Focusing issue with the 35mmf 1.4L II

[Viggo]

Anyone experienced that the outer points need a completely different afma setting than center on the 35 L II?

It seems almost consistent in good light with the center point, but as soon as I try in less than 9 ev light it doesn't work. and I have disabled the non-crosstype points on my camera, but the outer point does not work at all, and looks like -2 afma on the center and +6 on the outer should be right.

I have had nothing but trouble with new lenses AND my 1dx. If buying the best there is still doesn't produce a properly focused picture, then what?

Here's a typical example, nice enough light, f1.4, iso 2500 shutter 1/640s. I tried both One shot and Servo and it wouldn't focus at all. The Servo performance is completely useless. Never used One Shot almost in my life, but now it's the only option, and it still doesn't work 85% of the time with the center point.

I've found that disabling the non cross-points avoids unexpected hunting or inability to lock AF, but if a non cross-point does find the right contrast to lock on, seems just as accurate. In other words, I don't think the type of point is the issue in unreliable AF here.

I'm sorry I haven't kept up enough to know, Viggo, but what was the major service on your 1DX?

Has Canon offered any insights?

I often found the non-crosstype points to beep for locked focus when it's not in focus, and they never worked for tracking, couldn't trust them at all.

It's v´basically only the top-plate that is original from factory on my camera. They've changed back/front with all buttons, the screen memorycard slot etc. Mirror assembly TWICE, the shutter and a bunch of electronics and mirror assembly was the last thing they did. They replaced the focusing screen and apperantly tried to calibrate it afterwards, but it can't focus.

I am more and more sure that the 35 L is okay though. The corner points on the 6d locks pretty much more than can be expected, and its razor sharp. The things the 6d doesn't focus properly is what I would it expect it to miss. What is not to be expected is that the 1dx doesn't come even remotely close to hitting 1/3 of what the 6d locks on to.

I've sent a long email directly to Canon expressing my thoughts around my 1dx that has been more for repair than in use. I'm so tired of sending it away for months and it comes back and there is something new wrong with it.. I'm done with it.

I will either get it replaced by Canon or they will fix it this last chance I give them, then I'll sell it and buy another newer copy of it.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Makes me rethink if I should save the 1000 usd having my brother buy it in the States, or just buy it here to exchange without issues.

Anybody else heard of anyone else with this issue with the 35 L II? If it's an isolated case I feel really bad for you Eldar since you had those issues with the Art lenses also...

I seriously doubt this is more than an individual issue. I have and have had so many Canon L-lenses through the years and they have all performed to my expectations. This is the first time I have had AF issues with one. If anything, Canon improves their AF, they are not deteriorating it.

Yes of course, but if this is batch problem? I'm 100% sure it's not a design flaw like the Art lenses.

What does focal say for AF consistency/Quality of focus ?

FoCal reported that it was unable to achieve focus, so I had to do it manually with the LensAlign rig. This is a new version of FoCal, so it might be that it is finger trouble on my side, but I don´t understand what I may have done wrong.

I used my 35mm L on my 5D MK II and 1D MK III, and found front foucs when close, but drastic rear focus at infinity. I could correct by AFMA at one distance and it was deadly sharp. I sent it to Canon explaining this, and it came back with a note repeating what I'd said, and that AF was adjusted on a reference 1D MK III.

After that, it was perfect on both bodies at 0 AFMA.

Don't be afraid to send it in and ask for adjustment. The AF in the lens has several possibilities of component failures that can make AF intermittent.

 

[Viggo]

Makes me rethink if I should save the 1000 usd having my brother buy it in the States, or just buy it here to exchange without issues.

Anybody else heard of anyone else with this issue with the 35 L II? If it's an isolated case I feel really bad for you Eldar since you had those issues with the Art lenses also...

I seriously doubt this is more than an individual issue. I have and have had so many Canon L-lenses through the years and they have all performed to my expectations. This is the first time I have had AF issues with one. If anything, Canon improves their AF, they are not deteriorating it.

Yes of course, but if this is batch problem? I'm 100% sure it's not a design flaw like the Art lenses.

What does focal say for AF consistency/Quality of focus ?

FoCal reported that it was unable to achieve focus, so I had to do it manually with the LensAlign rig. This is a new version of FoCal, so it might be that it is finger trouble on my side, but I don´t understand what I may have done wrong.

I used my 35mm L on my 5D MK II and 1D MK III, and found front foucs when close, but drastic rear focus at infinity. I could correct by AFMA at one distance and it was deadly sharp. I sent it to Canon explaining this, and it came back with a note repeating what I'd said, and that AF was adjusted on a reference 1D MK III.

After that, it was perfect on both bodies at 0 AFMA.

Don't be afraid to send it in and ask for adjustment. The AF in the lens has several possibilities of component failures that can make AF intermittent.

i've also had that issue on a 300 f2.8 which also got fixed. But this isn't distance related, but which af point I use. same like the 50 L which is impossible to calibrate for both center and outer points, I think I also had the same issue with a 24-70 mk1.

But this seems like it's the camera, not the 35... my 24-70 couldn't be calibrated with FoCal at 70mm, got loads of errors and very poor fit quality and it couldnt really find a value. at 24mm it was much better, but still errors.

FoCal couldn't calibrate the 35 L II either, "failed to acheive focus" on the target constantly, which is absolutely absurd. Ran the 6d through the same test with the same setup and it flew through with no issues.

I think basically all the repairs done on my camera has destroyed it.

 

[d]

Interesting to read about your experiences with this lens, Eldar and Viggo.

I purchased the 35L II about a week ago, and yesterday had my first chance to play with it, on my 1DX. AF performance is actually slower than I was expecting, which was a surprise.

I haven't done an AFMA yet, but close range shots seem pretty sharp mostly, while images focused close to or at infinity are all quite soft, with the AF being obviously off.

Quite possibly it'll be corrected with an AFMA adjustment, but I also own the 85L II, and get good results from that without any AFMA adjustment dialled in.

I'll report back any interesting findings once I've spent a decent amount of time with it.


d.

 

[Viggo]

Interesting to read about your experiences with this lens, Eldar and Viggo.

I purchased the 35L II about a week ago, and yesterday had my first chance to play with it, on my 1DX. AF performance is actually slower than I was expecting, which was a surprise.

I haven't done an AFMA yet, but close range shots seem pretty sharp mostly, while images focused close to or at infinity are all quite soft, with the AF being obviously off.

Quite possibly it'll be corrected with an AFMA adjustment, but I also own the 85L II, and get good results from that without any AFMA adjustment dialled in.

I'll report back any interesting findings once I've spent a decent amount of time with it.


d.

Thanks for sharing, good to see others share their experience also, not much to find.