How-To: Auto Focus Micro Adjustments on the Canon 70D [DRAFT]

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How-to test your 70D and apply micro adjustments to achieve more accurate viewfinder focus(phase detection)
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[@abettervideographer]

This is probably the best tutorial I've seen on this subject so far. Thank you so much!

[@nightranch6218]

The adjustment is done in such big increments that I doubt if it requires a set up as precise as you had in the video. I was able to adjust my 70D to a point where one increment up or down both makes autofocus noticeably less accurate by only holding it by hands and taking picture of a key board. However, this video is still tremendously helpful in saving my 70D. Thank you!

[@henryf9175]

Thanks for taking the time to make this. Very helpful indeed. Not a particularly difficult task on a prime lens when you show the steps but saved trying to work it all out for yourself would take for ever. Sorted out error for me. Henry

[@Richbosses869]

Omg!! This is so VALUABLE! I HAVE LOOKING FOR THIS INFO FOREVER! I always have trouble achieve sharpness picture when i ZOOM IN. And this is the answer to all my questions! Thank you

[@edwardlucas8333]

i stumbled on this video after shooting my daughters graduation. The pictures came out generally ok....but some I wanted to really zoom in and blow up....but the focus was softer than it should be. All take with the VF. So today, Im setting up and testing and adjusting if needed... i HOPE this is the issue and its not me :)

[@chrisviolette8586]

Fantastic, super clear

[@DomicileConsulting]

Thanks Toby, was able to adjust a few lenses that were all off wide open. This really made a difference and was simple to follow. Much obliged.

[@sammyfromsydney]

I've done very well calibrating lenses just with Tim Jackson's flat sheet of paper target hand held. I keep reading that you need to have your target square on, but I really haven't needed that and I've been able to get my lenses pretty spot on eyeballing it.

[@DoctorCrankysLabRATory]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. It really helps. Keep up the wonderful discussion on the Canon 70D.

[@paulswarman]

Just a short note of thanks, I didn't know this facility existed (ok, I should have read the manual)! I am getting out-of-focus shots with my Sigma 18-50 f2.8 lens on my 70D and will follow your advice to try and correct. The issue is particularly noticeable when taking pictures of text and then zooming in to read them. Thanks again.

[@LProds]

Thanks a lot. I just got a used Canon 85mm 1.8 and is driving me nuts that I get soft images, softer than my 50mm. I get way better results with live view so I'm going to try this. Hopefully I'll be able to solve the problem. Thanks again.

[@masoomehtanghatari8750]

My hero in AFMA . God bless

[@nazreex1]

Thanks for the video...I keep wondering why my 70D performed really bad compared to my cheap SONY a290 which able to produce a great photo. I'm using with EF 15-85mm lens and couldn't wait to test as your method...

[@pakoloko001]

The Canon 70D allows you to perform microadjustment for both wide and tele ends of zoom lenses. Thanks for the video!

[@StephanEilert]

Oh my. I just noticed my photos from weeked where focusing on the ears, not the face. I tested with my action figures and it was focusing a couple millimeters behind the target. Did you what said and now its sharp as in live view. Thank you :D

[@avavii]

Thanks, that was very helpful. Unfortunately it does not work that well with the Sigma 18-35, because at every focal length the focus is too different. I optimized it for 35mm and just try to shoot at higher apertures with 18-24mm.

[@malakobasica]

+Michael Wieczorek Hi, I know you wrote this a while ago but I'm gonna ask anyways: Are you satisfied with that solution? I have the Sigma 18-35 with a 70D and just saw the video and also your comment.. not sure what to do now :)

[@WernerSchroeder]

Thank you for this video. You mention that you will be getting into this more for the 70D, did you publish that video somewhere?

[@eiggiboy]

Kindly do a tutorial on blur background using 70d (manual mode)... there are some of it on youtube but couldn't really grasp it coz they are using different camera... and you explain things much better. Thanks!

[@photorectoby]

Have you watched my Canon 70D, T4i, T5i Portrait Tips with Kit Lens(18-135 STM) I was doing the video with a slightly different camera but the principle is exactly the same.

[@willparsons32]

As for a telephoto (150-600mm) at what distance would I set up my target at? If I understand it, you mentioned that it's (at least) 25 times the focal length (minimum distance) which I understand that with this lens would equal out to aprox. 24.60 feet.(?)

[@MrFafcho]

if setings bring back to 0 everything is become as was before right? Great video thank you!

[@willparsons32]

Hello, I'm not sure if anyone has brought this to your attention yet but The camera you are using - it is a crop sensor APS-C Camera. By using a 35, 50 or any other prime lens to do this adjustment - would you not have to multiply the lens (50mm in your case) by 1.6 and then multiply that answer by 25/50 to get the distance between your target to camera or does this matter?

[@Twobarpsi]

Very informative video!

[@tobyallred6599]

Hi, Toby! Is there any chance that you'll be finishing the user manual videos for the 70d?

[@asparis145149]

Great video. My 70d seems to focus about half-way between the subject and the camera. I hope micro adjust will handle that. All the same, makes me sad that the the live-view works perfectly and the viewfinder focus doesn't.... so if I want to hold my $900 camera out at the end of my arms like a $200 point and shoot, it works. What was Canon thinking?

