Who here has the Canon D20?
 

Because I'm having real problems focusing ours. The Nikon D100 is too good, but the D20 is crap and I can't see why.

Got a Canon pro lens on the D20 and the Nikon has a Tokina which is a cheaper lens.

Paul,
Describe the lighting conditions when you're having these focusing problems. As you already know, the cameras will sometimes have difficulty in low-contrast scenarios, and low light can contribute to this.

The 20D does not have any inherently flawed focus problems that I'm aware of. I've used it professionally and my opinion is that the camera rocks. I've not had any complaints. I just ordered myself an XT which has the same focusing system, because I've been equally impressed with the performance of these cameras.

-Noah

I do. But I'm pretty novice (20D's are known to have a higher number of lemons whose sensor/chip whatever doesn't focus properly)

I haven't heard of that issue. And I spend probably too much time in the photography forums.

No problems focusing it for me.

maybe the viewfinder?

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos20d/page5.asp

I'm shooting exactly the same thing with the D20 and the D100 and getting different results, very different.

Going to lunch and will work on it when I get back. But there is something wrong.

Yeah, that's a really good suggestion. Paul, are you sure it's the actual photos that are blurry and not just the viewfinder focus?

I got the 20D and love it! No problems at all with it!

what's the "Pro Lens" I highly doubt it's the 20d, I bet it's the actual lens itself.

that was my suggesstion as well, adjust the diopter to you eye :2 cents:

No there is something wrong with the camera, here are two pics, some shot, lighting and position. Both cropped to actual size and compressed 88%

http://www.paulmarkham.com/temp/test1.jpg

http://www.paulmarkham.com/temp/test2.jpg

The Nikon is sharper.

Bumping it for opinions on the two images.

are the white balance settings identical ? was it taken with a tripod or just hand held ?

Two different makes of camera so balancing the whites balance would be tough. Hand held but firing with strobes so not a problem.

Paul, some copies of these cameras like the earlier 10D can have back & front focusing issues, and some lens can as well. Here is a link to a test for front & back focusing testing. I've had to deal with sub par copies and am happy I exchanged them.
Link

Have you tried manually setting the AF point? Sometimes the af point used is not the one you want. I manually set mine to the middle and use that point for focusing.

I have the 20D and my pics focus much better. I have an EF S series lens

Nikon for years and years have been a superior product. You get what you pay for and here is just more proof that I will continue to only use Nikon. BTW, why the hell would you use anything but Nikon glass? Seems unthinkable for someone to use a knockoff like Tokina when spending that kinda of money on a Nikon body.

20D..... and the Canon rebel, are both giving us "error 99"

Apparently, its cuased from the lens and the body's connections, having grease or dirt on them.... remedy.... a rubber eraser to clean off the connections. Works most of them time.

and I had to send the rebel in once becuase the shutter locked up.

We use them alot, so maybe its just normal wear and tear, but weve had alot of problems with them.

That is bizarre. I have yet to master my 20D

The Canon 20D rocks, a great camera. Have you tried cleaning the lens contacts? Also as someone else suggested, maybe use just one AF point rather than all 9?

might be DOF issue, f/stop same on both camera bodies?

is focal length magnifier the same for both bodies, if it is not but cameras are in same position on tripod this will change DOF even if f/stop is the same.

are both lenses screwed in to the bayonet stops?

was a dump truck driving by exactly at the time of canon exposure?

was shutter speed the same?

is flash sync speed the same. iso set the same?

many variables could cause this.

try same test using same f/stop, same shutter speed on manual, same metering scheme, manual focus, and check results.

Thanks this was very helpful, when I go to work tomorrow I will be looking at the camera and seeing how it's set up. Good graph for detecting the focussing point.

The focussing point is central on the camera, we have the Canon pro lens.

Shooting_Maniac1 The Canon D20 is a lot more money than the Nikon D100, so that's not the issue. On the nikon we tested the Nikon lens and the Tokina, identical results. I wonder where Tokina and Nikon get there glass from?

Using one only. But will try cleaning the lens contacts.

Similar Fstop, 1/3 difference, was using strobe lights. Will try manual focus.

Thanks guys. will keep working at it. At the moment we are only using the Nikon D100 and I want to go back and check all the images off the Canon to see if this has always been a problem.

Posted the problem on the DP board to see if they have the answer.

I'm not gonna read this thread so this may have already been said. (I'm a poet)


Upgrade the bios. When I did that ALL the little quirks went away.

What are the "bios" I'm not a technical guy and openly admit to it.

Uhhhh....Bios, firmware...Whatever. :glugglug

There are a lot of shooting test that show otherwise. I will dig for the most recent one I found.

There are some good hacks for Canons firmware:)

It seems I'm not the only one with the problem.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read...pinion =28337

Lot og negative reviews hwere.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read...pinion =28135

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read...pinion =28117

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read...pinion =28038

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read...pinion =27151

But most seem very happy so maybe I'm doing something wrong.

the err 99 is one either a connection with the memory card or the lens contacts ors osmething with the lens not talking to the camera of some sorts... Thats been my run in when i tired using a non canon lens...

how about metering modes ? Tried diferent sut ups ?
Anyway have read the threads on dpreview you linked to and it looks like this might be a weekness of this cam - you are not the only 1.
Buy some pro cam like D1 - its giving a great results and you can see the difference just looking at pic.

here ya go: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1019

Canon recommends an unsharp mask of 0.3/300%/0 before you start post processing. If you're shooting in JPEG then try fiddling with the sharpness settings on the camera. I believe the Canon has a more aggressive moire/IR filter which does lose some sharpness.

It may also help if you actually tell us which Canon lens you're using... you seem to keep avoiding the question.

Finally, taking a test shot of a small object isn't really indicative of real world shots, unless you want to fill the screen with a model's nose. :)

How would one procure...

To keep you updated on this.

Eva phoned Canon CZ, they immediately knew the problem and told her to bring the camera in. She has done that and it's gone to Prague to be fixed.

Seems we're not the only ones.

As for getting a D1 or even D10, would do if more decent magazines took digital, but most want slides so we stick to that.

The Nikon D100 is good enough for the Net.

I'm using Canon 20D for a year now, the only problem I have with it is that IT DOESN'T WORK ON ELEVATION 4550m :-) I got an Error 99 and only when I got down to 2000m it started working again.

THANK U so much for this comment. I have a question though: Should I just clean the CMOS sensor?