28-135 IS Recent Softness

[steibeldj]

Either I'm just getting pickier, my hands are getting shakier, or my 28-135 IS is exibiting some strange softness. I did some around the house tests (I can post pics later) where outside under sunlight ISO 200, 1/400 f8 - f11 approx 90mm and with the IS on and pretty steady handheld technique I got soft / slightly blurry pictures of stationary objects. So at this point I'm thinking it is the AF.

Inside, with the flash on I was able to get sharp images at 90mm f6.3 ISO 200. Now I think it can't be the AF. What is going on here? Is my handheld technique just that bad? What does the camera do when the flash is selected? How does it determine shutter speed in Auto mode or in Program mode?

[steibeldj]

Oh, yeah, I did not set up the tripod yet. This was discovered in the evening reviewing pictures of the day.

[Medic1]

Interested to hear what the answers are....I was thinking about buying this lens soon.

[SDK^]

Without sample images it's hard to say anything.
My experience of the 28-135 IS lens was soft images though, especially between 28-35mm.