[@khkproductions2857]

out of curiosity, did you ever learn what level of magnification the camera displays when you zoom all the way in?

[@Im18AndBalding]

SO HELPFUL! THANK YOU!

[@s7freeski]

I don't know how to send you a message but I have a question for you so I will ask you in coment: I want to by a DSLR camera for shooting video of snowboard or skateboard and I don't know wich one choose, do you have dslr camera to recomand? ps... I speak French so my English is not very good... and I realy love your video, you realy help me to understand a lot of things :) thks

[@TomStratton]

Thanks Toby, that's really useful and a good stop gap whist waiting for Canon to (hopefully) address the issue! Tom Stratton (UK)

[@davidstilwell6800]

A follow up on the distance chart for micro testing AF-- I did the test on my 100-400, & was told to select 8' for the 100mm test, & 15' for the 400mm end. Now I'm told to use the same distances for my 18-135. Does not make sense. I don't know how to do the mm conversion formula to feet. Thats why I asked about a chart to make life easier. Thx. DS

[@WillDoyleVideos]

How far away should I be to my ruler if I have a 85mm lens?

[@SeeMeBeSeen]

Toby, if using auto focus anyway, why does it matter if taking image through viewfinder vs live view? Thanks for all the vids.

[@photorectoby]

A different method of focus is being used for each. Contrast detection vs phase detection. Phase is fast, contrast is slower but more accurate.

[@davidstilwell6800]

Is there a chart available showing the distances for most lens relative to their target. For example my 18-135mm the distance on the 18mm test, & the 135mm test. How many feet between tripod & target. Thank you. DS

[@WylunCustoms]

really great video.. is the microadjustment for all cameras or just the 70d? i honestly never explored this

[@photorectoby]

It's available on most prosumer and professional level cameras. 70D, 5D Mark III, D7000, D7100. thanks!

[@ehaka]

Is there anyway of doing this on a 60d? I was about to buy a new 50mm lens as mine is focusing way behind, but now that I know I can adjust the autofocus on a camera I'll go with that method! Maybe it means I need a newer model though.

[@photorectoby]

It is not possible with the 60D.

[@miramezjr]

Please, is there any specific adjustments for 18-135mm IS STM? im so dispointed with the result of canon 70d with this lens. very bad results :(.... remorsefull with canon 70d!!!! where can I see how to micro adjust for 18-135mm??

[@jaydee123ish]

Hi Toby, I just bought a Canon 70d & it's all your fault. LoL thxs but I still have my T4i. Do I think it's a good upgrade?

[@chuckrossi]

When you are making these adjustments for each lens, what is the distance for the lens?

[@haffordj]

Thanks so much for this video. Very informative.

[@AxlfroProductions]

How do you set that 2 second delay after pressing the shutter?

[@TheRocketdrone]

Have you ever done any videos on your photo printer? I have a canon pixma pro-100

[@photorectoby]

We have not and we should. You happy with your printer?

[@TheRocketdrone]

I love it. I found a page on red river paper's website that has a table of the cost per print for all the models of professional printers. Based on that charge I discovered that it's more cost effective to print larger prints with it and print 4x6s on my cheaper epson artisan 730 that doubles as my everyday printer and scanner.

[@850Tech]

Hello, Do I have to do this if I use only Manual Focusing ?

[@photorectoby]

No. You do not.

[@TheStyleAlert]

I make youtube videos (makeu tutorials /haul's). I have a Canon T5i and would like a lens that will give me the bokeh effect and also focus on products I put up close to the camera. What lens do you recommend? Thanks SO much!

[@HelloApril]

any lens with an F of 1.8 or lower. 2.8 also works but for beauty videos, it isn't as blurred and soft x

[@henryf9175]

Just to add to my previous post I now need to understand why using multi point group auto focus gives such poor results on the 70D when compared to single centre point AF or live view focus. I thought on of the big selling points for this camera was supposed to be it's focus ability !

[@primozlampic8505]

Finally one !!! You have spoken my words! There is essence of a problem with Canon 70d as I see it. Center AF point gets sharp picture, with 9 AF point softer, with all AF ponts - soft as rotten tomato. I have been owner of 70d for two months. (since than I do not sleep well) I didn’t find the answer, but I suspect that Camera 70d has different ‘focus plains’. Example: Central AF point at +0, 9 AF points at +7, all AF points at +15. (numbers are hypothetical). As you said: I bought this camera because of advertising FOCUS performance and MORE focus points !!!!! Now I have a camera for 1.400 EUR, make satisfying pictures, but I can use only center point? This makes this camera worse than my old 550d, where AF with more points is superb. Canon servis said: “your camera is technical perfect”. As a car producers would advertise famous sport car: “High-tech material, perfect design and superb driving performance, only speed is limited to 100 km/h”. I am Canon fan, I have AT-1, AE-1, F-1, S2 IS, Sx10, Ixus 500 HS, 550d, but 70d demolished my illusions.... I am afraid that is not problem with microadjustment, not the lens problem, not “subjective opinion”, this is big problem with Canon 70d series.

