Showing posts with label Canon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canon. Show all posts

Halo Problems on Canon Lens 70-200 L IS USM II - Canon Ignoring The Problem... and You?? Finally FIXED on Version III !!


Let me just start from the beginning...

I sold my 70-200 L IS USM II lens has it was used and needed a replacement, also was hopping on getting the "newer one" with the newer lens cap and a new serial number. In fact that was never an issue but my lens get so much use than from now and then it is better to sell them and buy new ones than to send them back to repair.

That was the case for this lens. It had a lot of mileage so it went in for Canon CPS Portugal to get a clean and was sold.

I ordered a new one and for my surprise it did not arrived with the new lens cap although the serial number was a newer one.

I took it for an assignment and start to noticed that between the zoom range 90mm-110mm it produced some kind of a strange flare, well not a flare but more of an Halo. First I thought it could be something related to the front filter but since that is also a Canon Protect I thought it was a little odd and decided to test it without the filter on a new assignment.

That's what I did and for my surprise it produced the same Halo thing all over again :(

Tested with a friend's 70-200 L IS USM older model and none of his happened.

I started to scratch my head and ask for a replacement on the shop I bought it, they replace it in no time. The new one arrived with a different and newer serial number and this time with the new pinch lens cap.

So I guess this one should be in great conditions and since it had the new lens cap then I thought it would be a newer model, unfortunately it came with dust already deep inside the front lens, contacted the seller that informed me that this is somehow normal has it would be impossible to keep a little speck of dust out of while on manufacturing the lens (for me this has to do with lower quality control on manufacturing) and I never thought of buying a lens that came already with free dust inside.

Anyway, after a couple of tests the lens came with the same problem and this one with even worst than my previous one. When you point it to a bright backlight light situation it creates this horrible flares either on the left/right/up/down side of the lens and always at the same mm, that's between 90mm and 110mm and when zooming slowly at those positions the effect of that reflection ruins completely the photo.

I decided to investigate the problem, has I never had such a problem on my previous six 70-200 lens I had in the past neither I've heard anyone complaining of something of this kind, either photo or video.

So this what I did to test the lens out with Lens Hood on it.

1) Grab a flash light
2) Put the flash light in front of the lens
3) Zoom in and out slowly between 90mm and 110mm

Then check if you got the results I show in the images below.


It's very subtle the effect on the right and left side. This is because the lens that I have at the moment is not too evident on the halo effect, but on previous one's I had this was a quick way to detect it and has you can see it's still there. It is normal that the lens creates the Flare effect but not this halo thing.

So I decided to investigate and tried to find out why this halo reflection occurs and I got to the conclusion that has to do with a inner black part that is reflecting back the light. This part should be completely black to avoid any kind of reflection but instead is a dark grey that when light hits it it creates that halo reflection with the lines.

Let me show you what I'm talking about...


Is this piece inside the lens, just look how bright it is under the lamp light.


As you can see I got a lamp above the lens and that inner piece is reflecting back the light as showed in the red arrows.


If you take a closer look it's reflecting all the light that enters the lens and that will reflect back and back in again while zooming the lens between 90mm and 110mm that's when the blades cross.

Let me show you some good example of the fantastic photo you can grab with this NORMAL Canon effect. I call this NORMAL has Canon replied me that this is a NORMAL thing this lens produces.

Enjoy the photos with this new effect...


















The videos below (with no audio due to copyright issues) were recorded while on assignment for a client with full front stage access with 70-200 f.2.8 L IS USM II with it's lens hood on it (as I never use any of my lens without the lens hood) with a 5D MarkIII, that allow me to capture on movie the problem I'm having with this lens that Canon refuses to acknowledge the problem.

One example of the halo problem caught on video that occurs every time you have a back light situation. This would be either on the right side or left just depends on where the lens is pointing at and does nothing to do with normal and typical lens flare that could be produce in situations like this.


Here is another example of the halos produced by the lens when pointed at bright lighting situations where you cannot avoid and if you need to zoom in you will get horrible lens reflections.


And another example...



I have already replaced mine for 3 other with the same problem (all of them completely new).

Contacted Canon Germany and was informed this was not a malfunction it was a NORMAL procedure with this lens under this lighting condition as per information of Canon Inc. Tokyo.

Strange I have never had this before on many of my older 70-200 only with the new ones that were recently manufactured with the new pinch lens cap, so I guess this could be somehow related to bad control quality issues due to rush sales and market demand for this lens.

Check if yours have this problem and report back.

This usually happens between 90mm and 110mm range in back light situations. This also mess with photos as they all come with this halo problem either on right or left and if you slowly zoom in and out will get critical ruining your photo and maybe even make you loose a couple of clients.

