1DXMKII - Soft Focus & Freezing

[Paulo]

Here in Portugal the 1DX MK II cameras took a while to arrive, but apparently comes with the same problem.
I know at least 3 cameras with autofocus this problem.
A friend just yesterday to return to it.
I will make a new test after a new micro-adjustment in mine.
If the problem persists am willing to return the mine.
Important to inform that I have two newspaper colleagues who have the same camera and not have this problem, it works perfectly.
I sincerely hope that Canon solve all these cases quickly.

 

[GoldWing]

I'm still seeing people with SOFT and OOF issues with the Canon EOS 1DXMKII. Anyone here still experiencing these issues or feel they have a defective 1DXMKII ?

 

[Jack Douglas]

I'm still seeing people with SOFT and OOF issues with the Canon EOS 1DXMKII. Anyone here still experiencing these issues or feel they have a defective 1DXMKII ?

Well, I just picked up mine today and am afraid to try it. Battery is charging.

Jack

 

[Ryananthony]

I'm still seeing people with SOFT and OOF issues with the Canon EOS 1DXMKII. Anyone here still experiencing these issues or feel they have a defective 1DXMKII ?

Well, I just picked up mine today and am afraid to try it. Battery is charging.

Jack

Congrats. Its been a good month for you

 

[Jack Douglas]

I'm still seeing people with SOFT and OOF issues with the Canon EOS 1DXMKII. Anyone here still experiencing these issues or feel they have a defective 1DXMKII ?

Well, I just picked up mine today and am afraid to try it. Battery is charging.

Jack

Congrats. Its been a good month for you

Thanks and yes, in my entire life I never spent like this. How does it work; when you die your kids pay the debt?

I'm sure hoping someone will offer some suggested setup. I've gone through the entire menu and a few items are new to me. I like the option of not having to use that dinky screen at the bottom! In particular I'm wondering how to choose the AF point switching etc. I've always used spot focus and now like the option of surrounding points, at least for BIF.

If there is a thread where such things have already been discussed that that would work too.

Jack

 

[arbitrage]

I'm still seeing people with SOFT and OOF issues with the Canon EOS 1DXMKII. Anyone here still experiencing these issues or feel they have a defective 1DXMKII ?

Well, I just picked up mine today and am afraid to try it. Battery is charging.

Jack

Congrats. Its been a good month for you

Thanks and yes, in my entire life I never spent like this. How does it work; when you die your kids pay the debt?

I'm sure hoping someone will offer some suggested setup. I've gone through the entire menu and a few items are new to me. I like the option of not having to use that dinky screen at the bottom! In particular I'm wondering how to choose the AF point switching etc. I've always used spot focus and now like the option of surrounding points, at least for BIF.

If there is a thread where such things have already been discussed that that would work too.

Jack

Congrats on the 1DXMKII. Am I correct in saying that you haven't owned a Canon camera with the 61 or 65pt focusing system before? If so I would start by reading the AF guide for the 1DX...not sure if there is one for the 1DX2 but not much has changed in how the system works. Here is a link to the download... http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/1dx_guidebook.shtml
The links are at the bottom of the page.

If you have more specific questions maybe start a new thread and many of us can help. I've now owned five bodies with the 61 or 65 point system so I know it fairly well.

 

[Jack Douglas]

I'm still seeing people with SOFT and OOF issues with the Canon EOS 1DXMKII. Anyone here still experiencing these issues or feel they have a defective 1DXMKII ?

Well, I just picked up mine today and am afraid to try it. Battery is charging.

Jack

Congrats. Its been a good month for you

Thanks and yes, in my entire life I never spent like this. How does it work; when you die your kids pay the debt?

I'm sure hoping someone will offer some suggested setup. I've gone through the entire menu and a few items are new to me. I like the option of not having to use that dinky screen at the bottom! In particular I'm wondering how to choose the AF point switching etc. I've always used spot focus and now like the option of surrounding points, at least for BIF.

If there is a thread where such things have already been discussed that that would work too.

Jack

Congrats on the 1DXMKII. Am I correct in saying that you haven't owned a Canon camera with the 61 or 65pt focusing system before? If so I would start by reading the AF guide for the 1DX...not sure if there is one for the 1DX2 but not much has changed in how the system works. Here is a link to the download... http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/1dx_guidebook.shtml
The links are at the bottom of the page.

If you have more specific questions maybe start a new thread and many of us can help. I've now owned five bodies with the 61 or 65 point system so I know it fairly well.

Thanks and you are correct, kind of. I did shoot with the 1D4 for a little over a month or so but I never felt like I knew it thoroughly. It's been 90% 6D and well you know. A new thread it'll be.

