7D - is it the camera or the lens?

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/19/2011 06:52:42 PM · #26

kirbic I don't see how the first bad one could be camera shake with mirror lock-up and 2 second timer, exactly the same as the first good one. Lately I've been using the 18-55mm (unstablised kit lens) for these shots and I don't think I've ever seen this kind of blur before.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

09/19/2011 06:55:37 PM · #27

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

A 2 second exposure would increase the possibility of camera shake. All it would take is a light breeze to nudge it.

ETA: Ah, sorry, 2-second *timer*! I thought it was a 2-second exposure.

Message edited by author 2011-09-19 19:02:54.

09/19/2011 07:02:30 PM · #28

Am I missing something? The tree says it is a 10sec exposure?!

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/19/2011 07:10:56 PM · #29

Yes

kenskid the tree shots were a 10 sec exposure, taken indoors away from any decent windows. This was the only place I could get the white (when WB is corrected) background I required.

JH I understand that a breeze could be a problem with slow exposures, but these were taken indoors.

There may be other factors to account for the shot on the tripod, but the tree taken outdoors with wide angle and 1/50 sec exposure is very worrying. And I'm wondering whether the fact that the lens suffers from lens creep could affect its focusing ability.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

09/19/2011 07:19:21 PM · #30

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Yes kenskid the tree shots were a 10 sec exposure, taken indoors away from any decent windows. This was the only place I could get the white (when WB is corrected) background I required.

JH I understand that a breeze could be a problem with slow exposures, but these were taken indoors.

There may be other factors to account for the shot on the tripod, but the tree taken outdoors with wide angle and 1/50 sec exposure is very worrying. And I'm wondering whether the fact that the lens suffers from lens creep could affect its focusing ability.

The other giveaway is f/11 - At that aperture there's a large DOF which makes it actually quite difficult to get OOF.

Even standing near the tripod, or shifting your weight on a wooden floor is enough to get that effect. When I was doing astrophotography, I used to hold my breath during the exposures in case I shook the tripod... lol

09/19/2011 07:23:52 PM · #31

The one that is totally blured is really bad. Can that be repeated?

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/19/2011 07:32:39 PM · #32

Originally posted by kenskid:

The one that is totally blured is really bad. Can that be repeated?

I'm not sure. I changed focus point to the tree trunk for the next shot and it was somewhat better, but still not as good as it should be. I wish I had time to inspect all the photos from that day at 100% but once again it's way past midnight and I really need to be finishing off here. I need to check some of my old shots with different lenses as well to see what was happening before the camera was serviced.

09/19/2011 07:44:36 PM · #33

That blurred shot is way beyond what the other's look like. Either you missed the entire focus or there is something wrong.

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Originally posted by kenskid:
The one that is totally blured is really bad. Can that be repeated?

I'm not sure. I changed focus point to the tree trunk for the next shot and it was somewhat better, but still not as good as it should be. I wish I had time to inspect all the photos from that day at 100% but once again it's way past midnight and I really need to be finishing off here. I need to check some of my old shots with different lenses as well to see what was happening before the camera was serviced.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/19/2011 07:52:11 PM · #34

Originally posted by kenskid:

That blurred shot is way beyond what the other's look like. Either you missed the entire focus or there is something wrong.

I've often dismissed blurry shots as being caused by poor skills on my part, but I don't really know what I could have done to produce anything that bad. The question is whether to blame the camera or the lens. From a financial point of view it would be better if it was the camera because that's still under guarantee, but I'd hate to think my camera was to blame for something that bad, so I'd be happier if it was the lens.

09/19/2011 07:55:51 PM · #35

IMO unless that blurred shot can be reproduced under controlled conditions, it would have to be some kind of error on your part. Meaning it never was in focus. It was simply a shot that went off unknowingly....etc.

I'd try my best - 20 or so shots under tight conditions to see if you get that again before I worry about the cam or the lens.

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Originally posted by kenskid:
That blurred shot is way beyond what the other's look like. Either you missed the entire focus or there is something wrong.

I've often dismissed blurry shots as being caused by poor skills on my part, but I don't really know what I could have done to produce anything that bad. The question is whether to blame the camera or the lens. From a financial point of view it would be better if it was the camera because that's still under guarantee, but I'd hate to think my camera was to blame for something that bad, so I'd be happier if it was the lens.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/19/2011 08:09:26 PM · #36

I'm not sure how I'm going to try to get bad shots. I certainly intend to examine some others from yesterday and some older ones to see if I can find anything close to this. Thankfully my camera guarantee only ends at the beginning of December so I've got a bit of time to sort this out.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

09/19/2011 10:16:45 PM · #37

You had your camera serviced. Don't forget to check and set the diopter setting for the viewfinder. They may have moved or changed it when they worked on it.
Good luck with sorting out what's going on with AF. It would be good to check your sensor for a smudge. Those guys at Canon are just good service guys, but still human. You can check the sensor outside by reflecting sunlight off it. I had a similar problem with a Fuji S3, and it turned out to be oily stuff on the sensor.
Also, check your lenses, esp the rear elements. Look at light reflected, and through the lenses.

09/19/2011 10:53:23 PM · #38

Hey ...a question on that diopter. If I use autofocus, and focus on a subject....I use that focus to set the diopter?

