Canon R7 R7 AF issues - no sharp images

[shamlin]

I have a nearly new R7 that I'm using with mostly older EF L-series lenses. I've been out with it twice photographing birds and haven't gotten a single usable image - a far cry from the tack-sharp images I expected after reading reviews and watching Youtube videos. The eye detect locks onto my subject and tracks it, giving the appearance that the focus is working exactly as it should, but on download, every image is soft. I ran rhe best of them through DxO PureRaw 3 and it was still very soft, so I ran that image through Topaz Sharp AI. It was still way too soft to be usable.

I have the current firmware and I have a bit of experience with Canon cameras and bird photography in the field - I've been using Canon gear to shoot wildlife since 2004. I called Canon service and spoke at length with a rep there who recommended I send it to the service center. Since I bought the camera used, I expected it would cost me at least a couple hundred dollars for the service. When I filled out the online form, I was pleasantly surprised that the estimate was $0. A couple of nights ago, I was reading reviews of the camera on the B&H website. Among them, I stumbled on a review from a buyer who described precisely the same problem. He sent his to the service center where it was repaired for free too. It fixed the problem for him. I just shipped my camera out yesterday. His experience gives me hope that my camera will return without a surprise bill and capable of delivering the sharp photos I expected.

From my conversation with Canon support, combined with the $0 estimate and the review on B&H, I get the impression my experience isn't unique. I don't think it's a widespread problem, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's more common than the few isolated cases I've been able to find evidence of, since Canon seems to be aware of it and to have a remedy worked out. According to the B&H review, the repair invoice was vague, stating "Your product has been examined and Electrical adjustments were performed." Whatever they did, it fixed the problem for him. I hope to have the same result.

 

[ctitanic]

Sure. I'm aware of the shutter shock issue. I've experimented with both mechanical and first-curtain electronic. On one of the two tries with the R7, I had the shutter speed set at 200. On the second, thinking the slow shutter speed might have been the problem, I made sure to use nothing slower than 1/1000. I'm attaching the photo from that day that is probably the best. The issue seems to be much more noticeable with distant subjects. I took some photos in my backyard using my 100-400 IS II which were reasonably sharp, although still not nearly as sharp as I had expected. the subjects in those were around 20' from me, as opposed to the 35 yds or so with the Green-winged Teal in the photo below. That was shot using my 500mm f4 L IS with my 1.4x III extender.

From your 3 pictures, the one with the duck looks a little bit soft but it could have been due to heat haze.

 

[Only RF]

Yes, I find it amazing at times and is good for small birds in branches I find. The times I find it poor are when you expect it to be - like trying to pick out an owl from a grassy background from 25m or more. Then the traditional method is inferior to D500 in terms of consistency especially.

Here is an example for today. This one was too far away to work with but in Eye Detect it was all over the place. I pressed the AF-On which put in in Zone AF and it honed in on the bird. As soon as I released it AF picked the eye.

 

[Only RF]

Interesting about heat haze. It messes me up time to time thinking my gear is broken. I was at one of my marches in Portugal and could getting anything sharp. I then took a shot of this.

 

[Only RF]

This is interesting too. Not sure if the has been posted.

Are Lens Hoods Wrecking Your Photos In Cold Weather? - Backcountry Gallery

Are you a cold-weather shooter? Did you know your lens hood can work against you if the conditions are right, absolutely turning your photos to mush? Give me four minutes and I’ll show you when to watch for the problem, what it looks like, and how to avoid it. This is a must-see for anyone […]

backcountrygallery.com

 

[ctitanic]

This is interesting too. Not sure if the has been posted.

Are Lens Hoods Wrecking Your Photos In Cold Weather? - Backcountry Gallery

Are you a cold-weather shooter? Did you know your lens hood can work against you if the conditions are right, absolutely turning your photos to mush? Give me four minutes and I’ll show you when to watch for the problem, what it looks like, and how to avoid it. This is a must-see for anyone […]

backcountrygallery.com

This is new to me... Let me check it.

 

[ctitanic]

Wow! Every day I learn something new. Probably never got affected by this case because I live in the sunny Florida.

 

[iskender]

I have the same problem, I bought Canon 24-105 f4 Is usm but images was very soft so I sent back the lens. Today I tried Canon 24-70 f4 Is usm for buy but results was the same, photos were very soft.
I have also sigma 18-35 F1.8 and suprisingly there is no problem , or with my canon 40mm f2.8 pancake or with 24mm f2.8 pancake lenses very sharp.
After read your comments I will try to sent service center too. I hope this will help to me.