Canon 5D Mark II Focus Problems / High ISO Banding

[Canon88]

Is it just me, or do these pictures seem out of focus?

You may have to enlarge these images to get a closer look.

Whether reviewing pictures on the LCD or computer monitor (2008 MacBook Pro), photos at 100% magnification often seem hazy. I performed lens calibration tests and determined that no micro-adjustments were necessary, removed the UV filter and made sure that during shooting my focusing distance switch on the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM was properly set.

I use the back focus button to focus my camera when shooting and typically leave the camera in AI-Servo Mode with the continuous shooting/frames feature turned on. I also always use the center auto-focus point when focusing my camera.

Most of these images were shot at f/2.8, but is there a certain distance where your subject is too far away for f/2.8 to be effective?

For example; if I’m 3 feet away from a coke bottle at f/2.8 using a 24-70, then it should be in sharp focus at f/2.8. But if I’m using a 70-200 shooting a portrait from 14-20 feet away at f/2.8, is the same true?

Also: Examine images 6-9 for horizontal banding I'm experiencing at ISO

• Image 1
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | ISO 3200 | F-Stop 2.8 | 1/125
• Image 2
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | ISO 3200 | F-Stop 2.8 | 1/100
• Image 3
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | ISO 3200 | F-Stop 2.8 | 1/160
• Image 4
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | ISO 500 | F-Stop 3.2 | 1/400
• Image 5
• Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L | ISO 1000 | 1/125
• Images 6 - 9 ...
• Horizontal banding. Also, 'banding' around the stage lights.
• Images 10 - 13 [Lens Test]
• Image 10
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | ISO 4000 | F-Stop 2.8 | 1/160
• Image 11
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | ISO 1000 | F-Stop 2.8 | 1/160
• Image 12
• Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L | ISO 3200 | F-Stop 2.8 | 1/160
• Image 13
• Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L | ISO 2500 | F-Stop 2.8 | 1/125

[swjim]

The banding is unacceptable but the others look like you're just dealing with thin depth of field and/or misfocus issues. Example: photo 1 looks like you focused on the lady's chin, photos 3 and 4 the focus is on the microphone and the first photo of the wine bottle looks slightly front focused (look at the sharp focus of the counter just in front of the bottle).

[Jim Victory]

You may wish to send your camera into Canon for the banding problem. When this issue first came up it was not universal and those that had the problem had it resolved by sending it to Canon where the CPU was replaced and the CMOS adjusted.

[adamsheehy]

Originally Posted by swjim

The banding is unacceptable but the others look like you're just dealing with thin depth of field and/or misfocus issues. Example: photo 1 looks like you focused on the lady's chin, photos 3 and 4 the focus is on the microphone and the first photo of the wine bottle looks slightly front focused (look at the sharp focus of the counter just in front of the bottle).

^^ x 2.

Also, are these jpgs? Have you tried looking at them in RAW?

There definitely seems to be something funky going on, especially near the cap of that bottle in one of the pics. What are you high ISO noise reduction settings at?

There really isn't anything in particular that would lead me in this direction, but have you ever remapped the sensor?

[canon_shooter]

Originally Posted by Canon88

Most of these images were shot at f/2.8, but is there a certain distance where your subject is too far away for f/2.8 to be effective?

For example; if I’m 3 feet away from a coke bottle at f/2.8 using a 24-70, then it should be in sharp focus at f/2.8. But if I’m using a 70-200 shooting a portrait from 14-20 feet away at f/2.8, is the same true?

Sharp pictures have more to do with camera and subject movement - more accurately lack of movement - than with distance, aperture and focal length. In your example, shooting a subject 3 feet away at f/2.8, using 24-70mm should be as just sharp as shooting a subject 14-20 feet away at f/2.8 using 70-200mm - assuming you focused correctly.

It is probably more effective to understand your Depth of Field (DoF) when shooting at different distances. Here's a good resource to help:

Understanding Depth of Field in Photography