Originally Posted by
Ezookiel
These are cropped quite drastically, so the centre of the image is not indicative of where I focussed the camera.
I used the camera on a tripod, next to a kitchen bench, so that the camera was around 50-60cms from the chart.
I didn't use liveview, but want to try again and try some of the suggestions above.
I had the camera set to it's widest angle. I didn't try testing any others. I probably should, but wasn't sure the lens wouldn't slowly extend itself given the downward angle it's tilted at.
I set the camera to AV as the instructions required, and dialled up the lowest f/stop number I could get with the 18-200mm lens.
I then used the viewfinder to check I had the central focus dot dead centre on the chart's central black line, then used the 2second self-timer to activate it (I should have dragged out the remote just to be really really sure).
To get the 45 degree angle, I set the tripod tilt meter to zero, attached the camera, and then adjusted the legs to get the spirit level on it dead centre. This way when I used the tilt meter on the tripod to measure the 45 degree angle, it should have been correct (provided the degrees tilt gauge printed on the Manfrotto is accurate).
I'd like to try it again with some actual angle measurements just to be absolutely sure, but not sure that the angle would make a huge difference, as arthurking83 points out, he prefers real targets set up, which would show up the error even if the camera was dead horizontal, so I'm assuming this chart is still going to show up a focus error even if the angle isn't a perfect 45, but that only the measurements in mms will be out if the angle isn't perfect.
I took the camera to the shop today, and yes there is a loan camera included in the warranty, but only for specific events (you can borrow a camera if you have a major event to shoot, but it's not loaned out for the entire period the camera is being repaired, only as you need it) and worse, they only have a 1000-D or something to lend out anyway, so I'll keep it for this big coming weekend and try to compensate in other ways, and since I'll be with a mass of photographers, maybe get them to test my camera as well.
The guy in the store did take a few quick shots in store of things like the keyboard on the computer, and then zoomed them right in, and he claimed it was focussing ok, but I have no idea where on the keyboard he focussed, and then on which letters he zoomed in, but it probably would show up on a keyboard too if you did it right.
Anyway, after the weekend I'll have a better idea if it's the lens or the body, because I may get a chance to do some lens swap tests with the togs that are coming, and if others that know more about this than I do agree that there's a problem, I'll take it in on Monday to be sent off for repair.
And the 60D apparently doesn't have a micro adjust feature like some of the other models ... bummer!
Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'll let you know how I go with it all.