Is there a way to test the camera's auto focus? My pictures do not look clear or in focus when I use auto focus and I want to test and see if it is working properly.
Do you mean continuous focus? It might have something to do with the focus area. On my camera you can set the focus from the centre of the lens, right side, left side, etc, etc. Sometimes if the camera is focusing on what it feels like it can give odd results.
Do a Google Image search for "focus chart". Find one, print it at the same size as the image so you get a nice, sharp image, then hang it on a wall. To test the continuous drive of your autofocus, stand as close as your lens will allow you to focus properly, start shooting, then take small steps backwards while continually shooting. This will test your autofocus to see if it is shooting good, sharp photos while the focus is changing.
@electricwriter I will have to try different auto focus settings on the same image. Auto focus has worked for my on my p&s, but I am now learning the features of my new Canon Rebel XS.
for pentax camera there is a 'hidden' menu where you can fine tune the focus setting for each lens... a must do if you want perfect auto focus... I mean autofocus is often 'close' enough... but I am a fan of fine tuning... any canon fanboys know the hack into the menu for canon?
Afraid not @icywarm , if my autofocus doesn't seem spot on, and I'm doing a shot I'm that bothered about, I just tripod it and do it manually with the 10x zoom on the rear LCD :/
@icywarm I know http://dpreview.com contains every piece of information every printed on cameras, including owner's manuals and screenshots of every menu. But I've heard of this "hacking" means of fine-tuning autofocus. I have Nikon, and as far as I know you can't fine-tune them.
Also another nod for dpreview as @jasonbarnette mentions - it's great for everything digital camera related. I've not come across anyone talking about hacking autofocus mechanisms on Canons though. Plus... as it's a feature of the lens... wouldn't any hacks be lens-specific?
@eyebrows yes... if the k5 you can set up profiles for up to 30 different lenses... and say you have two 50-135... you need to do one for each as the lens elements maybe slighly different... but the camera knows which lens is attached, you don't need to select it or anything...
Ok @icywarm I looked in the FAQs but there wasn't one called "No, literally, what the F is this thing?" so I'm still not really that sure what it is. I'm a bit dense, though, so not to worry. Does it replace the viewfinder on the back, or something inside the camera?
Ok @cirasj so the stock lens, well, I'd not been massively impressed with the sharpness of mine either, but never so far as to really notice it or label things as blurry. If you wanna email me here I'll reply from my real address and find some way you can send me a full crop (don't email it to that address!) and I'll compare it to one taken with mine if you like, might help shed some light.
Ah when someone says "full crop" they mean at 100% original size, not shrunk at all. So if you've shot in RAW mode, the RAW image would be ideal, but if not then just the original un-shrunk jpg as pulled off the camera :)
@icywarm Most Canon DSLR bodies have a fine tuning feature (AF Micro Adjust). Some of the newer ones (like the 60D) don't, for some reason. That's about all I know - my lenses have all been spot-on so I've never gone through the menu to find it.
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I am going to see if there is anyone else I can think of that shoots canon that might know how to get into the technical menus of the camera...
http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/page--Grid-Lines-Crop-Guides--gridlines.html
I cannot wait for X100 which will 'project' these onto the eye piece... so you can change them as needed...
Ok @cirasj so the stock lens, well, I'd not been massively impressed with the sharpness of mine either, but never so far as to really notice it or label things as blurry. If you wanna email me here I'll reply from my real address and find some way you can send me a full crop (don't email it to that address!) and I'll compare it to one taken with mine if you like, might help shed some light.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focusing_screen
In the interests of full disclosure I feel at this point I should state I have been drinking beer.
But yeah I see now. That seems quite a complex thing to fit, but I see how it can make a difference now...