Many test cases illustrate inability to produce consistently sharp and in-focus results using static targets, high EV levels, one-shot, single point auto focus mode.
This issue has been reported globally and Canon Service centres around the world have seen this issue from a number of owners, whom in some cases have sent their cameras in to Canon more than once or twice.
Canon has yet to acknowledge a problem or inability to isolate and adequately correct this problem in most cases.
There have been some cases where Canon Service has been able to repair a body to working condition, but the overwhelming majority of cases is resolved either through retail exchanges, or Canon Service exchanges for refurbished units.
The purpose of this petition is to collect as much information regarding this issue, cases and resolutions in one place. The hope is, once this is in place, 7D owners may have a better idea of how widespread this issue is, and have a larger voice with which to try to affect change.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 23, 2013
November 22, 2013
The number of signatures is nearing five hundred. Please direct others to this page so we can demonstrate the true scope of these focus issues to Canon.
Reached 100 supporters
October 24, 2011
October 22, 2011
The count is approaching one hundred signatures which will provide a clearer picture of the widespread nature of these auto-focus defects. Please circulate this link through your photography networks so we can reach this initial benchmark promptly.
143 Comments
At times, miine won't even attempt to focus. It will either focus or not. The "unable to acheive focus" light constantly flashing when problem occurs and it happens in all lighting and contrast situations.
The inconsistent Autofucus behaviour of the Canon 7d is shocking. I am a pro sports photographer and I am really unhappy. Only 10 percent of my photos are in focus since I started using the Canon 7D. I am really disappointed and feel cheated out of my hard earned cash.
Auto Focus problem
Canon, PLEASE fix this it is very annoying to buy such an expensive camera and get very low quality images
Canon, PLEASE fix this it is very annoying to buy such an expensive camera and get very low quality images
I have owned 2 other canon camera with No issues. The 7D has been a focus nightmare since day 1. Very unhappy with it and have since returned to my older cams because I know they work with tack sharp focus.
I was thinking that it might be my eyes. Not so, even with the fast glass lens.....it's never tack sharp. I expect and demand the best from your products. Please take note that there many of us with the same problem.
Auto focus issues.
Camera and AF worked perfectly for about 3,000 exposures, then about the time of Firmware 2.0.3 AF started hunting and often would never even fix on a focus
I thought it was me and failing to get to grip with a steep learning curve. I attempted all the AF options via various help sites on the net together with using 4 Canon lens; largely rubbish with maybe 20% keepers. I reverted to my trusted 40D until a theft forced me back to the 7D. Checked the net and found I was not alone, with Canon showing little interest looks like it's Nikon may be the only solution.
This noise/softness issue has caused me a lot of time/trouble and cost :( I have been a photographer for over 13yrs, have assumed that by investing & upgrading Canon camera bodies every couple of years that the images would just get better and better. This camera has set me back a lot, and I've had to rent equipment to test that it wasn't user error (I've researched, tried every setting, various lenses, strobes/no strobes/flash/ambient) AND to keep my business and image quality intact.
I have been looking for a couple of years for a solution
Sick to death of loosing images due to my 7D's focus issues. Seriously considering moving over to Nikon!
I have used many different cameras over the years and the Canon 7D has never given me a sharp picture. Very sad that I wasted a lot of money on this and Canon have never fixed it
Im a professional photographer and recently picked up a 7d as a second body. The quality of images coming out of this camera are, for the most part, unusable. SHAME ON CANON. For still not fixing this issue.
At first I thought it was an issue with my lens. I had my lens checked out under warranty and confirmed that everything was still fine. Then I thought it was just the way I was shooting. A fellow photographer confirmed after using my camera for a shoot that most images were soft . . . after searching the web for possible problems with focusing I came across several blogs addressing this. One solution proposed is to remove the batteries for at least an hour (including the date and time battery) .. . in essence doing a hard boot on your RAM and CPU . . . in many cases this does seem to resolve the issue. My 7D seemed fine until recently so there must be something software related that goes on the fritz. I hope this problem has been resolved with the 7D MarkII . . . Im looking to purchasing it next
Same problems with my 7D Focuses on the foreground. Very frustrating!
