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RED Epic-W Soft Focus Issue

Randy Kessler

Randy Kessler

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Hello Everyone,

I have noticed on my Epic-W while shooting, my video has been hard to focus in on and I am getting soft images, making it hard to get a sharp focus point. I primarily see this issue when using the Canon II EF f/2.8 70-200mm lens. This problem usually persists later on while the camera has been on for a while and filming. When I am filming the start of a football game the focusing is pinpoint accurate. Later on in the game I start having focusing issues (right after halftime) and the image begins to become very soft. (I will post picture link below). Would this be a back focus issue maybe? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/73172370@N04/albums/72157689892666485
 
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Do you also have a shot of what it's like at the beginning of the game, for comparison?

This, to me, looks like fogging - some kind of condensation on the lens, maybe?

Are you able to reproduce with the same lens on a different camera? Whatabout another lens on the Epic?
 
That looks rather uncharacteristic of this lens and camera combo. Are you using any filters? Is it very humid or moist out? Almost looks like condensation build up.

I only ask as I see halation that's inconsistent which is revealed further if something is out of focus.
 
I would say definitely a problem with your lens. Seems like a major glass misalignment. This is not a back focus/flange depth issue IMO. Maybe the lens is not mounted correctly?
Maybe you can swap it on a canon body and take a picture? that would explain a lot...
 
Thanks for responding guys. Yeah this really happens in the coldest of weather. The air seems pretty dry but still the cool air can probably bring some condensation into the lens. It seems that the fogging only happens with the 70-200mm lens. I put some new images on that Flick link if you want to check it out. Thanks again for responding.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/73172370@N04/albums/72157689892666485
 
Condensation usually sets when the lens is moved from warm to cold . Most of the time in the morning. just look into the lens- easy to see....
 
I once dropped a cheaper Canon lens and got halation like this. I think it was from elements being misaligned.


any chance there was a physical knock to it?
 
Tom,

This lens has had no damage to it. I've also used my other 70-200mm with the Epic-W and the same thing happens.
 
Curious about this too..
 
Jacek Zakowicz said:
Condensation usually sets when the lens is moved from warm to cold . Most of the time in the morning. just look into the lens- easy to see....
Click to expand...

Cold to warm potentially sets up this condition in my experience.
 
Are you sure? Warm air would have moisture in the gas form due to the temperature. When you take it to cold the lens cools down and so does the air/moisture inside it. As a result the moisture turns into liquid and settles on cold surfaces such as glass....
 
Wondering if your tightening the mount after it has been mounted on the camera for a while, I know running back and forth on the sidelines could loosen the mount after time. Sometimes different lenses will sag a bit from the mount if not tightened with the twist part. Also if you zooming at all with that lens it does not hold focus through the zoom so it maybe that a small zoom or framing adjustment will cause a large focus shift. Even with the auto focus on. Does it do it with and with out the IS turned on. And what frame rate and shutter. Doesn’t seem like a shutter speed issue but could add to it a
Bit.
Any R3D’s to share so we could see the camera settings.? Some images almost come close to sharp. I’d be courous about compression and format.
 
I always shoot with the Canon II EF f2.8 70-200mm lens on both my Epics and never had this issue.
 
Jacek Zakowicz said:
Condensation usually sets when the lens is moved from warm to cold . Most of the time in the morning. just look into the lens- easy to see....
Click to expand...

You mean from cold to warm :)
 
I get condensation going from cold to warm. I've done a fair amount of shooting in extreme cold conditions.
 

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