Can mirrorless lens develop soft focus?

[steveatesh]

Got a Sony 24-70 f2.8 GM which had even tack sharp since new. Noticed recently the focus is soft especially in eye focus.

Doesn't seem to be a common thing looking at google, is it possible for it to go soft due to a knock or something? I am aware DSLR lens can need calibrating but didn’t think mirrorless need it?

It’s never been dropped, using the flexible spot focus is fine.

If it had to go off to Fixation any idea in approx costs please?

[RobDickinson]

So it's sharp somewhere just not where you want it?

[steveatesh]

RobDickinson said:

So it's sharp somewhere just not where you want it?

yes, the shot has focus just not where I want it. There are hair strands which are sharp but the eye is no longer sharp as a tack even though the little eye focus green square is over the eye when firing the shot.

[_Hoppers]

On my 5D you can adjust the autofocus for each lens, is that possible with your Sony? I used this in the past to fine tune autofocus https://www.reikanfocal.com/ but it doesn't look like it works with Sony.

[RobDickinson]

Usually mirrorless don't need that, could be a fault with the lens.


Worth trying it on another body if possible and try another lens on this one

[craig1912]

So using the flexible spot focus works fine? Is it just eye af that isn’t working?
Establish if it’s the lens or camera first- sounds like the camera if it works with flexible spot but try with another lens first.

[steveatesh]

Quick update guys thanks for your advice.

I had already tried another lens before posting and it was sharp, suggesting it was my lens.

I have done another shoot this afternoon with a different model and every shot with the suspect lens was sharp using eye focus. Focus locked in an instant and the images were tack sharp as they were before the i shoot subject of this thread.

I know it sounds daft but the problems arose with a model session and she had really long eye lashes, and I looked much closer in the software and realised on very close inspection that one of her eyes actually had a fine hair over it I couldn’t see without zooming right in.

I’m hoping that’s all it was, the lens focusing on either the the rogue hair, or the long lashes throwing it off.

I’ll do some more shoots with different subjects and see what happens from there.

If it is indeed just that there’s some learning there for me about models lol

[RobDickinson]

That's pretty crazy if true

Good things are not broken, stop down a touch more lol

[Simpo Two]

I'll be impressed if it can focus on a single hair, so small you couldn't even see it.

[steveatesh]

So would I be, I’m really just hoping that’s what it was and it behaves from now!

Wasn’t it Sherlock Holmes who said something like if it isn’t the possible, then we have to look at the impossible.....or something like that!

[Simpo Two]

steveatesh said:

So would I be, I’m really just hoping that’s what it was and it behaves from now!

Wasn’t it Sherlock Holmes who said something like if it isn’t the possible, then we have to look at the impossible.....or something like that!

Yes, but Sherlock Holmes never had to deal with a digital camera