Here goes the serials of the ones I had so far with this exact same problem:

- 9420006293
- 0330001231
- 0120004900
- 6150005393 (new v.2 lens from 2018 with same problem)

At the moment I'm using one with this problem has Canon refuses to acknowledge the problem and replacing it with a non defective one... Hey!!! but it looks like they no longer produce such a fine 70-200 L IS USM II lens... so we're screwed :(

Leave your comments and share this if you feel you've been cheated by Canon on such an expensive lens... also report the problem to Canon maybe they will address this in the future upgrade of this lens.

Hope this helps someone with the same problems!!

Test yours ASAP and if you also find that your lens produces such thing please report it here with serial number so we can deal with Canon, the more reports the better so they could gives us a solution on this problem in such an expensive lens. 

DIY Photography got some interest comments in it's page, have a look.

--//-- Update 12-09-2013 --//--

I've tried today this same setup with my older 70-200 L IS USM II, serial 119011,  that I had sold to a friend and was bought on the same supplier as the ones that are coming with this problem but it did not produce this kind of problem.

Sent also today a personal email to Mike Owen (Canon UK), Guido Krebs (Canon Germany) and Jose Antas (Canon Portugal) talking about this all mess and will report back when I got some more answers about this. 

Reported this to several lens rental houses in the UK, USA, Australia, Germany and France, some have replied saying that none of their costumers report this on the 70-200 L IS USM II that were rented.

Meanwhile test yours to see if you also got any of this problems and report them here.

We are much strong if we are all together!!


--//-- --//--


--//-- Update 25-09-2013 --//--

Got email from Canon Portugal with a great answer to this problem. And unfortunately so far nothing new... checkt it out.


Estimado Sr. Rui Leal,

Agradecemos o seu contacto e a questão colocada aos nossos serviços relativos à sua nova EF 70-200 2.8L IS U II.

Lamentamos que a sua nova objetiva não esteja a corresponder às suas expectativas.

Informamos que após análise técnica ao modelo em questão, não foi detetado nenhum defeito de fabrico no mesmo. A situação reportada não se trata de um defeito do produto, mas sim de uma limitação, que eventualmente poderá ocorrer em situações raras e apenas na conjugação de vários fatores.

Certos da sua melhor atenção.

Com os melhores cumprimentos,

Luis Sintra
RCC - CIG Service Country Coordinator
Marketing (CIG Service)
Canon Portugal, S.A.

Translation:

Dear Mr. Rui Leal,

Thank you for your question and contact to our services related to your new EF 70-200 2.8L IS U II.
 

Sorry that your new objective is not meeting your expectations.

Please be advised that after technical analysis to the model in question, was not detected any manufacture defect. The situation reported it is not a product defect, but rather a limitation which may possibly occur in rare instances and only on the combination of several factors.

Grateful for your best attention.

Yours faithfully,


Leave to your attention to comment a spread the word around on this very serious lens problem that Canon keeps ignoring. Thanks

--//-- --//--  

--//-- Update 30-10-2013 --//--

No more news from Canon about this problem. They keep insisting it's a normal procedure of the lens and that it should work like this.

Apparently this only affects the full frame sensors has they cover a larger area of the lens. Never happened to me before on my previous versions of this lens.

So the best and only way that Canon have is to say that this is a normal thing so they don't have to recall all their defective lens.

Shame on Canon support and German CPS service center.

Canon, Thank God this is a normal lens feature ;)

--//-- --//-- 

--//-- Last Update 04-2018 --//--

Got a new 70-200 f2.8 L IS USM II serial 6150005393 it has the same problem after all these years they still did not bother to silently fix this. It's a shame for such an expensive lens!

 --//-- --//-- 

--//-- Last Update 06-2019 --//--

Got the new 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM III serial 761000601 and apparently this lens did not only got the new white color (that apparently does not look as white as people have named it, well at least my version), noticed some improvements on the IS stabilisation system (not much but is sound more smooth and lens noisier and now when you shake the lens you can see it stabilising well it's not much and can't be measured in stops but something has changed and they did not tell us about), noticed the lens is sharper at the corners just like the new 24-70 USM II and finally the new lens coat that I believe this is what makes the difference after all. Tested it under heavy controlled light environment and even pointed a flashlight to it, like I did on previous models, and now you got this nice flare as it was supposed to. THANK YOU Canon finally after all these years you got it!

Do not know if this would be something to upgrade your old 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM II but for me this was definitely the best thing that happened in a long time and only for this, for me personally, it's a well deserved update for sure.


 --//-- --//-- 

Canon EOS 5D MarkIII Firmware update 1.2.1


Canon 5D Mark III firmware update v1.2.1 with uncompressed HDMI output and improved AF center point to f/8.0 is now available.

Changes

Firmware Version 1.2.1 incorporates the following functional improvements and fixes.

