Loss of AF with Canon Cameras
Dec 11, 2017 23:02:43 #
Four friends and I went out shooting around a lake in North Florida Saturday morning. It was very cold, around 40 degrees, and only an hour after the rains stopped. Two friends and I use Canon cameras, 2 each 7D Mark II and a 70D and we each had different lenses. The other two guys used Nikons. After an hour or so, one Canon's AF quit functioning. Had to go to manual focusing. Then another quit and shortly after that the my Canon quit AF. We checked our batteries, switches, and settings and all was proper, batteries more than half charge.
After going home and checking our equipment, they all worked fine. The guys with Nikons had no difficulty.
Any thoughts about what may have caused the AF to quit working? This just seemed so wierd.
After going home and checking our equipment, they all worked fine. The guys with Nikons had no difficulty.
Any thoughts about what may have caused the AF to quit working? This just seemed so wierd.
Dec 11, 2017 23:51:50 #
If I understand you correctly, the Canon cameras were unable to auto focus in the field, but when you returned home and checked everything was fine. Sounds as tho the cold, damp conditions you describe adversely affected your camera and lens combinations. How was the Canon gear transported as you were heading out into the field?
Dec 12, 2017 00:00:13 #
gkuep1945 wrote:
Four friends and I went out shooting around a lake... (show quote)
I don't have a clue, as my Canon's have worked perfectly in AF mode down to under 30 degrees while it was snowing photographing (7DMK II & 80D) a couple of my grandsons football games. Hmmm...
Dec 12, 2017 00:05:59 #
If this silly story is the confirmation you need to sell everything and change to Nikon: sure, go ahead.
Dec 12, 2017 00:10:56 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
gkuep1945 wrote:
Four friends and I went out shooting around a lake... (show quote)
That is extremely odd. Forty degrees may be very cold to you, but its an above average winter temperature for me. I have four Canon bodies including a 7D Mark II. Living in New Jersey the winters are often cold damp and snowy. I've never had any of them fail to work in cold weather. including in temperatures as low as the low 20's where the camera was slung over my shoulder for almost 3 hours. To be sure very cold weather can have a negative effect, but 40 degrees is not even close. Additionally, I know lots of wildlife shooters in the USA and Canada, both in person and on other photo sites, who use the 7D Mark II in cold snowy, icy conditions well below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and haven't experienced the problems you had. Were they in a warm humid area prior to being taken to the colder location? Did everything but the AF still function?
Dec 12, 2017 06:16:29 #
I see from your info line on the bottom that you have no Canon lenses listed, as all AF on Canons is done in the lens, could you describe what lens you and your friend had on the camera when this was happening. I have used my camera in much colder temperatures than that and never had this issue, well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. I leave the camera in the trunk of the car in the winter and the entire unit is in sub freezing weather and may stay like that for a week.
Perhaps it was a moisture issue.
Perhaps it was a moisture issue.
Dec 12, 2017 08:30:06 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
happy sailor wrote:
I see from your info line on the bottom that you h... (show quote)
That's what I was thinking being that he's in Florida. Perhaps condensation?
Dec 12, 2017 08:32:15 #
rjaywallace wrote:
If I understand you correctly, the Canon cameras were unable to auto focus in the field, but when you returned home and checked everything was fine. Sounds as tho the cold, damp conditions you describe adversely affected your camera and lens combinations. How was the Canon gear transported as you were heading out into the field?
My 70D is stored in a cold closet inside my camera backpack. It spent 1 1/2 hours in the back seat of my car before taken out to use. We experienced the problem after shooting out doors for over an hour.
I am dumbfounded as to it happening progressively to three cameras.
Dec 12, 2017 08:35:34 #
happy sailor wrote:
I see from your info line on the bottom that you h... (show quote)
First, my info line has 2 Canon lenses noted, although I did not use them that day. By the way, all lenses for a Canon camera have the AF functions performed in the lens. Canon does not have a digital model with AF motor in the body.
I thought it may have been moisture. The problem is how do you determine that?
Dec 12, 2017 08:40:43 #
Have you considered calling Canon? 1 800-652-2666
Mark
Mark
gkuep1945 wrote:
Four friends and I went out shooting around a lake... (show quote)
Dec 12, 2017 08:45:49 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
gkuep1945 wrote:
First, my info line has 2 Canon lenses noted, although I did not use them that day.
I thought it may have been moisture. The problem is how do you determine that?
I thought it may have been moisture. The problem is how do you determine that?
Its is strange since so many of us use our gear in much colder and snowy climates. Since 40 degrees is not particularly cold it would seem to be a result of something else. If we had been a fly on the proverbial wall observing all that occurred that day perhaps something would stand out. As it is, it might be virtually impossible for us to identify the set of circumstances that caused this problem. Did you tell us what lenses were being used that day? The issue could be the lenses rather then the cameras, but the whole thing is still so odd.
Dec 12, 2017 10:33:55 #
[quote=gkuep1945]First, my info line has 2 Canon lenses noted, although I did not use them that day. By the way, all lenses for a Canon camera have the AF functions performed in the lens. Canon does not have a digital model with AF motor in the body.
I thought it may have been moisture. The problem is how do you determine that?[/quote
Sorry for missing the second Canon one, I have a mishmash lens makers too, I am leaning to a moisture problem as well, you mentioned that the camera had been cool before taken out, was there a lens change on site when you started to use it? Maybe if they were both cool a small bit of condensation formed on the mount and then as you were shooting it became enough to mess with the contacts between lens and body.
I thought it may have been moisture. The problem is how do you determine that?[/quote
Sorry for missing the second Canon one, I have a mishmash lens makers too, I am leaning to a moisture problem as well, you mentioned that the camera had been cool before taken out, was there a lens change on site when you started to use it? Maybe if they were both cool a small bit of condensation formed on the mount and then as you were shooting it became enough to mess with the contacts between lens and body.
Dec 12, 2017 10:53:19 #
Something is fishy here. I have shot with 6 different Canon digitals over the years using various lenses and never had a problem because of temperature. One thing is sure, Florida temps are warm in comparison to Minnesota winters, not even close. The smell is getting stronger, so my recommendation is, sell your gear and buy Nikon.
WJH
WJH
Dec 12, 2017 12:50:15 #
mwsilvers wrote:
Its is strange since so many of us use our gear in... (show quote)
I was using a Sigma 150-600mm contemporary lens on my 70D. The other two Canon 7D Mark II cameras had a Tamron 18-270mm and a Sigma 70-300mm IS lens.
Dec 12, 2017 12:59:10 #
happy sailor wrote:
Sorry for missing the second Canon one, I have a mishmash lens makers too, I am leaning to a moisture problem as well, you mentioned that the camera had been cool before taken out, was there a lens change on site when you started to use it? Maybe if they were both cool a small bit of condensation formed on the mount and then as you were shooting it became enough to mess with the contacts between lens and body.
We all five changed lenses at our autos before proceeding on the walk. Moisture may have been the culprit. I remember taking my camera and lenses out of the backpack in the back seat while standing out side and swapping the lenses. That is probably when some moisture adhered to the lens contacts or something.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.