Camera won't focus properly through glass

LCPete

LCPete

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my 7 D 2 misses focus when shooting through some of the glass veining areas at Chester zoo
Mainly at the tiger and painted dogs enclosures
It is thick horrible glass so I don't expect super sharp shots but it's definitely missing focus
I can get focus by going into live view and manually focusing
It's a 7D 2 with 300 2.8 mk 2 and normally get super sharp pictures just am struggling shooting through glass
I use the lens hood and go right against the glass
Anyone know what's going on why my 7D 2 misses focus when shooting through glass?
I'm dropping my camera and lens off at Canon tomorrow anyway for a calibration and focus check
I can't post examples because we haven't got internet at home at the moment waiting for BT to fix it but it's definitely missing focus it's not movement as I can get reasonable results by focus manually in live view
 
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It’s trying to focus to the scratches and dirty glass so it’s hunting! It’s no fault of the camera
 
It will do it with wire mesh as well ! Try manual focus
 
As above, you’re already doing all you can by using live view and manually focusing. Doesn’t sound like anything wrong with the camera or lens.
 
Mark twiglet said:
It’s trying to focus to the scratches and dirty glass so it’s hunting! It’s no fault of the camera
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Mark twiglet said:
It will do it with wire mesh as well ! Try manual focus
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Thanks Mark I know what you mean but it's finding focus and beeping conformation :)
And having no issues shooting through mesh fences
I think there's something odd going on
I am now manually focusing it's just not always easy when things are moving around
 
stevelmx5 said:
As above, you’re already doing all you can by using live view and manually focusing. Doesn’t sound like anything wrong with the camera or lens.
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Thanks Steve yes it's probably the glass interfering with the autofocus
 
When you are using auto focus and it’s beeping is there anything in the frame that is in focus? If you have a focus point it should obviously be something at that point that’s sharp
 
I would guess in a Zoo its not actually a normal sheet of glass.

If it is fine with your house glass then I would think its not the cameras fault
 
Are you using one point focus or continuous focus
 
Mark twiglet said:
When you are using auto focus and it’s beeping is there anything in the frame that is in focus? If you have a focus point it should obviously be something at that point that’s sharp
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Yes that's what I thought but it's not it's confirming autofocus beeping but actually not sharp missing focus when shooting through the glass
 
Get a Nikon!!!!! [emoji23]
 
GTG said:
I would guess in a Zoo its not actually a normal sheet of glass.

If it is fine with your house glass then I would think its not the cameras fault
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Yes I don't think there's anything wrong with the camera
I'm dropping the camera off to Canon because I'm struggling to set the micro adjustment with my 2 times converter I'm passing near to elstree Canon tomorrow so thought I'd get them to do it
I'm just curious what is going on why the glass is affecting the camera its fine through glass at home
 
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Had same trouble shooting from hides in Spain with 1dx and 200-400. Could see hunting in viewfinder.
 
LCPete said:
Yes I don't think there's anything wrong with the camera
I'm just curious what is going on why the glass is affecting the camera its fine through glass at home
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The glass in the zoo at those areas is probably an inch or more thick. Coupled with the inside being dirty it’s no surprise that the camera AF is struggling.
 
stevelmx5 said:
The glass in the zoo at those areas is probably an inch or more thick. Coupled with the inside being dirty it’s no surprise that the camera AF is struggling.
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Ahh I see yes you're right there :)
 
LCPete said:
Ahh I see yes you're right there :)
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The glass is usually laminated toughened which process in itself makes it not optically transparent !

And it’s got 4 year olds nose pickings and snot on it ......

And that’s without the monkey [emoji90] on the inside!

Be lucky to see anything at all!
 
Mark twiglet said:
The glass is usually laminated toughened which process in itself makes it not optically transparent !

And it’s got 4 year olds nose pickings and snot on it ......

And that’s without the monkey [emoji90] on the inside!

Be lucky to see anything at all!
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Yep you're right there the laminated glass must interfere with autofocus
Definitely lots of snot on the glass and poo:D
 
LCPete said:
Yep you're right there the laminated glass must interfere with autofocus
Definitely lots of snot on the glass and poo:D
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I am enjoying my lunch.
If there is anything getting in the way then AF confirmation wont work as you'll be too close to the offending item, unless you're using a macro lens and extension tubes (I'm guessing you're not).
How about trying a different "case" setting, one that ignores objects coming into the frame and getting in the way of whatever is in focus (I'm assuming like the 5D3 it has this facility) so you could get focus lock on something but maybe not the framing you want then reframing.
 
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MatBin said:
I am enjoying my lunch.
If there is anything getting in the way then AF confirmation wont work as you'll be too close to the offending item, unless you're using a macro lens and extension tubes (I'm guessing you're not).
How about trying a different "case" setting, one that ignores objects coming into the frame and getting in the way of whatever is in focus (I'm assuming like the 5D3 it has this facility) so you could get focus lock on something but maybe not the framing you want then reframing.
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:D
Thanks Matt I haven't thought of that the case settings will have a look
the 7D2 does have case settings
I think as Steve and Mark says the thick laminated glass is confusing the autofocus
 
Pete, how close to the glass are you getting ?
I've got one of those collapsible rubber lens hoods that I use against glass, gets the lens up close without the risk of damage
 
Gremlin said:
Pete, how close to the glass are you getting ?
I've got one of those collapsible rubber lens hoods that I use against glass, gets the lens up close without the risk of damage
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Hi :)I'm getting right against glass I try to shield reflections around the lens
I think it's something to do with the type or thickness of the glass at the tiger enclosure as I've had no problems with shooting through the glass at the cheetahs enclosure I got some great ones of the cubs a while back :)
 
unless your lens hood is totally pressed against the glass ,which is impossible as the animals move your letting in extraneous light into the lens hood which is refracting back on the a/f system ,couple that with bad light or if sunlight its low winter sun at this time of year you have the cause .as a glasses wearer I find I often get light getting between my camera eyepiece and my eye due to wearing the specs the only cure in bright sunlight is to fit my hoodman eye cup to cut that light out .
knowing Chester zoo and that particular glass you might be better off with a smaller diameter lens i.e 70-300 is which lets less light in due to its size .
 
Spare a thought for me trying to photograph my boys at blue planet aquarium over the weekend. They were in the shark tank and I was shooting upwards through a concave acrylic tunnel which was at least 4” thick. Not to mention the lighting and no flash!
 
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