Canon 5D Mark II - Focusing issues?

Does anyone here have focusing issues with the new 5D Mark II? I am reeeeeeeeeally frustrated. I am missing some key moments at events and sometimes it won't focus at all! I have to reach up and throw it into manual focus to get what I need and then a few minutes later, I can switch it back and auto-focus works again.

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Permalink Reply by Shane E. on June 28, 2009 at 12:27pm
Does yours have a d3 switch?
Permalink Reply by Sara Petty on June 28, 2009 at 12:40pm
Does yours?
Permalink Reply by Rob Metzger on June 28, 2009 at 7:15pm
I have wondered that myself Sara. Definitely feel your pains.
Permalink Reply by Brittany Murphy on June 28, 2009 at 11:05pm
I've noticed focusing issues when the flash is mounted, but no issues when the flash is not. I read somewhere that there is something about the IR that causes focusing issues.
Permalink Reply by Sara Petty on June 29, 2009 at 8:30am
Lynn (and Rob) - All of my lenses are the fancy-schmancy EF lenses. The one that is attached to my 5D is the 24 to 70 - 2.8, so I can get the full frame. Also, I JUST got that lens back from Canon where I had it cleaned, serviced and calibrated. I specifically asked them to check it for focusing, because at first, I thought it was my lens........being as it is about 6 years old and I tend to bang them around sometimes when I am running around a wedding with everything strapped to me. But prior to putting that lens on the 5D, I had no focusing issues. *shrugs shoulders*

My 70 to 200 - 2.8 is attached to my 40D, and the 10 to 22 - 3.5 is attached to my old 20D.

Brittanty, the flash may be an area I could look into, but 95% of the time, I don't have my flash on my camera. It sits off to the side and I use Pocket Wizards. But I wonder if the Pocket Wizard could be the problem? Hmmmmmm............?

Can you remember where you read about that?
Permalink Reply by Courtney Ellis on June 29, 2009 at 6:03pm
Sara, my 40D has been acting exactly the same as your 5DmkII. Missing half the shots, etc. I took it to A1 first byt we had a big to do there. (ask and I will PM you about it). So any-who, were going to send it out on my CPS gold program an hopefully get it back. Before I got it back from A1 they said they "thought it was the mirror box." I thought it was the lens that I sent it with as well and they said no it was the camera. I have heard nothing but good things from the Canon Dept. from you Sara, so I am hoping they live up to it! Oh and Sara, was it all you expected it to be? I have been thinking about the 5D or 5DmkII and just can't decide if I need the video to add to my engagement shoots or not.....what do you think?

Brittany what type of flash/camera are you using? At one point we realized between my 20D and 30D, one of the flashes worked with one and the other would work with either, but when you just needed a flash for the 20D, it had to be a certain one (I think we were between 580EX, 420EX and the Lowepro) for all 3 cameras. Let me know if you need any more help with that.
Permalink Reply by Brittany Murphy on June 29, 2009 at 7:17pm
I really couldn't tell you where I read that. I would just google search IR focusing issues and see what it gets ya.

My flash is the 580 EX II, and the only reason I'm thinking this, is because I've had issues with that flash on an XSI, 40D, and 5D Mark ii. Since it's universal for all cameras with the same flash, I'm thinking it's the flash with an IR sensor. It's not more or less common with either camera that I've noticed.
Permalink Reply by Brittany Murphy on June 29, 2009 at 7:18pm
Maybe a good thorough cleaning will do the trick? On the flash?
Permalink Reply by John Hynes on July 15, 2009 at 4:34pm
Sara, Sometimes just taking the lens off and just remounting it will do the trick. I don't shoot Canon, but I've had this happen with my gear, and just remounting the lens will take care of any issues. And as long as you've got the lens off, take a dry cloth and wipe off the contacts. Oils from your fingers can cause some contact issues too.

John
Permalink Reply by Sara Petty on July 15, 2009 at 4:41pm
Actually John, from the research I've done so far, it is DEFINITELY the camera. I talked to Canon about it last week and they are actually (painfully) aware of the problem and asked me to send it to them. Which I will be doing. Blargh. This past weekend was a bitch. I missed so much I almost just put it away.
Permalink Reply by John Hynes on July 16, 2009 at 4:38pm
Wow, that does suck. Sorry to hear about that. Hope it doesn't take too long to fix.

John

Sara Petty said:
Actually John, from the research I've done so far, it is DEFINITELY the camera. I talked to Canon about it last week and they are actually (painfully) aware of the problem and asked me to send it to them. Which I will be doing. Blargh. This past weekend was a bitch. I missed so much I almost just put it away.
Permalink Reply by Jason Holzworth on July 17, 2009 at 11:50pm
yes the autofocus blows. you can live w/ it. or you can mount a flash on there and disable the firing....or you can get an st-e2, that would serve the same purpose as the non firing flash....or get a 1ds/1d III.

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