Focussing problems and general sluggishness

[Ruggerbugger]

I've had my 450D for about 2 1/2 years now, I'm using it with a Canon 70-200mm L USM lens, a Sigma 10-20mm, a canon EF 50mm 1.8 and a Sigma 135-400mm lens. Lately I've noticed that a greater proportion of my shots (mostly of aircraft) are out of focus. The camera seems to hunt for focus more than it used to, and I'm finding that I need to take two shots to get the second one in focus (as if there's some sort of lag in operation). I'm also getting the "busy" message indicating a full buffer after two shots rather than the four it used to be.

Each of these problems seems worse with the Sigma than the Canon lens, but I'm definitely missing and dumping more shots than usual. I suspect my body might be suffering from old age, I've got about 13k shots in my collection, so there are probably at least that number that I haven't kept, maybe twice as many

Does anyone have any ideas? Is an inspection/repair in order? If so where do I send it?

If it's the death knell, I've been considering an upgrade to a more professional body, but I could only budget £5-600 (so second hand basically) and I'm not sure whether all of my lenses would work with say a 7D.

Opinions appreciated.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I have the Sigma 135-400MM and it does seem to hunt quite a bit at times on my Minolta Dynax 5 and Sony A200. TBH,it does have a reputation for not being the fastest focusing lens in the world and IMHO is more suited for more stationary objects.

The Minolta and Sony telephoto lenses I tried OTH seem perfectly fine at least on my A200.

[Ruggerbugger]

I know what you mean about the Sigma, and I have considered saving for the Canon 100 - 400mm L (or whatever the focal length is), but the experience seems to have got worse, and I'm reluctant to splash out a major lens investment if the body is on it's last legs.

[GoNz0]

try getting a service done ?

[Bobster]

clean the contacts on lens and body

[Ruggerbugger]

I'll give that a go Bob, cotton buds and some sort of cleaner?

[GoNz0]

alcohol, lens cleaner. also a pencil rubber is best to start with then alcohol (or other cleaning fluid)

[j.o.s.h.1408]

like the 400d i have, teh AF is terrible on it. stick on a L lens and its a bit better but still has small issues unless u use one centre point for focusing

[Bobster]

the XXXD will only have accurate focusing with the centre point with fast glass because its the only cross AF point..

if you want professional af results, you need to upgrade the body.. but i've gotten excellent results out of a 350D with a 70-200 + 2x tele attached when panning aircraft etc..

[j.o.s.h.1408]

i head the 5dmk2 has terrible AF as well so it looks like your only choise is a 7d or one of the 1d bodies. im still wondering why canon don't have a d700 equivalent body

[Bobster]

the 5D2 has pretty good AF for what its designed for.. its not meant for sports photography..

20,30,40,50,60D will all keep up with all but the most tricky situations..

but at the end of the day, just because you have a big camera, doesn't automatically mean you'll get sharp in focus shots, 90%* of a photograph is down to the user..

*thats my feelings - you can have all the gear and no clue!

[rox0r]

i head the 5dmk2 has terrible AF as well so it looks like your only choise is a 7d or one of the 1d bodies. im still wondering why canon don't have a d700 equivalent body

Hearsay and conjecture hardly make for constructive and useful advice.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

the 5D2 has pretty good AF for what its designed for.. its not meant for sports photography..

20,30,40,50,60D will all keep up with all but the most tricky situations..

but at the end of the day, just because you have a big camera, doesn't automatically mean you'll get sharp in focus shots, 90%* of a photograph is down to the user..

*thats my feelings - you can have all the gear and no clue!

yea i know but when shooting AF mode againts a moving dynamic subject, you do rely heavily on the camer and lenses ability to focus on the correct subject. yes you can tweak the the single AF points to point and focus a particular area of the screen but like i said, on a dynamic moving subject u dont have the time and luxury to always do that, nore shooting rigth down the middle centre point and because the 400d's centre point i soo small, if your subject is a fraction off centre, the subject will be out of focus.

i understand what you mean mate, compositions and framing is "all" down to the person holding the camera but better ISO? better and more accurate AF of intended subject, bokeh etc are mostly down to the gear.

By your logic you and i should ditch our DSLR and just use our mobile phones to take pics

Hearsay and conjecture hardly make for constructive and useful advice.

Yes it does when its widely known throughout many different forums. read it up talk photography for example. Its not hearsay, its a known fact that many have issues with the 5dmk2 AF abilities.

Check out this video as an example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3-fHf0Y990

[kalniel]

I had issues with my Oly's auto focus the other day.

Then I realised I was still in full MF mode

Time to get a switch to a phone camera I think.

[Bobster]

By your logic you and i should ditch our DSLR and just use our mobile phones to take pics

i have been thinking about it

[j.o.s.h.1408]

i have been thinking about it

haha cool. i took my point and shoot when i saw arsenal play at the emirates and the quality of pics i took where sensational. Some of mates thought i bought my dslr!