Help! Strange AF problem..... I recently encountered this goofy problem.... the picture shows the autofocus boxes on it! It was an occasional problem... now it is constant. So today I...

graybeard

I recently encountered this goofy problem.... the picture shows the autofocus boxes on it! It was an occasional problem... now it is constant. So today I got systematic and narrowed it down... I have 6 autofocus lenses, 4 Canon, 1 Sigma, 1 Tamron. I took a pic with each. All of the Canon were fine (no autofocus boxes in pic) but both the Sigma and the Tamron showed the boxes, and consistantly, on every exposure. Previously I had used these lenses frequently with no problem. Now they fail every time! Whats up ????

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

What editor are you using?
Some editors have an option to display the focus spots, if the info is available.

If you are not using an editor, I've no idea.

bleirer

Those don't usually show in the actual image, just the preview in camera or the DPP image. In the camera it's a camera setting to show or not show, in DPP its switched on or off on the bottom in a dropdown. If it's in the final image it's weird!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Where are you viewing "the picture"?

graybeard

Longshadow wrote:

Where are you viewing "the picture"?

I am viewing the picture on my camera flip screen, (brain dead at the moment, can't remember what it's called), my TV, and my computer after downloading. Always the same.

travisdeland Loc: deland, FL

Obviously, you are shooting a Canon body, if you have Canon lenses. Go into the menu to the blue area, and look for "AF point display". See if that is enabled. Normally that doesn't transfer to the computer, unless selected in the computer software to be displayed. Try disabling this function in the camera and see if it goes away.

graybeard

travisdeland wrote:

Obviously, you are shooting a Canon body, if you have Canon lenses. Go into the menu to the blue area, and look for "AF point display". See if that is enabled. Normally that doesn't transfer to the computer, unless selected in the computer software to be displayed. Try disabling this function in the camera and see if it goes away.

By computer, I meant the photo files in my desk top, not any post processor. Don't use them. But thanks for the tip, I will check it out.

travisdeland Loc: deland, FL

Disabling the "AF point display" should be retro-active, so you should be able to tell without taking any other pictures.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

graybeard wrote:

By computer, I meant the photo files in my desk top, not any post processor. Don't use them. But thanks for the tip, I will check it out.

Have you downloaded the pictures or are you using a cable to the camera.

graybeard

travisdeland wrote:

Disabling the "AF point display" should be retro-active, so you should be able to tell without taking any other pictures.

That did the trick. But it begs many other questions, like why non-Canon lenses only, why when formerly an occasional problem and now a constant one, and why, since I haven't recently changed that setting, did it all of a sudden become a problem???? But all's well that ends well, and it is people like you that made me glad I joined the Hoggers. Most of these forums are crawling with cheap shot artists, but I have had some real problems solved with help from people like yourself. Thank you.

travisdeland Loc: deland, FL

graybeard wrote:

That did the trick. But it begs many other questions, like why non-Canon lenses only, why when formerly an occasional problem and now a constant one, and why, since I haven't recently changed that setting, did it all of a sudden become a problem????

Glad it worked out. As to the other questions, I'm sure there are other menu settings that contributed to the behavior that you experienced. The only way to know which settings will take take time with the camera and manual. You can always do a reset of the menu settings to re-start at "ground zero". This, sometimes, is not bad to do after a situation like this. The menu structure is pretty deep on a majority of the Canon line(don't know which model you shoot), and it's easy to "lose" a setting change and not be able to find it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

travisdeland wrote:

Disabling the "AF point display" should be retro-active, so you should be able to tell without taking any other pictures.

Interesting. Why would that happen only with non-Canon lenses and sporadically and then constantly?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

graybeard wrote:

I recently encountered this goofy problem.... the ... (show quote)

Call camera manufacture.

travisdeland Loc: deland, FL

Interesting. Why would that happen only with non-Canon lenses and sporadically and then constantly?

That I couldn't tell you, but I assume it's related to other settings buried in the menu. Without knowing which body this is occurring on, it's hard to research any further.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

graybeard wrote:

That did the trick. But it begs many other questions, like why non-Canon lenses only, why when formerly an occasional problem and now a constant one, and why, since I haven't recently changed that setting, did it all of a sudden become a problem???? But all's well that ends well, and it is people like you that made me glad I joined the Hoggers. Most of these forums are crawling with cheap shot artists, but I have had some real problems solved with help from people like yourself. Thank you.

Glad you found the problem.

I will say this about 3rd party lenses - they are sometimes very good, especially the optics, and they are sometimes not so good (especially the optics)... But the problem that most people encounter with 3rd party lenses, is COMPATIBILITY! So the problem you encountered, is not something that you'd expect, but it does happen from time to time. The only way to ensure perfect compatibility is to buy OEM lenses - in your case, Canon lenses.