How do I know if my lenses are focusing correctly?

[GoingUp]

So I used a focus chart from here.

http://focustestchart.com/chart.html

When I try to use auto focus on the camera, the stupid auto focus always picks up the small lines closest to me instead of the black line in the middle of the page.

At 55mm I look pretty good, but when I try out my 70-200mm f2.8, the results aren't so good. Obviously I couldnt get far enough away to test at a 45 degree angle with the 200mm.

Ideas? Tips? Other ideas to test out to test my lens sharpness?

Link to pics.

 

[randomlinh]

set the camera to center point focus.

 

[magomago]

I know this might not be what you are looking for...but I suggest to go out and shoot pics. IF they are beautiful - that is the ultimate goal. I initially hesitated to post anything about this - but I did only because I almost fell down that path --> periodically checking my lenses to see if they are front of back focused slightly, or shoot bricks all day long to look at distortion, or looking at vignetting by shooting a blue sky. The different "measurbating tests" (i've come to hate the term) one can do over and over all day long never ends. And there will ALWAYS be something to complain about - even for the vaunted L/DA*/etc glass. It is as if photography becomes obsessing over equipment instead of over actually just snapping photos.

So take your camera outside and start clicking =) That should be the real measurement - because if there is a REAL issue with your gear - you'll see it occur there.

And I know you may say "Well I put down XXXX, so it better be perfect"...I'm not saying it isn't - we all put down quite a bit of money for the respective systems....but try shooting first and if you are pleased, then things should be fine

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: magomago
I know this might not be what you are looking for...but I suggest to go out and shoot pics. IF they are beautiful - that is the ultimate goal. I initially hesitated to post anything about this - but I did only because I almost fell down that path --> periodically checking my lenses to see if they are front of back focused slightly, or shoot bricks all day long to look at distortion, or looking at vignetting by shooting a blue sky. The different "measurbating tests" (i've come to hate the term) one can do over and over all day long never ends. And there will ALWAYS be something to complain about - even for the vaunted L/DA*/etc glass. It is as if photography becomes obsessing over equipment instead of over actually just snapping photos.

So take your camera outside and start clicking =) That should be the real measurement - because if there is a REAL issue with your gear - you'll see it occur there.

And I know you may say "Well I put down XXXX, so it better be perfect"...I'm not saying it isn't - we all put down quite a bit of money for the respective systems....but try shooting first and if you are pleased, then things should be fine

Well, he is shooting Canon, and Canon shooters have a certain stereotypical reputation for being all about their gear

I'd agree with what you said, rly. If things look messed up in your photos, then you've got something worth worrying about.

If your lens is a few degrees shy of perfect on some chart, I'd be less concerned...

 

[soydios]

Eh, Nikon and Canon shooters both seem to be at each other about their gear. I shoot Nikon, and I'm guilty of this.

But, Magomago hit it right on the head: when I do lens tests, all I'm looking for are the flaws, and I don't have to look hard to find dust on my sensor, lenses that lose corner sharpness, and lenses that vignette on a sky. But when I stop pixel-peeping and take photographs, I'm looking for what makes a good picture. I give my sensor a quick blow of air, keep my glass clean, and take photos! And when I do, I'm always amazed at what my camera can do, both technically and artistically.

Admittedly, it does help to know all the technical aspects of a camera, so that you can make the best photograph possible. But beyond some simple rules (lens performance and sensor dust are best balanced at f/5.6, ISO should be kept as low as possible for clean images, but may be raised to keep shutter speeds above 1/focal_length), the majority of the process is creativity.

I have never, ever checked to see if any of my lenses or my camera has a focusing issue. This is because in real-world use, they produce sharp shots.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: soydios
Eh, Nikon and Canon shooters both seem to be at each other about their gear. I shoot Nikon, and I'm guilty of this.

But, Magomago hit it right on the head: when I do lens tests, all I'm looking for are the flaws, and I don't have to look hard to find dust on my sensor, lenses that lose corner sharpness, and lenses that vignette on a sky. But when I stop pixel-peeping and take photographs, I'm looking for what makes a good picture. I give my sensor a quick blow of air, keep my glass clean, and take photos! And when I do, I'm always amazed at what my camera can do, both technically and artistically.

Admittedly, it does help to know all the technical aspects of a camera, so that you can make the best photograph possible. But beyond some simple rules (lens performance and sensor dust are best balanced at f/5.6, ISO should be kept as low as possible for clean images, but may be raised to keep shutter speeds above 1/focal_length), the majority of the process is creativity.

I have never, ever checked to see if any of my lenses or my camera has a focusing issue. This is because in real-world use, they produce sharp shots.

I was stirring

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: soydios
Eh, Nikon and Canon shooters both seem to be at each other about their gear. I shoot Nikon, and I'm guilty of this.

But, Magomago hit it right on the head: when I do lens tests, all I'm looking for are the flaws, and I don't have to look hard to find dust on my sensor, lenses that lose corner sharpness, and lenses that vignette on a sky. But when I stop pixel-peeping and take photographs, I'm looking for what makes a good picture. I give my sensor a quick blow of air, keep my glass clean, and take photos! And when I do, I'm always amazed at what my camera can do, both technically and artistically.

Admittedly, it does help to know all the technical aspects of a camera, so that you can make the best photograph possible. But beyond some simple rules (lens performance and sensor dust are best balanced at f/5.6, ISO should be kept as low as possible for clean images, but may be raised to keep shutter speeds above 1/focal_length), the majority of the process is creativity.

I have never, ever checked to see if any of my lenses or my camera has a focusing issue. This is because in real-world use, they produce sharp shots.

I was stirring

Don't mind Dug, he's a Nikonian.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: soydios
Eh, Nikon and Canon shooters both seem to be at each other about their gear. I shoot Nikon, and I'm guilty of this.

But, Magomago hit it right on the head: when I do lens tests, all I'm looking for are the flaws, and I don't have to look hard to find dust on my sensor, lenses that lose corner sharpness, and lenses that vignette on a sky. But when I stop pixel-peeping and take photographs, I'm looking for what makes a good picture. I give my sensor a quick blow of air, keep my glass clean, and take photos! And when I do, I'm always amazed at what my camera can do, both technically and artistically.

Admittedly, it does help to know all the technical aspects of a camera, so that you can make the best photograph possible. But beyond some simple rules (lens performance and sensor dust are best balanced at f/5.6, ISO should be kept as low as possible for clean images, but may be raised to keep shutter speeds above 1/focal_length), the majority of the process is creativity.

I have never, ever checked to see if any of my lenses or my camera has a focusing issue. This is because in real-world use, they produce sharp shots.

I was stirring

Don't mind Dug, he's a Nikonian.

I resemble that remark