Jack

 

[GoldWing]

When the scenario and the behavior seem unlikely, baffling, and I feel like we are being played, I go back in time. Same OP (GoldWing) in 2013!

"EOS Bodies / Canon EOS 1DX defective Mirror Boxes - Screen Splash - AF Lock-up
« on: October 19, 2013, 11:58:52 AM »
I work for a newspaper and we bought two Canon 1DX's to replace older equipment.

Both IDX's were defective. We returned one and sent the other to Canon. This will be the third time we're sending the 1DX back to Canon for the same reasons.

1. The mirror / screen gets small black specs in it. Some are clear others look like random shaped dark pieces of broken black glass.

2. The Auto Focus stops working. First we notice a lack of focus, then the lenses hunts a lot, then it does not focus at all.

The Canon 1DX we bought had a white "A" in the battery compartment. We were told it was adjusted by Canon after it was made so all of the above would not happen.

When we sent it in the first time it was returned with a white dot next to the "A" but the same thing happened again. And again, splash in the screen and a lack of focus all the same things happend after only a few shots.

We sent the 1DX back to Canon again and it was returned saying the "MIRROR BOX" was replaced. After a few 100 shots, we were all amazed that this happened again the very same way.

The Camera has been to Canon so much time that we can't return it to the retailer and now it's back with Canon for a 3rd time. If Canon fixed this after is was manufactured, this is really the 4th time Canon is fixing the same issue not the third.

We did some research and now we see there are many people all over the world with the same issues with the 1DX having defects or defective AF and this oil splash.

Are there others out there with this same issue? Have you had to have your new 1DX fixed 3 or 4 times?

Canon cannot seem to fix this issue and based on a Google we did, the 1DX seems to be defective in design itself. One note I read said something about oil being the issue and another about broken plastic.

This seems never ending

Martin"

I refuse to speculate on motivation or mental state!

So looking back to 2013 not only was I correct. But the early adopters of the 1DX like myself who voiced concerns about the Mirror Box were met with every bit of VILE name calling you can imagine by the "Canon Fan Boys". We were so on target that Canon finally admitted the issues to the public and a RECALL / SERVICE ADVISORY was instituted. Until the recall, Canon said "You're crazy" "The camera is perfect" "There are no dust or oil issues" "The camera does not freeze" Pattern??? Or One OFF? End result, the consumer got their defective 1DX's fixed on a massive scale.

Now we go to 2016. the 1DX MKII hits the market. Little me... The same person who was an early adopter of the 1DX, is first in line for the 1DXMKII. What happens to me, happens to others.

I had camera freeze, I had to pull the battery and reinsert it to get the camera to work.
I have OOF shots
I have CFast Card issues

I send the camera to Canon CPS... They admit there are problems and they attempt to fix things.

AND AGAIN as I discuss the issues and the fixes, and the process with other photographers I am met with the same "VILE" "Fan Boy" posts.

So Canon CPS is now replacing PCB boards in 1DXMKII's, Making Mechanical & Electronic focusing adjustments to the 1DXMKII's affected and also updating firmware and working with the CFast Card Manufactures to address the card issues.

This reality is part of adopting platforms early. For the "BUG" phase of working things out by those discussing them in open forums to be met with such vitriol, one can only conclude, that the Canon Fan Boys" have interests in anything and everything that is said about a new Canon body "must be discredited" and "the poster slandered".

As someone with a HUGE investment in Canon glass and bodies. I can only hope that the early BUGS and FIXES worked out with Canon / CPS find their way to everyone's 1DXMKII.

Best regards to those who discuss issues here and are met with personal attacks. I also know what you are experiencing.

 

[Jack Douglas]

GoldWing, I can't understand why anyone attacks anyone on these kinds of things but human nature is what it is and not just on CR.

Boy, you have me worried as a new adopter just now. The camera I got had firmware 1.0.0 so it must have been a bulk purchase by the big retailer. I've upgraded the firmware and am just trying to figure the camera out and haven't done AFMA so it's not fair to speculate. However, the shots I took yesterday with my new 400 DO II X2 III were not impressive compared to my 6D with manual focus at f8 and I had a few moments of "Oh dear". Hopefully I'm just antsy and things are fine!

Jack

 

[East Wind Photography]

GoldWing, I can't understand why anyone attacks anyone on these kinds of things but human nature is what it is and not just on CR.

Boy, you have me worried as a new adopter just now. The camera I got had firmware 1.0.0 so it must have been a bulk purchase by the big retailer. I've upgraded the firmware and am just trying to figure the camera out and haven't done AFMA so it's not fair to speculate. However, the shots I took yesterday with my new 400 DO II X2 III were not impressive compared to my 6D with manual focus at f8 and I had a few moments of "Oh dear". Hopefully I'm just antsy and things are fine!

