Slip into a soft focus over time

[stephen sullivan]

Strange question,

 

Over a peroid of time, can an EOS 1 body and an EF 70~200 f/2.8L USM develope a

soft focus?

 

I bought my EOS 1 back in Dec. 1990 and my EF 70~200 f/2.8L USM in Jan. 2002

 

I ask, becuase today when I picked two 11x14s the photo tech. printer said to

me, "Steve, you're camera and lens should be able to resolve better than this.

I've been noticing over time, the work you give me seems to be of a softer

focus. Are you doing something different?"

 

So before I send my EOS 1 and lens to Canon, I thought I'd ask if anyone else

has had this problem.

 

Note: I always use a tripod with a remote switch. Plus, I try not to use a

shutter speed less than 1/100th to prevent the noticing of mirror slap.

 

Thank you.

[bobatkins]

Anything is possible, but I don't think it's "normal". Aftet 16 years of bouncing around in a camera bag it's certainly possible that some part of the AF system in the EOS-1 has moved out of position.

 

I think a focus drift on the lens is less likely, not only because it's newer but also because there are fewer critcal parts in the focus chain that could get out of adjustment.

 

I presume you haven't dropped either of them!

 

Sending them both back to Canon for a check seems like a reasonable thing to do.

[stephen sullivan]

Bob,

 

I was thinking last night after I posted my question, "Is it possible that I damaged the auto focus mechanism in the EOS 1 or something in the lens, when I was photographing a mid-day solar eclipse?" Duration was about 1.5 hours, with NDx2, Cir-PL & 25A on lens.

 

I'll note that when I present my camera and lens.

 

Thanks

[stephen sullivan]

Update: Nov. 30, 2006

 

I stopped in at the Canon Repair Center in California this afternoon and was told that they no longer repair the Original EOS 1 (cir. 1990)

 

"Parts no longer made, nor are any in stock. You may want to try one of our outside Autorized Repair Centers."

 

Canon will accept my EF 70~200 f/2.8L USM and EF 50mm f/1.4 USM to check for focus accuracy.