85mm 1.2 back focussing - calibration or return?

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Matt
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Hey all.

Following my bollard shot I have been busy taking lots of shots and testing my AF on the 5D. I am fairly certain that the combo with AF is back focussing at f1.2 :( or I am doing something wrong. 99% of the shots at 1.2 the focus is slightly behind where the AF had locked on to. These are straight out of the camera.

Could someone take a quick look at these please:

1) Eye focus - it was the OOF eye that I pointed the center AF at!
IMG_1396.jpg

2) Test Chart.
IMG_1405.jpg


I realise just how small the DOF is at 1.2 but the AF should cope a lot better than this?

Is it a case of that the camera needs calibrating or should I return the lens? It was second hand but from a shop that has a 6 month warranty.

Thanks in advance for your replies.
 
Looks like it's quite a bit out. Have you tried the lens on all your bodies.

If you bought it new I would return it and ask for another. If it was second hand thebn seller should refund your money, get it calibrated or replace it with another if they have one.

I've had a couple of bad lenses over the years and feel for you. Hope you get it sorted.
 
Thanks Ryan. I have tried it on my 40D too and it is exactly the same. :(

Just been going through all my shots with it and each and every time without fail the focus is just behind the AF point that I focused on.
 
i had to microadjust all but 1 of my lenses. the 85mm 1.8 was actually the only one that was spot on. Now they are adjusted though it's no problem
 
:( Unfortunately the 5D mk1 has no micro adjust and the lens would need to be done by canon.

Spoken to shop and they said to return it straight away for refund.

Thanks all for your help. :( I am really gutted. Dream lens. :(
 
smoothedit said:
:( Unfortunately the 5D mk1 has no micro adjust and the lens would need to be done by canon.

Spoken to shop and they said to return it straight away for refund.

Thanks all for your help. :( I am really gutted. Dream lens. :(
Click to expand...

get yourself second one ?
 
At £900 I am not sure I could find one with warranty :(
 
They quoted £65 an hour with a 2.5 hour guestimate at length (by me from reading). Any parts may be extra. Pushes price to 1,1k which is not too far south of a new one.
 
Thats crazy for Canon to expect the customer to pay for something that THEY should infact have done before sending it out for sale.

They obviously have the market sorted and know fine well we'll pay up. :(
 
Yep it was Ryan. Second hand from a shop so I got a six month warranty. They said send it straight back for a refund. TBH it is fairly pronounced and not minor. Bah well these things happen.

Gotta keep my eyes open for one again!
 
Maybe ask the shop to get canon to calibrate and service it for you and you will then except the lens
 
Did consider it Dave but wasn't offered it as an option.
 
That type of focus test you posted above will not give you correct readings as it is fundamntally flawed as your trying to focus on a 45 deg plane, do a search on the forums and there is loads poasted about this.

Also test it in real situations.

Lehmanns quoted me £65 to check and adjust focus on one of my lenses, so give them a call.

f1.2 is a very shallow DOF and easy for errors to creap in.

Mark
 
No harm in asking, they can only say no, I expect that they offered you the refund as that is what most people want, they are going to have to get it done or sell as is at a reduced price,
 
Feel you but I would send it back, spending that much on a lens its gotta be special!

Hope you get it sorted :D
 
Cheers Mark. I have read loads yesterday eve and today with 100,000 different methods etc. The chart wasnt supposed to be a scientific test - more to demonstrate that it certainly isn't right. The shot above it though is definitely what I was showing about it being way out. This is also apparent in every photo (now I am looking for it) from the weekend eg I took a shot of a roadsign, and the sign is OOF and grass/branches immediately after are where it becomes crisp despite several shots all using the center AF point.

I guess I am just sad it has arrived with me this way and so am returning it.
 
Liam said:
Feel you but I would send it back, spending that much on a lens its gotta be special!

Hope you get it sorted :D
Click to expand...

My thoughts too Liam.

Cheers all for your advice.

Matt
 
Awwww, really sorry to hear you have a problem Matt.

Looks like you have 2 choices. Send it back and get your refund or go to somewhere like Lehmanns. I've heard lot of good things about them so perhaps give them a call in the morning and ask for their advice and a quote to put it right.

You could always offer the shop the chance to pay up for some of the Lehmann's costs because they will have to get it fixed anyway before they can sell it.

Might be a salvageable situation with some sweet talking? :)
 
Hmm you fair point Ali. But my other worry is that there may be component issues too - and the costs of them could mean it would be uneconomical.
It has now been sent for refund. :(
Dilemma now is to whether to save up for another but a MKII and maybe new, or to search for another 2nd hand one and risk this happening again.
 
I'll keep an eye open then Matt.

I know it's really disappointing when something like this happens but let's see what else we can find you. Make you a happy, shallow depth of field, kind of Donkey again. :)
 
I think it is back-focussing :'(

After reading this, I did a couple of quick/dirty shots with my 85 F1.2 to compare.

Both shot at minimum focus distance @ f1.2, shown at actual pixels with an 800x??? slice taken from each.

Central focus point-First 'C'

1DSL2311.jpg


Central focus point-first 'C'

1DSL2316.jpg
 
Cheers Les. That confirms it. The AF was WAY out in all my shots in comparison.
TBH even the very first shot I took with it was off - I took a shot of my Amazon Box blokey and focused on his face. When reviewing the shot even in camera, the writing on the chest was in focus and the face was well in creamy blur. I thought 'Thats Weird' but assumed it was me not locking focus properly. The next shots I took were out and about so less prominent but definitely still noticeable when you are looking for it.

Just a quick point - Big thanks to Ryan for spotting it eagle eyed on my bollard shot. Although I am sad to loose my dream lens I know hand on heart I am glad because who knows how long or how much it would have cost to put right.

And thanks for posting les - yours has confirmed it.




Dont suppose you are after a buyer for it? ;)
 
Try a camera with AF fine tune, the lens is probably fine, its just that particular combo. It also is an inherent flaw with phase detect based systems (i.e. most slrs that aren't using live view). My 85/1.4 had to be AF fine tuned to get it sharpest (it was not sharp straight out of the box or with any other body I tried it on!), but it's razor sharp with contrast detect/live view AF. If you can afford to, try upgrading the body (and keeping the bargain lens).
 
I may be missing the point here but you say you have 6 months warranty from the seller...so why not use it :shrug: The lens has a fault and you want it fixed...simple as that. I would guess that their warranty terms are repair or replace at their discretion....either way, you get the working 85L that you've paid for.

My 2p

Bob
 
The thing is...they're gonna have to get it fixed anyway before it can be sold, so why not invoke the 6 month warranty as Bob says ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :shrug:
 
Fair point actually. Will call first thing in the morning to see what they say. I guess it depends if they want to pay to have it mended? :shrug: or if it was a commision sale? I know because it was a mkI they did not have any more in stock to replace it with. I was shying awy from sending it to canon myself because there may have been components needing replacing.

Thanks Guys! :thumbs:
 
I'm guessing it came from a well know camera dealer in Scotland ?

if it did their second hand warranty states

"All second-hand equipment is thoroughly checked prior to being offered for sale and is guaranteed for six months parts and labour."

that looks like an invitation to have it fixed to me.
 
If you're happy with the general condition of the lens (obviously apart from the focus issue) I'd be tempted to opt for fixing under warranty too.

But I do sympathise, it's so frustrating when this kind of thing happens. Once it's all sorted it's soon forgotten about, but at the time it's certainly no joke.
 
Fair point Bill it is frustrating. I must say that the lens was even better than described - immaculate. Manufacturing date was 92 but to be honest it looked factory fresh. I really do hope that they can get it mended now. Quite happy to wait - as long as it is turned around in a week or so and comes back spot on.


Everything crossed.
 
AWESOMENESS! Thanks Guys and Gals!

Just spoken to the shop and they will get it repaired and back to me within two weeks! yayayayayayayayay!

Soooo glad it is being sorted (without me having to deal with Canon!) and that (hopefully) I will still be the proud owner of an awesome lens at the end of it!

Huge thanks to Ryan, MHO, Les, Markta, Canon Bob and everyone who has taken the time to post. Will keep you updated!
 
I've skimmed through this thread but I don't think anyone asked what focussing mode you shot in and whether you hand held or not? Is it possible you used one-shot or non-continuous mode, hand-held and you simply moved a little? With so little DoF, you'd need to be on continuous AF to be sure of focus if you are hand-holding. And even more so because your subject was probably moving as well.
 
It sounds like the right result and all credit to the retailer too....these things are always going to happen but it's how they're sorted that makes the difference between dodgy outfits and the good guys....maybe name them?

Bob
 
chrisgeary said:
I've skimmed through this thread but I don't think anyone asked what focussing mode you shot in and whether you hand held or not? Is it possible you used one-shot or non-continuous mode, hand-held and you simply moved a little? With so little DoF, you'd need to be on continuous AF to be sure of focus if you are hand-holding. And even more so because your subject was probably moving as well.
Click to expand...

Chris,

I had it tripod and hand held, tried on all AF modes on static and moving objects. Definitely back focusing I am afraid.

Cheers for checking matey. Tis now with the shop and off for recalibration.
 
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