Jack

So Jack, rest assured, i was an early 1dxii adopter, got one from my local dealer...1st shipment. Flawless operation, no cfast issues, never frozen or locked up. I did have an early release 7dii issue, but canon fixed it in less than a week and i didnt have to pay for shipping. It came back better than factory as it got a detailed calibration after the mirror box replacement.

As far as afma goes. Yes you need to do it, particularly with long telephotos with and without the extender. Some of my lenses are spot on at afma 0 but others are off by as much as 15! A 400 with. 2x extender wide open will have a paper thin dof. Its important to get it all calibrated.

Some like to use software such as Focal but after usng it for several years, i can do just as good with something like a spyder lens cal. Makes all of the difference in the world.

For proper afma at 800mm you need to have a huge distance between you and the subject and best when the ground and air temperature are the same...heat waves can really mess up your interpretation of the results and its even better to review the images on a laptop and not just on the rear screen.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Thanks EWP. CR folks have always been very good to me after I initially showed up, a complete ignoramus with all my anxieties about my "major" 300 2.8 II purchase. I had trouble just using it rather than worrying about whether it was the sharpest (I was convinced it wasn't). Even sent it in with the camera and bought a used 40D for the time. So, obviously I'm the nervous type and your comments are reassuring! I will be like a child for a long time with my new 1DX II - amazing it is.

Jack

 

[Go Wild]

Hello Guys,


Sorry to hear about that camera issues...I have my camera for about 2 weeks, tested with 2 assignments in wildlife, one in soccer and 2 video produtions. In my case, no fail detected. Sensor is amazing, photos are sharp, and video is amazing! I haven´t detected any issue at all. I do have experienced those issues on my 7D mkII (OOF problems and inconsistant focus), but after i changed for this one, heaven is now a reality!! Regarding to focus in movement situations, the camera nail the focus and i get most of the times 9 in 10 keepres, or 8 in 10. Awesome.

So...i really wish that you could solve those problems because working fine, it´s just a magnificent camera!!

Cheers

 

[Jack Douglas]

Go Wild, that's music to my ears. It's so cloudy and snowy here (a month early) so no AFMA yet and maybe that's why I'm concerned about my shots so far (like, how can one evaluate when ISO is close to 12800). Obviously AF is impressive though!!

Jack

 

[Go Wild]

Go Wild, that's music to my ears. It's so cloudy and snowy here (a month early) so no AFMA yet and maybe that's why I'm concerned about my shots so far (like, how can one evaluate when ISO is close to 12800). Obviously AF is impressive though!!

Jack

Hello Jack, I am pretty sure you´re going to love the camera! You do need to have good cards to take the best out ot it, regarding to FPS, Buffer and video. I have shoot a Baptism with a "normal" Lexar CF card, and no problem!

Well, you do need to learn about AF, specially if you came from the 6D, it´s a total new world and if you don´t have some knowledge about how it works, you may end with bad results, or better...not so good results. My previous cameras 5D3 and 7D2 had similar AF so in my case it´s not so much of a big learning curve. And the problems in the 7dmkII, make me improve a lot my AF dealings with the camera...

Let me just have a little thoughts here about the camera:

Photo - There´s not much to say, well, its the best in the market for a lot of photo types. 14fps is just woow. The AF sistem shines and the colours....ufff! I really like this sensor, i haven´t made a real cropping test, but i guess you can crop about 40% with no problems ( taking into account that it really depends on ISO value). Most part of the photos i made were with the 500 F4 IS II, the 16-35 F4 IS L, 50mm F1.8 STM and Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC (not the new one). For all the lenses, excelent results.

Video - Awesome. To have this kind of hability in a superb DSLR like this, it´s a huge benefict for guys like me that makes photo and video. So many critics i read about the video qualities of this camera, makes me in a moment to look to the 5d4 instead...well....after only 2 weeks, i must say, i am really happy of my decision! 4k is awesome and 1080p is great! It has great quality! About some guys saying that 120fps is poor quality. It´s not! The films i have done in 1080 120fps were all more than good!! And you do have the possibility to film in 4k60fps and then slow the motion by 40%, or 50%. You don´t loose quality and the image is smooth.
One thing that somhow bothers me....the hability to focus in touchscreen is great and works perfectly in every lenses, even in the Tamron. However....when you change the speed and slow the speed of the focus change, to get it smoother and slow, it seems it only works with the 50mm STM. With the other lenses i cant get it slower, it´s always fast....i don´t know if i am doing something wrong, or if it is really a software limitation fot the STM (new lenses)...don´t know, if anyone can help i would apreciate and i´m sorry for the out of topic question.

