hell:mad:


I've got a few others that show up like this as well. The focus seems to be a few feet off not mm's.

I've got no idea what's going on. Is this still my body or is this 2 bad lenses in a row???


Cheers

[adam75south]

i'm definitely no expert and it wouldn't hurt if i did some focus tests myself....but you'd think it would have to do with the camera if it happens on two lenses???? does it happen with other lenses?

[shoey]

i'm definitely no expert and it wouldn't hurt if i did some focus tests myself....but you'd think it would have to do with the camera if it happens on two lenses???? does it happen with other lenses?
That's what i thought, which is why i sent it for calibration, but they said it is now ok. Now, i'm not entirely convinced how well they did the calibration as it has been there before, so why would it need doing again? But it was done, so i assumed it was the lens:confused:

My only other lenses that are fast enough to show it up are my 50mm 1.8 which i think is front focussing anyway, or my 100mm macro which seems to be pretty ok, if i was really anal about it, i'd day the macro was a mm out or so as well. Which leads me to believe that the camera is still 1mm or 2 still front focussing, but this issue with the 17-55 seems weird.

Here's another example:

Focus on the "7" of "07"
Shot@ around 35mm this time, still @2.8

Check out the cobbles at the very front:(
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/05.jpg
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/05b.jpg

Its so confusing.

I hate all of this OOF boll**ks. I can't stand it when all the different combinations produce slightly different results. Makes me want a 1series for this issue alone!

[cwphoto]

That's what i thought, which is why i sent it for calibration, but they said it is now ok. Now, i'm not entirely convinced how well they did the calibration as it has been there before, so why would it need doing again? But it was done, so i assumed it was the lens:confused:

My only other lenses that are fast enough to show it up are my 50mm 1.8 which i think is front focussing anyway, or my 100mm macro which seems to be pretty ok, if i was really anal about it, i'd day the macro was a mm out or so as well. Which leads me to believe that the camera is still 1mm or 2 still front focussing, but this issue with the 17-55 seems weird.

Here's another example:

Focus on the "7" of "07"
Shot@ around 35mm this time, still @2.8

Check out the cobbles at the very front:(
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/05.jpg
http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/17-55focus/05b.jpg

Its so confusing.

I hate all of this OOF boll**ks. I can't stand it when all the different combinations produce slightly different results. Makes me want a 1series for this issue alone!

Don't count on it - I get that rubbish with my 24-70/2.8 quite a bit. :mad:

[DonSchap]

You cannot use a 17-55 on a 1-series.

Compatible Lenses
Canon EF, TS-E, and MP-E lenses (except EF-S lenses)

Lens Mount
Canon EF mount

Q: Are you using "spot focus" when you are shooting?

[cwphoto]

You cannot use a 17-55 on a 1-series.

Compatible Lenses
Canon EF, TS-E, and MP-E lenses (except EF-S lenses)

Lens Mount
Canon EF mount

Q: Are you using "spot focus" when you are shooting?

What the heck is spot focus?

PS. EF-M is also compatible. :p

[truflip]

IS that a type R?

[DonSchap]

What the heck is spot focus?



Spot focus ... you know ... you go to quick-menu and ...

36637


oh, yeah ... it's not a SONY ... my bad! :o

Okay ... backup ... you go to the SONY Style store and ... :rolleyes:

[shoey]

IS that a type R?
Unfortunately not:(

Its the type-s. Looks like a type-r (same body kit), it just doesn't go like one:)

Didn't hurt my wallet as much though, especially now with the fuel prices. I get average 40mpg with this sucker:D

http://www.philshoebottom.co.uk/Photos/DCR/Civic/side.jpg

[shoey]

Don't count on it - I get that rubbish with my 24-70/2.8 quite a bit. :mad:
Really?!?

Thats interesting. I was thinking of sending the lens off for canon to look at and maybe have repaired, that just makes it even more confusing.

I wonder what causes it then? Is it not a front focus issue?

Don, i did know the 17-55 wouldn't fit a 1-series, i would've quite happily given it up so that i could have micro adjustments to stop things like this, but thanks for looking out.

[cwphoto]

Really?!?

Thats interesting. I was thinking of sending the lens off for canon to look at and maybe have repaired, that just makes it even more confusing.

I wonder what causes it then? Is it not a front focus issue?

I can't speak for the 17-55/2.8 IS, but the 24-70/2.8 often back-focuses when there is a lot of detail in the background - a known issue with power users like PJs.

I try and avoid mine in such conditions now. :(

[truflip]

40mpg and looks gorgeous. good combination!
I'm guessing Type S is the 2.2l diesel?
Not so much for your lens though.. hope you get that resolved soon
Sorry for the slight off topic convo, :D

[shoey]

40mpg and looks gorgeous. good combination!
I'm guessing Type S is the 2.2l diesel?
Not so much for your lens though.. hope you get that resolved soon
Sorry for the slight off topic convo, :D
No probs, I actually went for the petrol because you can rev the petrol harder, and i'm a petrl purist i guess:)

Right then, just tried to conduct a few more tests at home and i can't seem to replicate the problem at all. Focus seems spot on. I did however just give the front element and filter a huge clean and even though they are now spotless, i've noticed quite a bit of dust inside.

Maybe the miss-focussing is coming from focussing on the dust in very rare occasions:( Not sure. Maybe it just doesn't like my red car, or it mysteriously likes to focus on gravel:confused:

Either way, it doesn't look like a permanant fault, so i'm not sure what canon would be able to do with it. Maybe i'll just let them clean it:D