Fuzzy

[Blue Deuce]

I am using a 20d coupled to a Sigma 70 -300 5.6. My wifes family owns a very large ranch in Florida. They have been nice enough to grant me unlimited access to all areas to photograph the diverse wildlife and fauna. Whenever I take a picture of birds or other animals at full zoom they are coming out fuzzy. I am getting opportunities of a lifetime but the quality is disappointing. I believe I have the shutter and aperature settings correct.

Is this due to:

1. Hand holding as opposed to utilizing a monopod ?

2. Inferior lens ?

3. Any other variables ?

[Scottes]

Could be all 3.

1) If you are using shutter speeds of 1/500 or faster then this is probably not the cause. But that depends on you - are you very steady or not? If you have one, take a look at a picture that you took at 1/1000 or faster. If it's soft or fuzzy then it very unlikely that it's camera shake that's causing the problem.

2) I've heard a couple people mention how much they hate this lens. Then again I've heard others say that it is fine.

3) Weather (fog, haze). Focusing on the wrong spot.

Post an example and be sure to list ISO, aperture and shutter settings.

[steven]

One other variable:
Are the animals moving? If yes then you could have focus lock on the spot they were at. Use AI servo