50D focus

Is the Canon 50D often victim of front-backfocus with any lens?

"Ge Nidee" wrote in message
...
Is the Canon 50D often victim of front-backfocus with any lens?


My 50D can produce well focused images with my L lenses - in the right
conditions. With the 50mm f1.4 it was much poorer and needed -17 on the
micro focus adjust setting. The 5D mkII is spot on with this 50mm lens.

However, having had a new focus rack installed in the 50mm the 50D now
focuses it more accurately.

In general - I found that focus lock was good in bright light so long as the
subject was not moving or moving slowly. At winter rugby matches on dull
days it was rare to get more than 20% or so crisply focussed images - even
with L lenses. It doesn't front or back focus particularly - just poor
focus. Also at ISO 800 it's so noisy that the definition is very poor
anyway.

I'm not sure that the 50D is a step up from the 40D.

I solved the focus problem by throwing money at it and bought a 1D mkIV -
which seems to be able to focus on a speeding bullet - I now rarely use the
50D.

John

"eatmorepies" schreef in bericht
...
Is the Canon 50D often victim of front-backfocus with any lens?
My 50D can produce well focused images with my L lenses - in the right
conditions. With the 50mm f1.4 it was much poorer and needed -17 on the
micro focus adjust setting. The 5D mkII is spot on with this 50mm lens.
However, having had a new focus rack installed in the 50mm the 50D now
focuses it more accurately.
In general - I found that focus lock was good in bright light so long as
the subject was not moving or moving slowly. At winter rugby matches on
dull days it was rare to get more than 20% or so crisply focussed images -
even with L lenses. It doesn't front or back focus particularly - just
poor focus. Also at ISO 800 it's so noisy that the definition is very poor
anyway.
I'm not sure that the 50D is a step up from the 40D.
I solved the focus problem by throwing money at it and bought a 1D mkIV -
which seems to be able to focus on a speeding bullet - I now rarely use
the 50D.
John

Thanks very much, John, for the extensive reply. My presumption that my 50D
was never okay with focussing (and mo noise) is getting stronger.
I'm considering selling the 50D en buy the 60D anyway.
Thanks again.

Ge Nidee wrote:

"eatmorepies" schreef in bericht
...
Is the Canon 50D often victim of front-backfocus with any lens?
My 50D can produce well focused images with my L lenses - in the right
conditions. With the 50mm f1.4 it was much poorer and needed -17 on the
micro focus adjust setting. The 5D mkII is spot on with this 50mm lens.
However, having had a new focus rack installed in the 50mm the 50D now
focuses it more accurately.
In general - I found that focus lock was good in bright light so long as
the subject was not moving or moving slowly. At winter rugby matches on
dull days it was rare to get more than 20% or so crisply focussed images
- even with L lenses. It doesn't front or back focus particularly - just
poor focus. Also at ISO 800 it's so noisy that the definition is very
poor anyway.
I'm not sure that the 50D is a step up from the 40D.
I solved the focus problem by throwing money at it and bought a 1D mkIV -
which seems to be able to focus on a speeding bullet - I now rarely use
the 50D.
John

Thanks very much, John, for the extensive reply. My presumption that my
50D was never okay with focussing (and mo noise) is getting stronger.
I'm considering selling the 50D en buy the 60D anyway.
Thanks again.

My 50D focuses just fine with the lenses I've got, no L lenses
unfortunately, and for a four year old camera the noise levels are perfectly
acceptable up to ISO 1600, for me anyway. The only time it's not quick
enough every time is close to a dog moving fast towards the camera. I have
no complaints at all filling the frame with fast moving motorcycles even in
not so good light.

You haven't mentioned what lenses you're using or what sort of things you're
having trouble with, if however, you're just looking for an excuse to get a
newer camera, the 50D is rubbish and nothing short of a 7D will make you any
happier.

examples

ISO 1600

http://www.sidshouse.net/IMG_5906--2...--10.16.40.JPG

ISO 400 servo focus

http://www.sidshouse.net/IMG_4496--2...--11.06.16.jpg

--
sid
RLU 300284
2010.2

"sid" schreef in bericht
.. .
Thanks very much, John, for the extensive reply. My presumption that my
50D was never okay with focussing (and mo noise) is getting stronger.
I'm considering selling the 50D en buy the 60D anyway.
Thanks again.
My 50D focuses just fine with the lenses I've got, no L lenses
unfortunately, and for a four year old camera the noise levels are
perfectly
acceptable up to ISO 1600, for me anyway. The only time it's not quick
enough every time is close to a dog moving fast towards the camera. I have
no complaints at all filling the frame with fast moving motorcycles even
in
not so good light.
You haven't mentioned what lenses you're using or what sort of things
you're
having trouble with, if however, you're just looking for an excuse to get
a
newer camera, the 50D is rubbish and nothing short of a 7D will make you
any
happier.
examples

