70-200 f/2.8

[NILOLIGIST]

Such a great lens...

http://www.pbase.com/image/30132121.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/30132112.jpg

NiL,

[yb98]

when I look at the reviews about this lens, I can read that this lens is very sharp, but when I look at the samples they seem soft, especially your second one... don't know what to think ???

[timmyquest]

I think lord Pekka would disagree

*all of the following shots were taken at varies f/stops and at various focal ranges. They apear in his mini-review of the MKII
http://photography-on-the.net/1DmarkII/

© Pekka www.photography-on-the.net
http://photography-on-the.net/1DmarkII/markIIfiles/V8O0400_small.jpg

© Pekka www.photography-on-the.net
http://photography-on-the.net/1DmarkII/markIIfiles/HV8O0648_small.jpg

© Pekka www.photography-on-the.net
http://photography-on-the.net/1DmarkII/markIIfiles/HV8O0636_small.jpg

© Pekka www.photography-on-the.net
http://photography-on-the.net/1DmarkII/markIIfiles/HV8O0032_small.jpg


© Pekka www.photography-on-the.net
http://photography-on-the.net/1DmarkII/markIIfiles/HV8O0705_small.jpg

There is that age old saying in photography, well many of them but they all have the same meaning this is my version.

The greatest photographer in the world can make an amazing shot with a cheap point and shoot, but the worst photographer in the world will get crap with the best.

I'm not taking away from the content of the photograph at all, great captures, however...they are soft. Yet (as pekka has no issues proving) it is of no fault to the equipment.

[NILOLIGIST]

I would agree. I couldn't get him as I wanted too. But, it is warming up. I don't shoot as good as others so the results I get differ. I did take some others of people at a wedding and they are VERY SHARP. Sharpness comes from being able to handle the lens which is very heavy. I do better when the subject is not moving. Although I know how to use the IS, I don't seem to lock the focus fast enough to get the sharper images. The lens is way too heavy for me to hold, I am WEAK!! LOL

You think the lens is not sharp it is, what you see is not properly focuses shots.

I will post the images I feel are sharper but I do love the lens and I did like Egret which I thought it was a crane.

Thanks for your input.

NiL,

[timmyquest]

As i said they are wonderful pictures, but based on what i see in the back of the second, well...i think you had other things to be doing ;-).

[NILOLIGIST]

Thank you. LOL...I was at the Botanical garden looking for flowers or bees to shoot. Then a wedding came along and I did some shooting. While I had the 85 f/1.2 on the camera here he comes along. I ran and changed lenses and I was hurried and rushed. It was so unexpected. Then when I thought I had him in focus I really didn't. I think unless you get a bad lens, if the photos aren't sharp it is the person not getting a good lock on the focus.

I seem to never get it right but I am still here. I do much better with the people shots and I will improve. Another thing, overcast days kill me and they affect my mood.

No excuses though, I agree the shots are soft but I love the lens. They will get better.

NiL,

[scottbergerphoto]

Nil,
The problem is that you have too many great lenses to get proficient with all of them. Just pack up two or three and drop them off to me at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. I'll give them a good home. :D :D
Regards,
Scott

[GenEOS]

NILOO,
What are the particulars of the shots?

I know my first rounds with the Mark II resulted in some darker shots.
These look dark to me.
I made the mistake of trusting the lcd screen, bad deal.
But for some reason, I have to make the mistake to learn.

Looks like you may have shot at a lower ISO. I have been leaning on the 400-600 ISO range pretty hard for bird shots to crank up shutter speed.

I would also choose center point and expand it in the custom function.
If the bird is still, use single shot mode and trane in on the eye. You will also need a little smaller f-stop to make sure the bird is in focus on all parts...

my 2 pennies worth.

[NILOLIGIST]

GenEOS,

Cute name!! Well that day was HECTIC. There was a wedding there and I was shooting with the 85 f/1.2 then here comes this beautiful white egret...So I had to scramble get my bag and the lens on. I started shooting really fast to catch him. I missed. It was overcast and I didn't catch him. I just got the lens two days before and didn't have anytime to play with it, it will get better.

One thing I have found out, neat image makes the shots look softer. I only use remove noise now, not the entire profile. I have to play with it more to get better results.

Thank you for the input, it is always welcomed.

Here are some more shots I think these are really sharp!

http://www.pbase.com/image/30253137.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/image/30253175.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/image/30253130.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/image/30253126.jpg

NiL,

[nemesis099]

That second set of shots looks much better. I can understand about being unprepared for something like a bird showing up. I had the same thing happen when I was just out with my family. I left my zoom lense in the room and didn't have time to get it. :(

[NILOLIGIST]

nemesis099,

Yeah it happens. You have to be ready at all times. I do try but it was hard to shift gears. I wanted to shoot the bride and the bird...LOL

Hard choices.

Well I think the next set of photos came out better. I do love this lens.

NiL,

[defordphoto]

The shots of the bird look like it was cloudy which reduces contrast and perceived sharpness. I am very confident that if you took those two photos, reprocessed them, reset white balance and kicked up some USM like 100/.015/0 two or three times then you'd have an extremely sharp photograph.

However, not every photo everyone shoots has to be cut-your-finger-till-it-bleeds-sharp. In those two shots I think the softness adds to the feel of the photo and to the feel of the day. The bride in background is awesome. Bokeh is sweet.

Your subsequent shots show the lens and the MKII can create photos so real they make you hungry for a juicy, red apple. I can almost smell them.

[NILOLIGIST]

Jim,

You are right, the day was very overcast. I was running to catch the bird and there was so much going on, no excuse of course but those were the factors. Since, the photos have been vrey sharp and I love this lens.

I am glad to know that I am not SO BAD, that I should turn over my L- lens collection to Scott.

:)

NiL,