1. Uncompressed HDMI output is now enabled.
2. Enables the center AF point to autofocus when the camera is used with Canon EF lens/extender combinations whose combined maximum aperture is f/8.
3. Improves the speed of the camera's acquisition of focus when using a Canon Speedlite's AF-assist beam.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the LCD monitor may freeze and display Err 70 or Err 80 when a still photo is taken during Live View or in movie shooting mode.
5. Fixes a phenomenon that may occur when the continuous shooting priority setting is enabled for multiple exposures, such that, after the sixth image is taken, there is a slight pause before the remainder of the sequence is completed.
6. Fixes a phenomenon in which the viewfinder display shows incorrect information during AEB shooting.
7. Communication with the WFT-E7 Wireless File Transmitter has been improved.
8. When images have been successfully transferred with the WFT-E7 Wireless File Transmitter through the FTP protocol, an "O" will be displayed. When images have not been successfully transferred with the WFT-E7 Wireless File Transmitter through the FTP protocol, an "X" will be displayed.
9. Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera may not function properly when an Eye-Fi card is used.
10. Fixes a phenomenon in which the focal length value listed in the Exif information is not displayed correctly for images shot with the EF 24-70mm F4L IS USM lens.
11. Fixes a phenomenon in which the lens firmware cannot be updated properly.
12. Corrects errors in the Arabic language menu.
13. Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera changes the AF microadjustment value to -8.
14. Fixes a phenomenon in which the on-screen guidance cannot be fully displayed when setting the maximum limit value for the "Setting the ISO Speed Range for Auto ISO" option.

* Items No.1 through 12 have been incorporated into firmware version 1.2.0.
* Items No.1 through 14 have been incorporated into firmware version 1.2.1.

Firmware Version 1.2.1 is for cameras with firmware version 1.2.0 or earlier. If the camera's firmware is already version 1.2.1, it is not necessary to update the firmware.


Preparations for the Firmware Update:


Macintosh/Windows
After the downloaded compressed file (.dmg file) is extracted, a firmware folder is created.

*Extracting the downloaded file:
The downloaded folder is automatically extracted, and a firmware folder is created. If the download folder cannot be automatically extracted, double-click the folder.

The extracted folder contains the firmware (file name: 5D300121.FIR / file size: 17,933,996 bytes) and instructions on the firmware update procedures (a PDF file in five languages: Japanese, English, French, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese).

Before starting the firmware update operations, please confirm the contents of the download, and carefully read through the firmware update procedures.


 Notes:
・ Once the EOS 5D Mark III camera is updated to version 1.2.1, it cannot be restored to a previous firmware version (Version 1.0.7 through 1.1.3).

・ It is recommended that the latest application software*1 be used, once the EOS 5D Mark III is updated to the new firmware version 1.2.1 from older firmware (versions 1.0.7 through 1.1.3). Certain previous versions of these applications do not support functions which are added by the new firmware.

・ In order to use EOS Utility software with the updated EOS 5D Mark III, the EOS Utility software must be updated to the latest version.

You can download the latest application software from Canon Web site.
*1: EOS Utility Version 2.12.11 or later (Supported OSes: Windows 7 / 7 SP1 / VistaSP2 / XP SP3, Mac OS X v10.6 / 10.7)
*1: Digital Photo Professional Version 3.12.52 or later (Supported OSes: Windows 7 / 7 SP1 / Vista SP2 / XP SP3, Mac OS X v10.6 / 10.7)

When cameras, or images taken with cameras, have been updated to the new Firmware Version 1.2.1 (or 1.2.0), and are used with the old version application software*2, the following phenomena will occur.
*2: EOS Utility
・ The "HDMI output" function, "HDMI output setting" or "HDMI output frame rate setting" cannot be registered to My Menu of the camera.
・ The lens aberration compensation data cannot be registered to the camera.
*2: Digital Photo Professional
・ If the Lens Aberration Correction Window is chosen when working with a RAW image taken with a camera running Firmware Version 1.2.1 or 1.2.0, the adjustment window will automatically shut down and the adjustment (correction) cannot be made.

・ Due to the differences in the camera firmware versions, the following phenomena will occur.*3
*3: RAW images taken with a Firmware Version 1.2.1 (or 1.2.0) camera cannot be processed on cameras with Firmware Version 1.1.3 or before.
*3: When images taken with a camera running Firmware Version 1.2.1 (or 1.2.0), are read by a camera running Firmware Version 1.1.3 or older, Direct print is not possible.

・ Accompanying the enhancements to the functions, the instruction manual has also been revised. Users are asked to download both the latest firmware and the instruction manual. You can download the latest instruction manual from our Web site.


(The following is the history of past firmware updates.)