I had two lenses which were sold, a EFS17-85 and a EF70-300 (non L), because
I never got them focussing right, even with AF-micro-adjust. It was always a
mess, never sharp.
I now have the 18-55 kitlens, a Tamron 28-75 (after AF-micro-adjust the
sharpest) and recently a EF70-300L. The EF70-300L is known to be a great
lens, but on my 50D it performes not as a quality-lens like this should.
It's quite possible that my 50D is a misfit. I never said THE 50D is
rubbish, I'm just affraid mine is. And perhaps more.
It's obvious you were lucky with yours.
Heck, I even use a SX210IS and I think it's great for it's class.

sid

On Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:21:13 +0100, "Ge Nidee" wrote:
: "eatmorepies" schreef in bericht
: ...
: Is the Canon 50D often victim of front-backfocus with any lens?
: My 50D can produce well focused images with my L lenses - in the right
: conditions. With the 50mm f1.4 it was much poorer and needed -17 on the
: micro focus adjust setting. The 5D mkII is spot on with this 50mm lens.
: However, having had a new focus rack installed in the 50mm the 50D now
: focuses it more accurately.
: In general - I found that focus lock was good in bright light so long as
: the subject was not moving or moving slowly. At winter rugby matches on
: dull days it was rare to get more than 20% or so crisply focussed images -
: even with L lenses. It doesn't front or back focus particularly - just
: poor focus. Also at ISO 800 it's so noisy that the definition is very poor
: anyway.
: I'm not sure that the 50D is a step up from the 40D.
: I solved the focus problem by throwing money at it and bought a 1D mkIV -
: which seems to be able to focus on a speeding bullet - I now rarely use
: the 50D.
: John
:
: Thanks very much, John, for the extensive reply. My presumption that my 50D
: was never okay with focussing (and mo noise) is getting stronger.
: I'm considering selling the 50D en buy the 60D anyway.
: Thanks again.

No, NO!! Don't do that! I have a 50D, and I can tell you that it badly needs
its autofocus microadjustment, which the 60D doesn't have. (What was Canon
thinking?)

I recently got a 70-200 f/2.8L IS II and used it on my 50D for one or two
shoots. It didn't need AF microadjustment, but produced inconsistent results:
some of the sharpest pictures I've ever taken and some really crappy ones.
Last weekend I replaced the 50D with a second 7D. I haven't used the new 7D
with the 70-200 yet, but it has made a much better performer out of my old
Sigma 50-150 f/2.8. The 50D's AF is archaic. It's OK for landscapes, but it's
silly to pretend that the 50D is a good event camera by today's standards.
AFAIK, the 60D has the same AF as the 50D. If you need a versatile camera, try
to spring for the 7D.

Bob

"Robert Coe" schreef in bericht
...
: I'm considering selling the 50D en buy the 60D anyway.
: Thanks again.
No, NO!! Don't do that! I have a 50D, and I can tell you that it badly
needs
its autofocus microadjustment, which the 60D doesn't have. (What was Canon
thinking?)
I recently got a 70-200 f/2.8L IS II and used it on my 50D for one or two
shoots. It didn't need AF microadjustment, but produced inconsistent
results:
some of the sharpest pictures I've ever taken and some really crappy ones.
Last weekend I replaced the 50D with a second 7D. I haven't used the new
7D
with the 70-200 yet, but it has made a much better performer out of my old
Sigma 50-150 f/2.8. The 50D's AF is archaic. It's OK for landscapes, but
it's
silly to pretend that the 50D is a good event camera by today's standards.
AFAIK, the 60D has the same AF as the 50D. If you need a versatile camera,
try
to spring for the 7D.

Bob

Thanks Bob, for your clear view. This weekend I can test my newest lens on a
60D, so we'll see.
A 7D is too much for me and my bankaccount, at least in the near future.;-)
There's talk about Magic Lantern having the AF adjust on the 60D working
soon, that will also be a feature to wait for.

On 02/27/2012 12:28 PM, eatmorepies wrote:
"Ge wrote in message
...
Is the Canon 50D often victim of front-backfocus with any lens?


My 50D can produce well focused images with my L lenses - in the right
conditions. With the 50mm f1.4 it was much poorer and needed -17 on the
micro focus adjust setting. The 5D mkII is spot on with this 50mm lens.

However, having had a new focus rack installed in the 50mm the 50D now
focuses it more accurately.



I am happy with my 50D but it is not perfect of course.

What is a focus rack? never heard of such a thing



snip

My 50D can produce well focused images with my L lenses - in the right
conditions. With the 50mm f1.4 it was much poorer and needed -17 on the
micro focus adjust setting. The 5D mkII is spot on with this 50mm lens.

However, having had a new focus rack installed in the 50mm the 50D now
focuses it more accurately.



I am happy with my 50D but it is not perfect of course.

What is a focus rack? never heard of such a thing


It's what the nice man* in the Canon service centre said was cracked in my
lens. It could be a UK term. I imagine it is a geared ring - based on my
knowledge of rack and pinion steering in cars. Of course, I could be wrong.

John

* He told me it happened quite often in the f1.4 50mm and even happened in
the f1.2 L version - a thin ring of large diameter that's weak - he said.