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

09/20/2011 12:55:11 AM · #39

You can set it by looking at the "heads-up" display inside the viewfinder, or for better accuracy, set the camera on a tripod, and autofocus on a specific target, then without changing focus, move the diopter wheel until the image in the viewfinder looks sharpest on the object that the camera focused on.
Look away and look again a time or two to double check. Your eye that you are focusing with will tend to try to focus back and forth some while you are looking in the finder, but you can tell when it just gets "right".

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/20/2011 05:30:01 AM · #40

Thanks

MelonMusketeer. They did change the diopter setting but I had already fixed that.

The whole reason I got them to clean the sensor is because I'm scared to do it myself. If I start checking it outside I feel sure I'm going to get dust on it again. And wouldn't an oily sensor affect all my photos?

I think the first thing I need to do is test it with a different lens. Only, after wasting the whole day yesterday, my Excel problem has come back. I'm guessing it was created by something in the updates my computer installed when I logged off. I'm waiting to hear what Microsoft have to see about this and hope it's not going to mess up another day.

Tiny

Apple iPad mini 4

09/20/2011 07:53:18 AM · #41

First thing to do when you get the lens/camera sorted.
Buy a Mac.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/20/2011 08:17:03 AM · #42

Originally posted by Tiny:

First thing to do when you get the lens/camera sorted.
Buy a Mac.

I considered it when I upgraded last year but as far as I recall, Microsoft Office for Mac doesn't have Access and I can't manage without it. Now I've got too much invested in current software to start over. But I will say that every computer I get seems to behave worse than the one before.

09/20/2011 10:07:52 AM · #43

Forget Mac (and yes I have three in the family), forget the other lens, forget the sensor.

Get a focus card online and follow the set-up instructions. Do some test shots....

...I'll bet another Lenscap Sandwich* that your focus is on target.

*For Lenscap Sandwich to be eaten by me, you have to follow ALL instructions that come with the focus card and post all test pics and settings!

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

09/20/2011 10:14:37 AM · #44

I saw your thread about your computer glitch. I use an old PowerMac G5, and so far it's been great for about 7 years, other than now I have to push the CD tray to get it to close. I also have a Toshiba laptop, running "Vista Home Basic" and always feel like I am rolling the dice when I see the "windows update" pop-up.
The only way to find out if the focusing issue is in the camera or lens is to put on a "known good" lens and shoot some test shots. You can check out the sensor somewhat by shooting a few test shots at something flat, with small details on it, with the lens wide open, then a few more at f16 or 22, and look carefully for any differences in the images. A piece of lattice with a dark background behind it works good for this. The "wide open" shots will hide a lot of what's going on at the sensor, but the f16 shots will make it all stand out, esp around the edges of the details.
If you change lenses, try to remember to hold the camera with the lens mount down, so that anything floating around in there will fall out instead of into the camera.

Tiny

Apple iPad mini 4

09/20/2011 10:37:38 AM · #45

Originally posted by kenskid:

This has to be great advice,go for it.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/20/2011 11:07:13 AM · #46

kenskid and

Tiny - thanks for the suggestion. I will try it but not right now. I'm so exhausted from all the problems with the computer - Sunday I sat up through half the night trying to work it out and most of yesterday as well as a chunk of today were wasted because Microsoft didn't know the correct solution to a very simple problem.

MelonMusketeer I'll have to try that sensor test as well when I have more energy. I do try to keep my camera with the lens mount down when I change lenses (and I think when I've tested lenses at shops some of the salesmen think I'm crazy), but with the heavier lenses and especially with my extension tubes, I can't always manage to do so.

Right now I'm just thankful that time is on my side with my camera guarantee because I simply can't be bothered to work out what the problem is.

Germaine

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens

09/20/2011 11:11:15 AM · #47

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

The whole reason I got them to clean the sensor is because I'm scared to do it myself. If I start checking it outside I feel sure I'm going to get dust on it again. And wouldn't an oily sensor affect all my photos?

Gina -- On the 7D you don't have to worry nearly so much about a dirty sensor. It has a very good sensor cleaning mode which runs every time you turn on or turn off the camera. You can also go the the menu and run the sensor cleaner as needed. I've had my 7D for almost two years the only sensor cleaning I've had to do is to blow it out with with one of those hand blower gizmos (no canned air). If I shoot at f/45 or so (which is about once a year), some dust bunnies show up, but nothing that can't be dealt with in Photoshop.

Another suggestion, is your AF set to "one shot"? When I first got my camera it was set to "A1 Servo". Evidently that's for shooting moving objects. The camera assumes the subject is moving and makes adjustments. If you are shooting from a tripod and/or the subject is stationary, the camera still makes adjustments for the moving object and you get a blurred shot. This drove me crazy until

Melethia explained things to me. Since then, I just leave the camera on "one shot" the whole time.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

09/20/2011 11:18:39 AM · #48

Germaine the reason I got the sensor cleaned in the first case was because some bad marks were showing up in my HDR shots. I think I must get one of those blowers and see if that works before trying more complicated methods again.

My AF is set to "one shot". I also had a problem previously when it was set to "A1 Servo" so I checked that straight away.

I will get to the bottom of this, but not today!