Q: Are the previous versions of firmware included in version 1.1.3?
A: Yes, the following improvements from the previous versions are included:

Changes in Version 1.1.3:
1. Supports the single focal length EF40mm f/2.8 STM lens that is to be released at the end of June, 2012.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which an image may become underexposed when using the Auto Lighting Optimizer for continuous Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) shooting.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the backlight of the LCD monitor may not turn off depending on the camera settings and timing.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera's power may not turn on when a super-telephoto lens*1) is mounted to the camera with an extender*2).
*1) EF 300mm F2.8L IS II USM / EF 400mm F2.8L IS II USM
*2) Extender EF 1.4X III / Extender EF 2X III
5. Corrects mistakes in the Dutch, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish menu screens.

Changes in Version 1.1.2:
1. Supports a new accessory, GPS receiver GP-E2.
2. Fixes a phenomenon where a pink cast may develop over the image when the shutter is completely pressed with the camera's power turned off (by the auto power off setting).
3. Fixes a phenomenon where the camera operation stops after one shot when shooting in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode.
4. Fixes a phenomenon where the Shooting Date/Time in the EXIF data of the image shows a later time than the actual shooting time.
5. Fixes the time zone for the Samoa Islands.
6. Corrects errors in the Finnish menu screen.


Download it directly from Canon Service Centers Europe, Australia and USA.

Or alternate links for Mac / Win install files.

Also check for some other new updates, here, for some other Canon software such as DPP, EOS Utility, etc.

Enjoy

Kipon adapter for Canon EF on NEX and m4/3 Mirrorless

This is some excellent news, has KIPON just announced they will be releasing "soon" an electronic adapter so we can use our Canon EF glas on Micro 4/3 and NEX cameras.

I've already got their adapter for EOS to m4/3 with manual aperture ring control and it's a must if you have the Olympus OM-D E5 and need some longer distances. It's manual focus but it's very easy to control since Olympus got a zoom function that actually works and make manual focus a sweat.

You can get this manual aperture ring adapter at their page KIPON or do an ebay seach for it has there are plenty of them for different kind of lenses.
 
Let's wait and see the availability of the new ones and also for what prices are they shipping in.

-- Press release --

KIPON developed electronic adapters through the co-operation with Japanese engineers,using Canon EF mount lens on NEX or m4/3 mirrorless cameras, through the dial ring or button to control the iris of original Canon EF lens, let those who bought mirrorless cameras can enjoy the Canon EF lens.

Listing specific dates and prices to be determined.

--//--


Inside a Canon 1D MarkIV, Cleaning the Pentaprism

I would like to share with you the guts of a Canon 1D MarkIV.

Would like to thank Perci Mui (The Tech-Photographer) for these great pictures and he also explains how to get to the Pentaprism so you can attempt to clean it from dust bunnies.

Now you know what it takes to clean out that Pentaprism.



Grip and terminal views, external.



Back cover opened. Also front cover and back eyepiece has been removed.



Various connectors in the back assembly. These are for the power, a/d cards, etc.



Power supply card and the top of the prism assembly.



Top of prism assembly and the front of the body.



Back end of the body, different views.



Focusing screen and pentaprism.



Bottom and top views of the pentaprism.



Perci also explains how he removed the pentaprism for cleaning:

"THIS is the target area. Note the curved surface in the center of the picture. This is the condenser lens, and the surface above it is the flat area of the pentaprism. The area in between these two is not accessible with standard or even semi thorough cleaning. Yes, I've tried removing the focusing screen and looking for access points for purified air to blow and clean the area - there are none.

What you have to do is remove the pentaprism, take out the lower LCD display and then you have access to this area.


Dust will definitely creep into this area when changing lenses. It doesn't matter if you're holding the camera face down, or are very careful changing lenses, it will eventually happen. There is enough of an air gap to cause problems. If you have a EOS 1 series camera, look at the very top of the mirror bumper (two foam pieces). Now look ALL the way up - you'll see a thin gap. This is more than enough for the junk to get into.


The pentaprism area isn't sealed with silicone around the edges. If Canon did this, there wouldn't be any problems."




Back view of the eyepiece. Other pic is of the power supply.




Pic of the top LCD interface board. Note the finger wheel and shutter release contacts. Other pic is of the underside of the top cover where the LCD panel resides. Note that the shutter release assembly is gold plated. Bottom of the contacts have a "scrubber" to remove oxidation. Take a look at the area above and to the left of the finger wheel. That's the FEL button switch.



Media card interface. Look on the right hand side for the silver area. That's the shielding for the card reader. Other pic is of the copper shielding for the microphone. Note the area next to it - it's a conductive adhesive blanket to make sure that any noise present goes to the ground of the camera.



If you enjoy this please take sometime to check it's web page here.