100-400 L IS USM - probs with the sharpness

[tenerife]

My Fav is my 70-200, with i work normally with.
Now i shot a lot - horseriding, windsurfing with the 100 - 400 - and got some problems with the sharpness.....

How are your expiriens with this lens...?

I used it with a one bone tripod....

But most of them unsharp.... and a poor quality...

thanks for your comments

Regards from Tenerife
Klaus

[sGu]

sample shots? camera settings? exif info?

there is 1% chance that it's lens' problem, and 99% times is user's fault, we need more info to help YOU to use it correctly, besides, even if it's lens problem, we won't be able to help you whatsoever, canon technician is the one you want

[Panza]

Det 100-400 is not as sharp as a 400mm prime.. It might be just that.

You can check out the difference here:

http://luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/forgotten-400.shtml

[Jon]

Was IS on, off,or in Pan mode?

[xuxu1]

My Fav is my 70-200, with i work normally with.
Now i shot a lot - horseriding, windsurfing with the 100 - 400 - and got some problems with the sharpness.....

How are your expiriens with this lens...?

I used it with a one bone tripod....

But most of them unsharp.... and a poor quality...

thanks for your comments

Regards from Tenerife
Klaus

Hi Klaus,

Of course it´s hard to tell but i can hardly believe that it´s the lens.

There are a few questions such as:

1) Did you have IS switched on or off when on the monopod?
2) Why did you use a monopod in the first place and not used it hand held with the IS switched on?
3) If the IS was on then was it set to position 1 or 2?
4) Were you panning?
5) .... and so forth.......

As i said before. Very difficult to answer your question due to lack of precise information.

You should know that mine works like a gem and is tack sharp. If it isn´t then it was my own fault (user error).

Regards
Ed

[CyberDyneSystems]

Klaus,

I'd bet you have a bad copy... those of us who have known your work over the years would not be likely to assume "user error"

FYI,. I have had two copies of this lens in the last 2 months.. and seen first hand results from a friend I shoot with side by side.

Both of us regularly use a Monopod (one bone tripod) ... and this combination works very well. I am nt capable of holding a camera on a monopod so steady that the IS goes nutty.. at least not often and when it does I know it.

You SHOULD be able to get VERY good sharp results even at 400mm f/5.6... no problem.

If you are having trouble.. then I would say it is certainly realistic that you have simply got a lemon.

Still it would be nice to see an example photo.

One last thought... When using this lens on a sturdy tripod.. the IS should be turned off...

Is there any chance that with your use of the monopod.. that you may be able to hold it so steady that it is nearly as solid as a three legged tripod?

This could cause trouble...

Hope this helps.

[tenerife]

First of all, thanks, thanks its like talking with a family....

I used the 100-400 with my 1Ds and whit a tripod becorse - if you hold its one - to too ours.... waiting for the right shoot...

Prob is - i dont like the lens - positive thinking missing....

Better to use without stabilizer on a tripod.....?

At the end of all - the focusing, autofocus togehther with the 1Ds its to slowly....

Caramba the 70-200 by 4.5 are just perfect sharpness - with the 1Ds up to Din A 3..

But whats with this lens.....

Basura...?

Regards from Tenerife
Klaus

[eric1]

i'd agree with CDS. get it checked by Canon, especially if it's new. or maybe even exchange it.

[CyberDyneSystems]

The Autofocus is FASTER with the 70-200mm... this is true.

But the sharpness? I think you have a bad lens... :(

Can you get it exchanged?

[xuxu1]

The Autofocus is FASTER with the 70-200mm... this is true.

But the sharpness? I think you have a bad lens... :(

Klaus,

even though i hardly could believe the lens being a bad copy, i also know that your a PRO photographer. You also proved your great skill with many fantastic shots on this forum. So i agree with CDS! It does seem to be one of those (rare?) bad copys of a 100-400L :(

If possible give it back / exchange it for a new good one.

Regards
Ed

PS: I can´t comment on a 70-200L because i don´t have one yet. But AFAIK (almost) everybody reports excellent behavior of that lens!

[Rayz]

I find this lens (100-400 IS) is sharpest at f11. For hand held shots with IS at 400mm you might get by with 1/125th shutter speed, but I prefer to use at least 1/250th. This means I have to set ISO at 400 most of the time. In fact, I'd probably use ISO 800 if it wasn't so noisy on the D60.

I look forward to getting a 20D which will be much more usable at ISO 800.

[defordphoto]

Removed

[defordphoto]

Removed

[defordphoto]

Removed

[timmyquest]

Why that looks like a triplicate

[defordphoto]

Removed

[timmyquest]

I dont seem to have any problems like that, although i have seen many more double posts.

[Rayz]

What's going on here? Is this an example of self censorship? :D

[xuxu1]

What's going on here? Is this an example of self censorship? :D

Some people make up their mind more often than others. That´s why they withdraw quite often what they said or wrote before! :?

Just kidding of course! :lol:

Regards
Ed

[Jon]

Better to use without stabilizer on a tripod.....?


Right - if you're on a tripod and using IS, you're quite likely to have problems. Canon explicitly recommends that you don't use IS on a tripod; in fact some of their IS lenses are set up so when they're on a tripod, IS automagically shuts off.

[Jon]

What's going on here? Is this an example of self censorship? :D

Nah . . . he's just running up his post count (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40735)

:{)#

I retract that. It seems he's decided to leave here for reasons which he considers good and sufficient.

[Rayz]

I don't see any rise in the posts count. RFMSports is stuck on 2758. His ruse does not appear to be working :?:

[leehal]

Each post has the same count on it, every post you make has the total number of posts you have made and is updated ie every post that is made from day 1 has the up to date total.

[xuxu1]

Better to use without stabilizer on a tripod.....?


Right - if you're on a tripod and using IS, you're quite likely to have problems. Canon explicitly recommends that you don't use IS on a tripod; in fact some of their IS lenses are set up so when they're on a tripod, IS automagically shuts off.

AGREE!!!

Klaus you should know that the 100-400L IS lens is a early modell lens! That means that you have to turn of the IS when on a tripod since it does not have the automatic recognition system!

Same situation with following modells:

EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM
and
EF 300 f/4 IS USM

Regards
Ed