5D Mark iii focusing issues

[peederj]

Maybe we can ask Canon for a version of DPP that makes it work like the Lytro. 

[tron]

Maybe we can ask Canon for a version of DPP that makes it work like the Lytro. 

 

[neuroanatomist]

There are too many of us experiencing softness in the image for it to be purely user error.  Something is weird here.

Or several somethings. 

1) Recall there were many complaints about the 7D's AF system, too, when that camera was released.  So, there's a component of AF system complexity.  Using an AF mode not well suited to the task (e.g. Spot AF for sports) can result in blurry shots.

2) Many people don't have a strong understanding of how an AF system works, in particular the fact that an actual AF point is larger than its representation in the viewfinder (even with Spot AF), and that the AF system will lock onto the feature that gives the greatest phase difference at the proper orientation regardless of where in that AF point's area the feature falls.  You know you're focusing on the eye, but if the hairline falls under the selected AF point, too, the camera may lock onto that as a stronger contrast - it neither knows nor cares that the eye is centered under the AF point.

3) There is a known issue with DPP that results in soft images with RAW conversion in High Quality mode (but not High Speed mode).  At this point, ACR to DNG seems to be the nest approach, but it's an RC not final, and it doesn't run natively in LR yet.

So, it may be that if you combine all of these different factors, that accounts for the '5DIII image softness' - different people with different problems, all leading to the same result.  Of course, there may be an actual hardware problem at play here, too - time will tell.

[mrmarks]

.

[JacquesV]

I have the same problems with some of my lenses. I'm finding that my 200 f/2 is front focusing by about 50mm at f/2 from 3m. What worries me is that it is not every shot that has this problem?
More than this is also the abnormal noise from the IS system in AI Servo mode that I now avoid with this lense while I wait for a fix form Canon.
I also agree that this new SUPER focus system seems like it needs a SUPER user to get it to perform as I hope it can 

Update:
50 f/1.2 front focus
200 f/2 front focus
70-200 f/2.8 ii @ 70 spot on @ 200 front focus
400 f2.8 ii back focus allot!
 
not nice so every lens is different and with every doubler the trouble doubles 

[idratherplaytennis]

I'm still in that paranoid group pondering if my lens/body is soft or not, and exchanging or more tests, altering settings etc. I kept trying out shots on our golden, trying to land her eyes, on the rare instances I did get her to stand still (which is no small feat for a 1 yr old pure golden, oh my gosh the energy and add!!!). I'm pretty convinced by like, two or three of every ten or more photos that I take, when I pixel peep just the standard jpegs at 100% that it's not soft because on the ones I do land, it's blowing me away. The soft ones, I can tell the focus was someplace else, be it her fur which in certain areas lands super sharp, or it was some other setting that threw something off.

I'm pretty sure a lot of the issues and focus problems are, in fact, my user error, and focusing on something so small and zooming in to 105mm on the kit lens. Just wish I could figure out how to embed/attach photos to my posts (could someone please shoot me a pm or something at least to say the easiest way they've done this??).

Anyone else have any updates on what steps they took for testing their 5D M3's?

[JR]

There are too many of us experiencing softness in the image for it to be purely user error.  Something is weird here.

Or several somethings. 

1) Recall there were many complaints about the 7D's AF system, too, when that camera was released.  So, there's a component of AF system complexity.  Using an AF mode not well suited to the task (e.g. Spot AF for sports) can result in blurry shots.

2) Many people don't have a strong understanding of how an AF system works, in particular the fact that an actual AF point is larger than its representation in the viewfinder (even with Spot AF), and that the AF system will lock onto the feature that gives the greatest phase difference at the proper orientation regardless of where in that AF point's area the feature falls.  You know you're focusing on the eye, but if the hairline falls under the selected AF point, too, the camera may lock onto that as a stronger contrast - it neither knows nor cares that the eye is centered under the AF point.

3) There is a known issue with DPP that results in soft images with RAW conversion in High Quality mode (but not High Speed mode).  At this point, ACR to DNG seems to be the nest approach, but it's an RC not final, and it doesn't run natively in LR yet.

So, it may be that if you combine all of these different factors, that accounts for the '5DIII image softness' - different people with different problems, all leading to the same result.  Of course, there may be an actual hardware problem at play here, too - time will tell.

Sorry missed your post neuro.  These are  all valid points and likely apply to a lot of the situation we are seeing in various threads.  However i can only speak for myself here, but realizing the complexity of the af system, i did make sure i used only very simple mode for myself at first like single center points and still got some mixed result.  I the end i lost patience to figure out why my new $4500 camera (had bought the kit) was not up to par to my current one. 

Looking back i did take a lot of great shots, but the softness was still there...i just hope the 1dx produce more crisp image like my mkii does...

[te4o]

I got my 5D3 last Friday 13th April! It is as sharp as a knife with all my Zeiss lenses. MA for MF did help a bit. LV tests were perfect. Not less sharp than the 5D2.
Borrowed a 70-200/4 IS for testing AF. AriHazegis MA procedure over MacPro-based LV. the lens did need +5 at 70 and 0 at 200. Tack sharp on wall testing. In real world shooting the AF tends to miss if misused: like Neuro says, AF is still only a machine, a hair in front of an eye and "off she goes".
Cheers
Wickid - I hope you get your second copy sharp and with light-leak-tight LCD!

[Viggo]

I found the same thing, HOWEVER, I have solved it. It doesn't really miss different at different distances, it's just that invisible adjustments up close, makes a MASSIVE difference at longer distances. I own only f1,2 and 1,4 lenses (for the most) where this AFMA can be a total bitch.

I have found that going +-5 steps at the time is pointless, as you can get almost any results. I for example found my 85 L front focus like nothing else at +4 but spot on at mfd, and then +5 it's dead on perfect at any distance. I never thought one step would make such a difference.

SO I have been back and forth, but all my lenses which suffered from missing way different on different distances all work at all distances now.

My 50 L looks to be quite a bit in front using the Spyder LensCal, but in real life it's dead on. So trying, in good and even light with real life subjects are extremely important. Also, indoor light for calibration is almost useless. But once calibrated properly in great light, it works in lower light also.

Just fwiw, I'm not saying no people can have an issue with their camera, but I got the same stuff, but was able to correct using real life subjects and one step at the time adjustment. It seems to get better after a +5 adjustment, but it really should be +3 for example, was hard for me to catch.