Well, but in-topic, i think you can make some tests to see how it works, i do get great shots with Iso 10.000!!! But i do recomend you to AFMA your lenses, even if it seems sharp, it could get an improvement.

Something interesting:

- I use Reikal to AFMA and i did get an issue. I got the anti Flicker active in the moment i make the first AFMA. What happend is that the program use mirror lock. After the program runs, when i disconnected my camera one error appeared. The camera keeps telling me that it was impossible to use mirror lock and antiflicker, and to close on of them. But you couldn´t do it in the menu, everything was blocked! I went in panic!! Well, the solution was to make a reset to the camera and with the reset the mirror lockup finished. I guess it is a good tip, never use Antiflicker and mirrorlockup at the same time!!! Or at least...when you use Reikal, turn off antiflicker!!

 

[East Wind Photography]

The af speed setting is primarily for STM lenses. USM motors are meant for speed and not sure they contain the stuff needed to control af speed.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Thanks very much Go Wild; I love enthusiasm! I'm working my butt off to learn the 1DX II in spite of my 6D handicap.

East W I sure hope you are wrong since that would seem a big blunder by Canon.

Jack

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Jack.
I really don't think this is a blunder by Canon, the USM motors work on high frequency (ultrasonic) vibrations, I don't think you can slow them down! ;D

With reference to AFMA, do you use Reikan, they recommend 20x focal length for the 400mm and above. So 8m for the 400mm and 16m for 800mm. That workshop of yours looks like it would be great for this, add lots of shop floodlights to the target and away you go. What is lots of light, I use 4 x 500w floods pointed from different heights and sides, this gives me 10ev in the software results.

Cheers, Graham.

Thanks very much Go Wild; I love enthusiasm! I'm working my butt off to learn the 1DX II in spite of my 6D handicap.

East W I sure hope you are wrong since that would seem a big blunder by Canon.

Jack

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Go Wild.
I feel for you with the reset, there are so many things to customise these days a full reset is a nightmare, unless you thought to make a backup of the settings before you did anything else as you own one of the few bodies capable of saving the customised settings to a card.
Something else to turn off for FoCal is lens corrections, specifically distortion correction, it seems this can cause some lenses to not report focus confirmation in some versions of the software.

Cheers, Graham.

- I use Reikal to AFMA and i did get an issue. I got the anti Flicker active in the moment i make the first AFMA. What happend is that the program use mirror lock. After the program runs, when i disconnected my camera one error appeared. The camera keeps telling me that it was impossible to use mirror lock and antiflicker, and to close on of them. But you couldn´t do it in the menu, everything was blocked! I went in panic!! Well, the solution was to make a reset to the camera and with the reset the mirror lockup finished. I guess it is a good tip, never use Antiflicker and mirrorlockup at the same time!!! Or at least...when you use Reikal, turn off antiflicker!!

 

[Jack Douglas]

Hi Jack.
I really don't think this is a blunder by Canon, the USM motors work on high frequency (ultrasonic) vibrations, I don't think you can slow them down! ;D

With reference to AFMA, do you use Reikan, they recommend 20x focal length for the 400mm and above. So 8m for the 400mm and 16m for 800mm. That workshop of yours looks like it would be great for this, add lots of shop floodlights to the target and away you go. What is lots of light, I use 4 x 500w floods pointed from different heights and sides, this gives me 10ev in the software results.

Cheers, Graham.

Thanks very much Go Wild; I love enthusiasm! I'm working my butt off to learn the 1DX II in spite of my 6D handicap.

East W I sure hope you are wrong since that would seem a big blunder by Canon.

Jack

Thanks Graham. The distances are not a problem since my shop was appended to my garage 26 +36 feet but I don't have all that lighting - only 1 500 watt.

I have a good target and have had good success with my 300 2.8 II previously just doing it manually since I never bought any software.

The only disadvantage of manual I could perceive was the time factor. I use a laser level which has verified accuracy to make sure target and camera are aligned. Now with 800 mm I will have to be very careful and just get it right using a tripod and not fool with that setting afterwards since camera movement is so magnified (with the 300 2.8 I would play around with the settings in the field while waiting for the birdies).

I wonder, assuming there is a relatively common distance I find myself shooting from, if AFMA wouldn't be better done at that distance? Perhaps it's not particularly critical.

Jack

 

[LSV]

I'm sure profuse apologies will be coming to OP GoldWing soon...perhaps, even before the release of the 1DX Mark III?