70-200 L IS soft or not

[sony23]

Hi new to the forum and have a question, I just got a Canon ef 70-200 L IS and I cannot get a sharp picture from it, have tried focusing tests and the pictures are soft, Is this picture soft.

1/1250
Shutter Priority
f.2.8
iso 400
195mm

handheld with IS on she was standing still.
slightly overcast but bright, should it be sharper?.

http://www.goodwoodrestoration.co.uk/photos/1.jpg

http://www.goodwoodrestoration.co.uk/photos/2.jpg

[Nightcrawler]

It looks pretty good I suppose considering you are shooting the lens wide open. What were the results of the focus tests.

[Spatch]

Welcome,

If the second picture is a 100% crop then I would have said it looks OK.

[Sean-Mcr]

I have to say that it looks pretty good to me

[sony23]

Thanks for replying, I am just uploading some more focus tests but it looks like it is front focusing, will post a pic in a few moments.

thanks

[defordphoto]

There is nothing wrong with that lens. You can see every hair on the girl's head.

[TheObiJuan]

Take a crop from the top of her head. The indivual stray hairs look crisp.

[sony23]

Focus test shows front focusing

http://www.goodwoodrestoration.co.uk/photos/focus.jpg

[pcasciola]

Ok, I don't get it. What's the gag? It's not April fools day again already is it? :rolleyes:

That last post does look like you are front focusing a bit, but that shot of the girl looks pretty sharp to me.

[sony23]

I just noticed that at 2.8 its out of focus and at 5.6 the focus is better but still not focused properly.

[sony23]

That picture of the girl was one of 4 pictures I took and that was the best one in focus. All other pictures are like they are ever front focusing or out of focus, if you look at the focus chart I just posted that was on a trypod and its out of focus? any idears will I have to send this back.

[sony23]

crop of the top of her hair as requested
its not sharp?


http://www.goodwoodrestoration.co.uk/photos/5.jpg

[defordphoto]

I rely on focus charts like I rely on my government to spend my tax money wisely and thrifty.

In the real-world shot, the one of the girl, the focus is perfect. If you don't like the way it's focusing then take the lens back or get ready to send the whole mess back to Canon and be without for at least 2 weeks.

Even with the advances of AF, not every single shot will be in perfect focus. That's a simple fact of life. Yes, 99% of the shots like the one of the girl, should be in focus. Post one of the OOF shots along with focus point(s).

[defordphoto]

crop of the top of her hair as requested
its not sharp?

It most certainly is sharp.

[sony23]

and at f/5.6 the focus is getting better?


http://www.goodwoodrestoration.co.uk/photos/56.jpg

[RichardtheSane]

Was the girl walking at the time?

It all looks sharp to me.

[defordphoto]

Get rid of the charts and go shoot something your camera/lens can actually focus on. The camera needs contrast to focus properly and those charts aren't going to do it.

[sony23]

oof picture


http://www.goodwoodrestoration.co.uk/photos/6.jpg




http://www.goodwoodrestoration.co.uk/photos/7.jpg

[sony23]

No she was standing still.


Was the girl walking at the time?

It all looks sharp to me.

[defordphoto]

Looks like she was moving and your shutter speed was slow. Her hand is really blurry. What was the speed on that shot?

[sony23]

shutter speed was 1/320 and she was standing still she had just turned around and saw me with the camera pointing at her.


Looks like she was moving and your shutter speed was slow. Her hand is really blurry. What was the speed on that shot?

[drisley]

I would say the first picture is fine.
This last one, like RFM said, could be motion blur because her hand does show movement.

[schmoelzel]

If you think there is something wrong with the lens (and the first shot), send it to me......I'll make sure there are sharp shots coming out of it!! :D The second shot is just plain out of focus.....don't worry, we all have these kind pics (well except for Drisley!!). Don't rely too much on focus tests unless all your shots look like the 2nd.........the first shot is great as far as sharpness goes.

[felix21685]

the focus chart was also not perfectly straight, square and true..
if you dont like it give it to me :) i'll use it

[drisley]

If you think there is something wrong with the lens (and the first shot), send it to me......I'll make sure there are sharp shots coming out of it!! :D The second shot is just plain out of focus.....don't worry, we all have these kind pics (well except for Drisley!!). Don't rely too much on focus tests unless all your shots look like the 2nd.........the first shot is great as far as sharpness goes.

:lol: :lol:

[lostdoggy]

Maybe you just holding the camera TOO still???HeHeHe

[lancea]

Look at that first shot - see how her top is sharp but her face is soft? That's just the way that women are. If you want to test the sharpness of your lens, you'll have to use a male subject then you'll see all the ugly imperfections.

[Persian-Rice]

Looks fine, there might be a tiny bit of back focus at first glimpse. 100% crop, looking at the top right, her hair is sharper. But your test show otherwise, it shows front focus.

Second set is just motion blur......she is moving. Besides the fact that you can tell it's motion blur and not focus issue, just by the way it looks.

BTW, if you are needing to make 100% crops and still getting fine details, you are expecting too much unless you own a $3000 prime, even then it wont be perfect. The lens looks pretty good. There MAY be a little bit of backfocus, but it doesn't look severe at all. Nothing you should be concerned about.

[paulhillion]

Looks fine to me! Try to stop staring at your monitor looking for problems when there's almost certainaly nothing wrong, get out and start enjoying what is a fantastic lens :D

[pierrot]

Seems that the blur comes from camera or girl movement (or both) in this last example, IMHO...

[sony23]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I think I will keep it for a few days and see how I get on with it.

Bruce

[kenyc]

I think you better send it back. Money-back unconditional guarantee if not satisfied. :)

KAC

[C.S.I.]

There is nothing wrong with that lens. You can see every hair on the girl's head.




aGreed:rolleyes: