500mm issues. Probably me :)

[morehtml]

Ok on subjests that are close where I can fill at least 1/5th the frame I get amazing results with the 500mm f4. But on a shoot this weekend to photograph hawks and eagles the shots that are far away, nothing looks remotely in proper focus?

Every shot I have from a distance looks like this. This one is with a 1.4TC, ISO 400, f5.6, 1/3200 on a tripod using IS.

The shots show original framing and 100% crop. Focusing was on center spot and on hawk.

So what did I do wrong? Shouldn't the hawk be more in focus?

I had the ISO on 100/200 most of the time with the same bad results.

[morehtml]

Here is a 100% crop of a subject that filled the frame. I always seems to get these in focus no problem. Shouldn't the DOV be greater on the distance pictures above??

[Tapeman]

I would suggest lowering your shutter speed to 1/1600 or 1/800 on a tripod and close down the lens for a little more depth of field. I often have to manually focus when there are branches around the bird.

[morehtml]

Yea I get that and I agree the shutter speed was abundant. But in like 50 pictures of this distance not even the branches appear in focus. I didn't Manual focus. You think the autofocus is just screwing up at these distance shots??

[cjsa]

Don't use IS on tripod!

[gasrocks]

No, Canon 500/4 L IS is tripod sensitive = leave it on when on a tripod, but it wouldn't hurt to try some without it. When I see nothing in focus, shaking the camera does seem like a candidate. How does it work w/o the 1.4x?

[wiselion]

This is your answer. The key here is to set the apeture at f/8 thru f/11. You do not need that shutter speed to stop a hawk pretty stationary in a tree.Yes, you can use, and should use IS with the 500. This is what it is for. It will stop the shake of wind, and minute shakes. Make sure you hold the shutter down half way for at least one second when IS is on before you press the shutter button fully. It takes a second for IS to do its thing. This is a huge lens and adding a 1.4x on my 20D gives me 1130mm. Dude, that is alot of power and I would reccomend my set up. Sturdy tripod and head, and Remote switch. If you move this lens at all while shooting at that focal length you will be asking for blur.

You don't need IS on all the time if you are locked on a tripod with what I said above. I can shoot at 1/320 on my tripod, and the pics will be sweet. Do yourself a favor and get a remote for your camera. Also, this lens takes lots of practice. I am getting good with it, but I am a long ways off of seeing it's awesome potential.

Also, ask Cyberdyne what he does with his 500. He has much more experiance then me.

[morehtml]

Thanks it did the same at 500mm. I'll run some more tests and see how it goes. I have a remote release I can use too.

[DavidEB]

I think the answer is that the size of the AF sensor is bigger than the little red rectangle that lights up, especially on the 20D. The camera focuses on the nearest object with contrast that is within the sensor area, in this case branches. >>>This<<< (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=118759) is a similar shot with manual focus.

Also with dark branches against a bright sky you're getting a good look at chromatic aberration.

The cardinal shot is spectacular. I would love to take a shot like that.

[wiselion]

I think the answer is that the size of the AF sensor is bigger than the little red rectangle that lights up, especially on the 20D. The camera focuses on the nearest object with contrast that is within the sensor area, in this case branches. >>>This<<< (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=118759) is a similar shot with manual focus.

Also with dark branches against a bright sky you're getting a good look at chromatic aberration.

The cardinal shot is spectacular. I would love to take a shot like that.

Yes this can happen as well. This is why I use a smaller apeture, so to cover a large dof.

[wiselion]

Thanks it did the same at 500mm. I'll run some more tests and see how it goes. I have a remote release I can use too.

On your 20D it is 800mm, and it will surely do it there as well. Just more so with the 1.4X on.

[lon10c]

Could it be that you zoom in on the Hawk so much there is no resolution left?

Second one down doesn't look like a focus problem.

[foxbat]

Assuming AF has locked on to the bird (did it?) then your long lens technique (http://www.naturephotographers.net/ejp0801-1.html)is far and away the most important factor. At an effective 1120mm even the mirror slap from the camera is going to look like an earthquake through the viewfinder.

[Wazza]

To me that looks like most lens perform when wide open. In your case f5.6 on a f4 lens with 1.4 tc is wide open. It will definately be sharper stopping down 2 (f11), or even f8 at a minimum.