handheld, 200mm, wide open, 100% crop, wow

[willg]

i have a hard time getting good shots with my 70-200 f4 but i am learning...i thought it might be the lens backfocusing because a lot of my shots are just slightly out of focus but then i look at this and i realize its probably my problem

100% crop no processing
http://www.spideronthefloor.com/wow.jpg

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Daaammnnnnn! Sharp sharp sharp! Love the bokeh too! Great shot, and it's amazing what this lens is capable of huh? :) I have it too and love it. As you have proven it's very sharp handheld at 200mm, which makes me wonder how sharp images would be with the IS version! :)

[willg]

yeah i keep thinking i should just send it to canon to have it calibrated anyway..just in case because i paid a lot of money for this lens and i want it to be as good as it can be

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

I don't think that's necessary. My 70-200 f/4 takes some OOF shots too here and there. Especially in low light! Indoor... forget it! This lens can't do it.:cry: Your problems may be due to unstead hands, slow shutter speeds, wrong apeture setting, ect. Make sure it's not one of those first.:lol:

I'm guessing it'd cost you some cash to get it fixed up by canon right?

[condyk]

I dunno ... not sure that's a great image for a 70-200 f4 L. It's pretty decent around the beak area but even there I think you can get sharper and more 3D feel. I reckon this is handheld and perhapsm that's the problem this time. Try mounting it reasonably secure ... maybe a beanbag which is cheap, if you don't have a tripod or monopod, to to see if the dynamics of your shots improve. I would reject that shot myself.

[Tdragone]

Willg;

I also have this lens; and I was just about as frustrated as you were when it was new.

Out of curiosity; have you tried changing the autofocus to center spot only? Once I did that; I haven't had a picture since that I have felt is oof if it focuses where I point the spot and then move to recompose.

I have learned a LOT about this lens while using it and I will admit there is a learning curve on it; but you will figure it out!



-Tom D.

[lomond]

I dunno ... not sure that's a great image for a 70-200 f4 L. It's pretty decent around the beak area but even there I think you can get sharper and more 3D feel. I reckon this is handheld and perhapsm that's the problem this time. Try mounting it reasonably secure ... maybe a beanbag which is cheap, if you don't have a tripod or monopod, to to see if the dynamics of your shots improve. I would reject that shot myself.


Bear in mind, this is a 100% crop and no processing.

The trouble is we don't know where the camera tried to focus on.
Is this crop central or off centre.
Some software ( usually supplied with the camera) can show you where the camera focused.

[condyk]

Cameron

Fair points ... and this is a confusing thread for me.

The title implies the OP thinks this is a WOW shot ... and then RbrtPtikLeoSeny chips in saying what a great shot too, but I don't see it. Then the OP says he thinks there may be a need to send the lens to Canon!!!

I would take some shots on a secure platform in good light using a nice bright and contrasty image and then be careful about where the centre focus point is when shooting. That would be a very simple and useful enough means of assessing without spending ages setting things up.

I get lots of similar shots when light is not so good and I am handholding my Sigma 100-300mm f4. I just chuck them ... not even worth putting through PS. I did put this shot through my usual post processing routine and really most of the subject is OOF to my eyes. A good shot just has an obviously bright and 3D feel to it (Ok, unless it's B&W or whatever :lol: ). I couldn't get this image to look anything other than 1D and OOF.

I hope this is constructive ... apologies if not :o Always hard commenting on someone else's images.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I don't get "wow waht a great shot" out of the title or the post,...

I'm getting "Wow,. what an amazing amount of detail you can get @ 100% with this lens"

Very different thing really.

[lomond]

I agree, Condyke.
Many things can have an effect on focus; lack of light, shutter speed, camera shake, mirror slap, etc.
However, without knowing the focal point, a 100% crop tells me nothing.
If my camera is back focusing I could choose a 100% crop in the image slightly behind the cameras focus and have a perfectly focused 100% crop.

[willg]

crop is centered and there is only the ducks head in the photo..the full frame is
http://www.spideronthefloor.com/duck.jpg

i believe that its pretty damn sharp for zero processing and i have problems getting some pictures that are just not in focus..all handheld but usually at shutter speeds of 1/1000 at least. i am thinking i might be moving the camera slightly between focus confirm. and shutter release which would throw it off. i am also shooting wide open most of the time and that kills the dof so a centimeter of movement after focus would destroy it