[@dm51964]

Even with Micro adjustments my Canon 70D still has very serious focus problems..... this is the second brand new one I have bought and both have the same issue with awful centre spot focus and it makes them totally lousy for wildlife photography which I bought them for. I have been using Canon DSLR cameras for 7 years and they are the worst I have ever bought and the same issue on two separate models of the same camera suggests it is a serious problem that should have been sorted and see via internet the issue goes back since the 70D was introduced

[@davidstilwell6800]

Assuming you took your 70D back to the point of sale, & could not get the problem resolved, why did you not buy another brand? I shoot birds all the time, I love my 70D. Love the crop-sensor. My buddy has full-frame's but mostly uses his 80D for wildlife--waterfowl, birds, & all sorts of animals.

[@bjflann6128]

My 70D has been sent back to Canon a multitude of times! They then said it was the lens. So I sent that in. It's cost me well over $500 for them to repair it. They said it had to be dropped but I treat it like a small baby! It's been in my camera case since the last repair. I tried it once & it sucks! So back in the case. Tried it today & it was totally going out of focus big time. I will try this & see if I can get it to stay focused. I saw on the menu that they had it adjusted to several different settings & I'm not sure what's going on or how to fix the issue?

[@theonlyrick]

Really useful, thanks. You've turned an RMA into MAF. :-)

[@0MueenShaheen0]

Hello there im complete beginner here and Ive had a rought time picking an under 800$ dslr ive come to this .... 60D ... 700D .... 600D ideas ?!

[@photorectoby]

700D - most user friendly with touchscreen and good live view focusing features.

[@0MueenShaheen0]

Image quality wise ... is it much different than the 600D coz the money I save i may buy with it a nice lens

[@WillDoyleVideos]

How ha away should I be to my ruler if I have a 85mm lens ?

[@WillDoyleVideos]

How far away should I be to my ruler if I have a 85mm lens?

[@alloneword154]

Does this matter for video?

[@junjunjr.llauderes4424]

I what I observed watching micro adjustment here in KZbin,,,is they are adjusting it in accordance to the distance which they are usually used to shoot using a prime lens,,,shooting it in a different distance will make a off focusing like if you adjust it in 20 ft and shoot at 40 ft you will have a off focus....correct me if I'm wrong it's my own observation and I'm not an expert.....

[@thewrongopinion7811]

Great help.

[@aurelianmunteanu7680]

i think this is a problem i have with my 70d and the 17-55 F2.8 IS lens from Canon.

[@quleman]

thank you

[@miramezjr]

i tried again to make afma, and what I see is that by each click the camera gets different results. each click the focus go aroud different aspect, never it gets the same focus point. IMPOSSIBLE to do this micro adjustments. each tme is complete differente, does not matter th elens. i tried with 50mm 1.8 and 15-135mm. a friend of mine who own a canon 6d told me that he has the same problem. canon is complete shame! remorsefull after buying canon. i would do for nikon.

[@OlafSchouw]

extremely helpfull!

[@samkanter25]

Nice tutorial, but unclear as to how to apply MA to zoom lenses.

[@njrivetelite]

thats odd that the viewfinder would be less accurate than the live view

[@bjarneolsen1826]

Im just a bit confused as to why you need to do all this work with an expensive camera like the 70D. It just dosnt make any sense to me

[@photorectoby]

Hi Bjarne - this is actually a lens issue and Micro adjustments to autofocus are available on higher end cameras and it allows you to correct for differences in lens manufacturing. The center focus point issue on the 70D is a separate issue. Thanks!

[@ValiRossi]

I have a Nikon D810. The camera and just one of my lenses costs close to $5000.00 and it does it a small amount. They pretty much all do it to some extent depending on the lens. My 80D seems pretty good with no adjustment needed......so far. I've also noticed that if I use flash and shoot in kinda low ambient room light it will front focus a bit. Both my Nikon and Canon do this. In bright light, they are both fine. Also the new kit lens for the 80D(18-135 USM) seems to cause overexposure using flashes. If I take a light meter reading and it tells me to set aperture to F4, I actually have to set it to approximately 2/3 of a stop higher. If I put the 50mm 1.8 on the 80D it's right on the money. No big deal, just kinda strange.

[@hectorrivera2785]

Bjarne Olsen Google Canon 70D miss Focus issue. My 70D have the same problem with All my Canon lenses and I have a ton of Out of Focus shots. You're not suppose to do all these tune, your camera should be perfect from Factory.

[@hectorrivera2785]

I have the AF problem on mine. Ok, you can tune Up your Focus, it's cool and blah BUT for a not that cheap camera like the 70D you should have great and Sharp pictures Out of the box. Me and two friends had the problem and yersterday I googled It, and I realise it's a mayor problem with 70D and some other cameras. I Will not buy canon again, i'll sell this piece of junk. It should be perfect right Out of the box.

[@pattons3rd429]

Try cleaning your AF sensors. Ive had the 70d for 2 years never had focus issue until last my outing a month ago. I just used an air blower to clean out the AF sensor and now its back to normal.

[@Elmex_1]

that's alot of chroma .. tsk tsk :D