Infinity focus problems with XLH1 and standard 20x lens

[Dietrich von Richthofen]

Dear all, maybe you have some idea to help me out with this:

I have a Canon XLH1 with the standard 20x zoom lens. It's old and when I got it, it had been heavily used already. But it was not until yesterday that I noticed a problem with pulling focus...

When I zoom all the way in on a distant object, I just cannot get it in focus. The camera shows the focus distance (in this case, infinity), though I don't know if the distance measurement is correct.

When I zoom out a little bit, I can focus. Also, when I focus all the way in on a closer (or a very close) object, I can focus without problems...

I already performed the Flange Back Adjustment as explained in the manual, but this did not change anything.

Any ideas on this? What can I do to localize the problem?

Thanks a lot!
Regards,
Dietrich

[Chris Soucy]

Hi Dietrich.............

Any ideas on this? What can I do to localize the problem?

My initial thought is that with long use, one or more of the lens elements are somehow not registering their correct positions under the circumstances you describe. As that's a pure guess, it's not worth much.

The only way to pin this 100% on either the lens or camera (bent/ out of alignment socket etc) is to try another identical lens and see if it performs the same or differently, not so easy if the nearest replacement is 200 km away.

Making things a bit iffy is the service status of the camera/ lens in question - will Canon service/ repair whatever is at fault 8 years after the camera was released? Might be worth asking them. Heck, they may (big "may", 20 to 1 shot) have a lens to hand.

If you can prove the lens is at fault and Canon will not repair it, you could try buying another s/h system that has a dead camera but good lens and take it from there.

Sorry I can't offer much more in the "words of wisdom" line.


CS

[Don Palomaki]

First I am not an XLH1 owner, so what I say is speculation.

At least in the USA, Canon support runs for about 7 years after the model is discontinued.

Sure does sound like a back-focus issue. Perhaps your setting changes are not being stored?

You mention pulling focus, is the focus sharp for the distant object at any other indicated distance?
Does using auto focus result in a sharp image?
Does using a different f-stop effect the focus issue?

[Norbert Holzmann]

Originally Posted by Chris Soucy

The only way to pin this 100% on either the lens or camera (bent/ out of alignment socket etc) is to try another identical lens and see if it performs the same or differently, not so easy if the nearest replacement is 200 km away.

Hi Dietrich,
I am living close to you in 13351 Berlin and have one 20x lens and two XL H1 to compare :)

[Dietrich von Richthofen]

Hi alltogether,

thanks for the help, so far...

@ Don

No, auto-focus & f-stop do not effect the issue. Not sure if understand your first thought... Distant objects are sharp up to a certain distance (couldn't tell how far exactly, maybe like 80 to 100 meters), than they just wouldn't get sharp anymore...

@ Norbert

That sounds great!! Can I take this for an offer to pass by and try to narrow down the problem...? Would be great! How can we get in touch? My mobile: 0179 4795214...

regards!
Dietrich

[Chris Soucy]

Well, I've head of "cliff hangers", but this one takes some beating.

How hard can it be for two folks to get together in a city of 3.5 million and get the job done?

Heck, in London (metro pop. 15 million) it's an hour or 1 1/2 at most, what gives here?

Talk to us, peeps.


CS

[Norbert Holzmann]

We met a week ago and yes, the lens has definitly a problem and should be fixed ;)

[Johan Forssblad]

Hi Norbert,
I'm curious if you got it fixed, how long time it took and the cost.
I have got a similar problem to my XL H1 wide angle zoom. The distance readout is at infinity (past 408 m!) for a 7 m distant test pattern at maximum tele zoom. In wide, infinity is not far enough for focus.
It is not possible to adjust the FB setting correctly at the wide end.
It looks like the lens tube suddenly is too short.

Is this a simple mechanical adjustment or an electronic adjustment? The lens seems rock solid and it is not dropped.

Thankful for any ideas from you or anybody else here

Johan

[Warren Kawamoto]

There is a little ring inside the filter mount (very front of the lens) that holds the front element in place. Is it tight? Press the front element with a cloth-covered finger. Does it move? I once had a similar problem, the front element was a little loose because of a loose ring. Tightened it up and all was good.

[Norbert Holzmann]

Thanks for the tip :-)

@ Johan
I couldn't fix it. We just compare it to my 20x. Have no contact to Dietrich.