I don't know if it's me or my gear, but I feel like I'm not nailing some shots as well as I should, focus-wise. I'm trying to run some tests with some focus charts to see maybe my camera and/or lenses should be sent to Canon for calibration. Does anyone have experience with sending their gear in for calibration and did you find it helpful to have done? My 30d and 85 1.8 are still under warranty, so it wouldn't hurt to have them checked out. I also have the 28 2.8 and 50 1.8, that are past warranty, but they could get checked out as well if it means that they focus properly.

Here are photos I took with the focus chart.

28 2.8



50 1.8



85 1.8



From these, it seems like the lenses are off. I'll have to try doing a few more tests to confirm these results. My focusing has been a slight source of frustration for me at times because there have been a few shots I would have really liked if I had nailed the focus.

Anyway, any advice and insight on this is appreciated. Thanks!

Wish I knew what the heck I was looking at!

I had backfocus issues with my 85 f/1.8 when I first bought it. Sent it to Canon under warranty, came back better, but not perfect.

Later on, I sent back a 28 f/1.8 under warranty, again, came back better, but not perfect.

Last month, I decided that I wasn't going to risk it being the body, so I sent that off to Canon at my cost of $195. The claim they found the body to be out of adjustment, tuned it up and sent her back. They also sent her back with tons of dust under the rear lcd, but I can live with that for now. I'm going to order two or three new replacement screens for it before they are out of inventory.

I haven't actually sat down and fiddled with the focus charts yet since it's return, but "real world" shots have improved. I'll make a point to shoot the charts this week and repost.

Good luck.

John