Kit Lens Jockey
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2016
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- 17
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I got the Canon 50mm 1.4 lens about a month ago. I really like the photos it's capable of taking, but it's really starting to frustrate me with how inconsistent the autofocus is. I got the lens new, and I'm aware that there are many issues of the AF crapping out if the front of the lens gets impacted in any way, so I always keep the hood on the lens to protect it. My AF is definitely not completely broken, it just seems really inconsistent. I figured maybe setting the AF microadjustment might help it, but when I set up the camera on a tripod pointing at a focusing target, the photos this lens took were just inconsistent from shot to shot. There did not seem to be any consistent front or back focusing, just complete inconsistency. So, there's nothing I can do to adjust this away.
I think the focusing mechanism itself seems really poorly made. Whenever I set the lens to infinity before making it autofocus on something, the lens makes a little clunk right when it begins focusing, like there's a lot of slack within the focusing mechanism that it's taking up before it actually starts moving the focusing element. When I shake the lens lengthwise, front to back, I can also hear the front element assembly (the part that moves in and out to focus) clunking around a little, further proving that there's a lot of play in the focusing mechanism.
Is this just the nature of this crappy focusing mechanism? Is there any way to improve it? Is something wrong with this lens? I'm pretty sure the lens is grey market, so I'm hesitant to try to send it in under warranty, and I also don't really want to be without the lens.
Alternatively, should I just abandon this lens and look at the other fast 50mm lenses? The Sigma 50mm 1.4 art lens seems to get pretty positive reviews. I was also considering the Canon 50mm 1.2L, but that thing costs an arm and a leg, especially for just a prime lens. I also saw a note on lens rental that the 50mm 1.2 has a very curved focal plane, so focusing and re-composing does not work well with it, which is something I like to do.
Thanks.
I think the focusing mechanism itself seems really poorly made. Whenever I set the lens to infinity before making it autofocus on something, the lens makes a little clunk right when it begins focusing, like there's a lot of slack within the focusing mechanism that it's taking up before it actually starts moving the focusing element. When I shake the lens lengthwise, front to back, I can also hear the front element assembly (the part that moves in and out to focus) clunking around a little, further proving that there's a lot of play in the focusing mechanism.
Is this just the nature of this crappy focusing mechanism? Is there any way to improve it? Is something wrong with this lens? I'm pretty sure the lens is grey market, so I'm hesitant to try to send it in under warranty, and I also don't really want to be without the lens.
Alternatively, should I just abandon this lens and look at the other fast 50mm lenses? The Sigma 50mm 1.4 art lens seems to get pretty positive reviews. I was also considering the Canon 50mm 1.2L, but that thing costs an arm and a leg, especially for just a prime lens. I also saw a note on lens rental that the 50mm 1.2 has a very curved focal plane, so focusing and re-composing does not work well with it, which is something I like to do.
Thanks.