Well, I know the 7D Mark II is out but I wanted to chime in on my findings. I have a great 1D Mark II, but "upgraded" to the 7D for live view, video and more megapixels. It may be the worst choice I have ever made. This is not my first dog and pony show and I have been shooting since 1993. I consider myself a semi-pro photographer. Anyway, same thing happened to me. Camera locks on focus but if you look closely it is often slightly out of focus and when it comes to selling images, this is a big problem. My images have to be tack sharp at 100%. Now, I do get some in focus shots but I think they are mostly happy accidents where the subject moved into the focus plane and it happened to be sharp. I am going to try the battery removal thing and see what it does for me, but I am not holding out hopes. This camera really soured my view of Canon. I may either go with Nikon or just stick with buying used 1 Series cameras in the future.
Yes I have been losing work through this, And lost so many moments , in wild life photography. only to get home to discover most of my images are soft un sharp. i am pissed off with it honestly. I have had it seen to up dated firmware , keep checking the settings, I wish i went over to Nikon as told to. As its gutting. here I am a pro photographer , and cannot get great images, i was better of with the 30D I had.
I was shooting a music festival this weekend. I decided to use my 7D for video and a 60D as well. I also shot photos on both. I quickly discovered how crap and soft the shots coming off the 7D actually are. The 60D photos are more pin sharp and usable than the rubbish I'm getting off the 7D. I'm quite annoyed by it. I bought the 7D when it was first released, and on rare occasions does it produce a pin sharp photo. It's not good enough. I would have put it in the bin years ago had I had known how crap it really is. The build is beautiful, I love the camera handling, use, weight, feel. But it takes CRAP photos. I'm really disappointed with it. There should have been a recall done in it years ago. Both 60Ds I used outperformed the 7D by far, in video and stills this weekend just gone.
I have consistently had problems for the 3+ years I've had this camera. My Rebel Xti is more reliable than my 7d. Sad that you pay so much $$$$ and despite being a reputable company, they won't fix this known and obvious problem and provide quality equipment.
Major auto focus issues
Having problems with the focus on my 7D. Need to get this fixed for the camera to be usable. Very disappointed. Have tried all the fixes with no avail.
Same problems with my 7D. It focuses on the foreground instead of where I'm telling it to. Focal point is of the ground five feet in front of my subject.
Photos are just not sharp
Terrible issues with focus. Rarely use this camera. Went back to 40D. Very disappointed.
Really getting frustrated now, sending off for repair this week. Getting worse and worse...photography is my source of income so I am losing money with 7d issues....gutted :(
S/N 3814B023AA Camera bought anew in August 2015. With camera still on tripod, mirror up, shutter delay of two seconds and bright light I take every shot with AF central point manually resetting focus for every shot to zero or infinite and let the camera autofocus all the time. Results? After tens of pictures taken with 2 different lenses (Canon 85 1.8 and Canon 50 1.8 stm) absolutely NO CONSISTENCY in the focus. Some pics are spot on, some others are off. Sending it for warranty repair. Fingers crossed.
Purchased my camera when it first came out and loved it. No issues with focusing. Then I upgraded the firmware and have focusing issues since. Very discouraging.
Autofocus has stopped working. Have tried this with multiple lenses.
I have sent my body back to canon once already and paid several hundred dollars to get it repaired. They 'repaired' the focus system but I see no difference is image quality.
Whenever there is an area of higher contrast in the image my camera appears to focus on that instead of my selected AF spot. This is often nowhere near the desired AF spot that I've chosen e.g. I can choose to focus at the top - left of the frame and the camera will focus on a badge at the bottom of the frame rather than the eyes that I've selected. I assumed that I was doing something to cause this, but I'm running our of explanations
Terrible focus issues.
I have been struggling for quite sometime now and replaced lenses, micro-adjustment tutorials, etc. only to find out the soft and inconsistent focus with my 7D is the problem? This is discouraging for a giant and best of the industry, Canon, that it simply cannot correct or replace (recall) the camera bodies. Not asking for anything but a working body like I purchased.
Sent it in to Canon Service twice. No change in the focus problem.
soft focus issues with all the lens and mu ef 17-40mm l usm len
Soft and inconsistent auto-focus behaviour with spot focus and single point, image quality keeps changing
after sending body to repair mem card pins, unit came back not auto-focusing
Yep, same problems for me but irratic. Sometimes focuses fine, sometimes soft, sometimes completely fudgy! Pain in the a*se. Pathetic Canon!!!
Problems since day One !! 7D Bad Focus! I thought I was going mad... Did a google search and found out I am not alone!! I spend all my savings to buy this package and have not been able to take ONE good picture!!!! I would like a Solution!!! Thank you
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Many test cases illustrate inability to produce consistently sharp and in-focus results using static targets, high EV levels, one-shot, single point auto focus mode.
