Canon 75-300mm IS lens

[Jetmech1]

Since it will be a while before I can get me an "L" replacement for this lens. What are the best settings for this lens to give me the sharpest results? I use this lens a lot to take aviation pics. Some have come out great, but most are just dull and lack the sharpness I want. So far it is not very sharp at 300mm. I try to keep it around 200 when possible. I also try to stop in down some, which seems to help.

Thanks

[Barb42]

I could never find anything consistant with t his lens and sold it. Not that all the images were bad, they just weren't good.

[kawter2]

I must have got a good copy, but it aint no L either...

My recipe
Try to at least stop it down to f8
Use USM wisely (not a LOT just wisely)
Shoot for web only ;)

[Longwatcher]

It has worked best for me in the past at f8 to f16, but I have also noticed that it is very sun angle dependent. Try to keep the sun behind you and the lens works much better. This tends to tell me that the lens let too much light bounce around inside it. I also recommend using a lens hood with this lens (which I had to buy separately).

Otherwise, just hang in there until you can get the 70-200/2.8L IS.

Just my opinion and experience which is a bit dated. (Although I still have it last time I used my 75-300 was about 9 months ago (or more))

[Jetmech1]

Thanks for all the replies.

[FlyingPete]

I find it OK if I keep my shutter speed up, and as you said not zoom all the way to 300.

It is my next lens to replace though.

[Simon Spiers]

It's ok if you use less than the max zoom and stop down to f9!
What does that tell you?

[Jetmech1]

It's ok if you use less than the max zoom and stop down to f9!
What does that tell you?

That it is time to buy some L glass............................

[Croasdail]

I bought both my 10d and the lens used. At first they were less then perfect - but I had them calibrated and now they are really good - good enough that anything 8x10 and under - it look dead on. I shoot a lot with IS off - and this seems to improve its ability to track when camera is in servo mode. It's not L glass - but no one is paying me most of the time either.

[Jetmech1]

I bought both my 10d and the lens used. At first they were less then perfect - but I had them calibrated and now they are really good - good enough that anything 8x10 and under - it look dead on. I shoot a lot with IS off - and this seems to improve its ability to track when camera is in servo mode. It's not L glass - but no one is paying me most of the time either.

How do you get them calibrated?

Thanks