Quality of Lens

[deviline]

I recently purchased a 2nd hand Canon 400D, which is around 2 years old.

I just want to know if it's true that, the older the camera and lens gets, the quality of the photo or lens declines as well?

Also, i have some problems with my auto-focus settings.
Sometimes when i take a shot using the auto-focus setting, it takes a very long time to focus. Even after holding down to the shutter button for a long time, it doesn't take any shot.

Sorry, still pretty new to this.

 

[ahbian]

Quite hard to help on the auto focusing part without more details. What shots are you taking?
Low contrast subjects? Too near? What lens are you using?

 

[Rashkae]

I just want to know if it's true that, the older the camera and lens gets, the quality of the photo or lens declines as well?

I have 24-year-old lenses that still work perfectly. Lenses are the real investment, not the camera body.

Also, i have some problems with my auto-focus settings.
Sometimes when i take a shot using the auto-focus setting, it takes a very long time to focus. Even after holding down to the shutter button for a long time, it doesn't take any shot.

Sorry, still pretty new to this.

You make a basic mistake of people new to photography by not using a shutter half-press to focus first; you just immediately push all the way. Try using the half-press to get focus first.

Also, what are you taking a shot of? If you're too close to the subject, the lens can't focus. All lenses have a minimum focus distance. If the subject you're trying to shoot is too plain and does not provide enough contrast for the camera's AF sensor to "see" it relative to the background, then it will have a hard time focusing.

 

[rapier84]

Er, don't think so. I have a 20+ year old lens on my 400D (modern EF-S lens/Non-L have no date stamps, this one does) which focus accurately. Mechanical wear and tear is of course part and parcel of long term usage but with proper maintenance shouldn't be a problem. The speed of AF on the other hand is dependent on many many issues, including lens aperture, type of focussing motor used etc.

 

[Simon_84]

I have 24-year-old lenses that still work perfectly. Lenses are the real investment, not the camera body.

You make a basic mistake of people new to photography by not using a shutter half-press to focus first; you just immediately push all the way. Try using the half-press to get focus first.

wah you godlike lah...pawn yourself some more...
in the 1st place you should half press the shutter button to do a focus lock before finally completely press down the button all the way.
this is the most basic way of taking a photo in focus be it with a dslr/pro-comsumer/p&s else you would have a shot that is OFF (out of focus).
didnt read the cam manual did you?
no entry lvl dslr is so newbie friendly that you can basiclly use it like a p&s.
even the easiest nikon d40, i also have problems when i 1st got it even when i came from a pro-consumer background.

on a side note, think i read in some user reviews in dpreview before that the 400d never really solve the focusing problem carried over from the earlier model the 350d.

 

[Rashkae]

wah you godlike lah...pawn yourself some more...

Oh? How did I pawn myself as compared to rapier84, who posted right after me? What is wrong with my post, which negates the TS's fears about age affecting lenses, then telling him what mistake he could be doing?

in the 1st place you should half press the shutter button to do a focus lock before finally completely press down the button all the way.
this is the most basic way of taking a photo in focus be it with a dslr/pro-comsumer/p&s else you would have a shot that is OFF (out of focus).
didnt read the cam manual did you?
no entry lvl dslr is so newbie friendly that you can basiclly use it like a p&s.
even the easiest nikon d40, i also have problems when i 1st got it even when i came from a pro-consumer background.

on a side note, think i read in some user reviews in dpreview before that the 400d never really solve the focusing problem carried over from the earlier model the 350d.

Wow, now you're repeating my advice, and then even bashing him by saying "didnt read the cam manual did you?". So now you think you're godlike? You've just proven yourself a hypocrite.

 

[Simon_84]

...think you got it wrong wasnt refering to you but to TS.
sorry if my quoting style is done wrongly.
but name calling wise is a big :nono:.

 

[Rashkae]

...think you got it wrong wasnt refering to you but to TS.
sorry if my quoting style is done wrongly.
but name calling wise is a big :nono:.

Well, you quoted me, not him.

And if it refers to the TS, what part of his post is "pawning himself" or making him "godlike"?

 

[roygoh]

Guys, only a small misunderstanding, please shake hands and call it off OK?

Simon_84, please quote the right post if you are addressing the TS. When you quote someoone's post with a reply, it is usually taken as you are addressing the person you've quoted, unless you have been specific. Even if you are addressing the TS, I think you can be a little more friendly and gentle to a newbie.

Rashkae, please cool down and refrain from name calling.

Thanks.

-Roy

 

[Rashkae]

Rashkae, please cool down and refrain from name calling.

Thanks.

-Roy

Just defending myself from what appeared a personal attack on me. "wah you godlike lah...pawn yourself some more..." is *not* considered name-calling on CS? Ok, noted.

In the context where he quoted me rather than the TS, "hypocrite" is not name-calling, it's actually accurate.

 

[Simon_84]

so sorry again :embrass:
will think about it more from a newbie pt of view before posting again.

 

[Rashkae]

so sorry again :embrass:
will think about it more from a newbie pt of view before posting again.

My apologies for calling you a hypocrite. If it was just a mis-quote, then it's obviously just a misunderstanding.

 

[Taurean]

I recently purchased a 2nd hand Canon 400D, which is around 2 years old.

I just want to know if it's true that, the older the camera and lens gets, the quality of the photo or lens declines as well?

Err... Don't think that the quality of photo degrade as the camera / lens age. The problem usually lies behind the camera.

Know of someone that uses a circa 2001 coolpix that produces images that put some users of modern dslr to shame. :sweat:

 

[grumpy]

I recently purchased a 2nd hand Canon 400D, which is around 2 years old.

I just want to know if it's true that, the older the camera and lens gets, the quality of the photo or lens declines as well?

I getting better quality photo from my 2nd hand (now about 4 years old) D70 now then I did when I first laid my hands on it 2 years ago. Camera and lens got older, quality of photo got better ;p


Don't worry too much and happy shooting.

 

[Daedalus Trent]

I getting better quality photo from my 2nd hand (now about 4 years old) D70 now then I did when I first laid my hands on it 2 years ago. Camera and lens got older, quality of photo got better ;p

LOL! good point, good point...:bsmilie:

 

[dzignous]

In every way, the risk is still there when getting 2nd hand stuff especially electronics items. You'll never know what had happened to it before or when the electronics inside will go kaput, full manual cams exceptions. Lens wise, if there are no visible fungus and you continue to take good care of it, it will go on in a long run except for special cases like the AFS/SWM motor.

 

[dzignous]

Btw, I still have a 12 years old F5 and 17 years old F801s still producing decent (for me) stuff.

Do check on your lens min. focusing range.

 

[calebk]

...full manual cams exceptions...

I beg to differ. The mechanisms within can still wear out and gradually break down, especially after prolonged periods of the camera not being used, then taken out for use again.

 

[shahrulesa]

For PnS, the ccd does 'degrade' over time, happens on both my Exilim and Kodak LS before. Guess it's the constatnt live view heating up the ccds all the time. For dSLR it should not be that bad since you don't use live view. Can't focus, try checking your lens as well, if it is set to manual focus or if it's not working properly (clean the connectors). Then check th custom function under setup (just reset everything if you're in doubt, then it'll be like getting a new cam)