This issue has been reported globally and Canon Service centres around the world have seen this issue from a number of owners, whom in some cases have sent their cameras in to Canon more than once or twice.
Canon has yet to acknowledge a problem or inability to isolate and adequately correct this problem in most cases.
There have been some cases where Canon Service has been able to repair a body to working condition, but the overwhelming majority of cases is resolved either through retail exchanges, or Canon Service exchanges for refurbished units.
The purpose of this petition is to collect as much information regarding this issue, cases and resolutions in one place. The hope is, once this is in place, 7D owners may have a better idea of how widespread this issue is, and have a larger voice with which to try to affect change.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 23, 2013
November 22, 2013
The number of signatures is nearing five hundred. Please direct others to this page so we can demonstrate the true scope of these focus issues to Canon.
Reached 100 supporters
October 24, 2011
October 22, 2011
The count is approaching one hundred signatures which will provide a clearer picture of the widespread nature of these auto-focus defects. Please circulate this link through your photography networks so we can reach this initial benchmark promptly.
143 Comments
Same issues, soft focus or way out of focus, sent it back to Canon, no help, when I complained again, they were unresponsive, expensive lesson on buying Canon, it ruined countless number of what should have been great family moments.
At times, miine won't even attempt to focus. It will either focus or not. The "unable to acheive focus" light constantly flashing when problem occurs and it happens in all lighting and contrast situations.
The inconsistent Autofucus behaviour of the Canon 7d is shocking. I am a pro sports photographer and I am really unhappy. Only 10 percent of my photos are in focus since I started using the Canon 7D. I am really disappointed and feel cheated out of my hard earned cash.
Auto Focus problem
Canon, PLEASE fix this it is very annoying to buy such an expensive camera and get very low quality images
Canon, PLEASE fix this it is very annoying to buy such an expensive camera and get very low quality images
I have owned 2 other canon camera with No issues. The 7D has been a focus nightmare since day 1. Very unhappy with it and have since returned to my older cams because I know they work with tack sharp focus.
I was thinking that it might be my eyes. Not so, even with the fast glass lens.....it's never tack sharp. I expect and demand the best from your products. Please take note that there many of us with the same problem.
Auto focus issues.
Camera and AF worked perfectly for about 3,000 exposures, then about the time of Firmware 2.0.3 AF started hunting and often would never even fix on a focus
I thought it was me and failing to get to grip with a steep learning curve. I attempted all the AF options via various help sites on the net together with using 4 Canon lens; largely rubbish with maybe 20% keepers. I reverted to my trusted 40D until a theft forced me back to the 7D. Checked the net and found I was not alone, with Canon showing little interest looks like it's Nikon may be the only solution.
This noise/softness issue has caused me a lot of time/trouble and cost :( I have been a photographer for over 13yrs, have assumed that by investing & upgrading Canon camera bodies every couple of years that the images would just get better and better. This camera has set me back a lot, and I've had to rent equipment to test that it wasn't user error (I've researched, tried every setting, various lenses, strobes/no strobes/flash/ambient) AND to keep my business and image quality intact.
I have been looking for a couple of years for a solution
Sick to death of loosing images due to my 7D's focus issues. Seriously considering moving over to Nikon!
I have used many different cameras over the years and the Canon 7D has never given me a sharp picture. Very sad that I wasted a lot of money on this and Canon have never fixed it
Im a professional photographer and recently picked up a 7d as a second body. The quality of images coming out of this camera are, for the most part, unusable. SHAME ON CANON. For still not fixing this issue.
At first I thought it was an issue with my lens. I had my lens checked out under warranty and confirmed that everything was still fine. Then I thought it was just the way I was shooting. A fellow photographer confirmed after using my camera for a shoot that most images were soft . . . after searching the web for possible problems with focusing I came across several blogs addressing this. One solution proposed is to remove the batteries for at least an hour (including the date and time battery) .. . in essence doing a hard boot on your RAM and CPU . . . in many cases this does seem to resolve the issue. My 7D seemed fine until recently so there must be something software related that goes on the fritz. I hope this problem has been resolved with the 7D MarkII . . . Im looking to purchasing it next
Same problems with my 7D Focuses on the foreground. Very frustrating!
Well, I know the 7D Mark II is out but I wanted to chime in on my findings. I have a great 1D Mark II, but "upgraded" to the 7D for live view, video and more megapixels. It may be the worst choice I have ever made. This is not my first dog and pony show and I have been shooting since 1993. I consider myself a semi-pro photographer. Anyway, same thing happened to me. Camera locks on focus but if you look closely it is often slightly out of focus and when it comes to selling images, this is a big problem. My images have to be tack sharp at 100%. Now, I do get some in focus shots but I think they are mostly happy accidents where the subject moved into the focus plane and it happened to be sharp. I am going to try the battery removal thing and see what it does for me, but I am not holding out hopes. This camera really soured my view of Canon. I may either go with Nikon or just stick with buying used 1 Series cameras in the future.
Yes I have been losing work through this, And lost so many moments , in wild life photography. only to get home to discover most of my images are soft un sharp. i am pissed off with it honestly. I have had it seen to up dated firmware , keep checking the settings, I wish i went over to Nikon as told to. As its gutting. here I am a pro photographer , and cannot get great images, i was better of with the 30D I had.
I was shooting a music festival this weekend. I decided to use my 7D for video and a 60D as well. I also shot photos on both. I quickly discovered how crap and soft the shots coming off the 7D actually are. The 60D photos are more pin sharp and usable than the rubbish I'm getting off the 7D. I'm quite annoyed by it. I bought the 7D when it was first released, and on rare occasions does it produce a pin sharp photo. It's not good enough. I would have put it in the bin years ago had I had known how crap it really is. The build is beautiful, I love the camera handling, use, weight, feel. But it takes CRAP photos. I'm really disappointed with it. There should have been a recall done in it years ago. Both 60Ds I used outperformed the 7D by far, in video and stills this weekend just gone.
I have consistently had problems for the 3+ years I've had this camera. My Rebel Xti is more reliable than my 7d. Sad that you pay so much $$$$ and despite being a reputable company, they won't fix this known and obvious problem and provide quality equipment.
Major auto focus issues
Having problems with the focus on my 7D. Need to get this fixed for the camera to be usable. Very disappointed. Have tried all the fixes with no avail.
Same problems with my 7D. It focuses on the foreground instead of where I'm telling it to. Focal point is of the ground five feet in front of my subject.
Photos are just not sharp
Terrible issues with focus. Rarely use this camera. Went back to 40D. Very disappointed.
Really getting frustrated now, sending off for repair this week. Getting worse and worse...photography is my source of income so I am losing money with 7d issues....gutted :(
S/N 3814B023AA Camera bought anew in August 2015. With camera still on tripod, mirror up, shutter delay of two seconds and bright light I take every shot with AF central point manually resetting focus for every shot to zero or infinite and let the camera autofocus all the time. Results? After tens of pictures taken with 2 different lenses (Canon 85 1.8 and Canon 50 1.8 stm) absolutely NO CONSISTENCY in the focus. Some pics are spot on, some others are off. Sending it for warranty repair. Fingers crossed.
Purchased my camera when it first came out and loved it. No issues with focusing. Then I upgraded the firmware and have focusing issues since. Very discouraging.
Autofocus has stopped working. Have tried this with multiple lenses.
I have sent my body back to canon once already and paid several hundred dollars to get it repaired. They 'repaired' the focus system but I see no difference is image quality.
Whenever there is an area of higher contrast in the image my camera appears to focus on that instead of my selected AF spot. This is often nowhere near the desired AF spot that I've chosen e.g. I can choose to focus at the top - left of the frame and the camera will focus on a badge at the bottom of the frame rather than the eyes that I've selected. I assumed that I was doing something to cause this, but I'm running our of explanations
Terrible focus issues.
I have been struggling for quite sometime now and replaced lenses, micro-adjustment tutorials, etc. only to find out the soft and inconsistent focus with my 7D is the problem? This is discouraging for a giant and best of the industry, Canon, that it simply cannot correct or replace (recall) the camera bodies. Not asking for anything but a working body like I purchased.
Sent it in to Canon Service twice. No change in the focus problem.
soft focus issues with all the lens and mu ef 17-40mm l usm len
Soft and inconsistent auto-focus behaviour with spot focus and single point, image quality keeps changing
after sending body to repair mem card pins, unit came back not auto-focusing
Yep, same problems for me but irratic. Sometimes focuses fine, sometimes soft, sometimes completely fudgy! Pain in the a*se. Pathetic Canon!!!
Problems since day One !! 7D Bad Focus! I thought I was going mad... Did a google search and found out I am not alone!! I spend all my savings to buy this package and have not been able to take ONE good picture!!!! I would like a Solution!!! Thank you
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Same issues, soft focus or way out of focus, sent it back to Canon, no help, when I complained again, they were unresponsive, expensive lesson on buying Canon, it ruined countless number of what should have been great family moments.