Is this 24-70 lens good enough?

[internationalmanofmystery]

I have tried to use my new Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L wide open a few times but it has always been so soft as to be unusable (imho).

Here is a 100% crop. It's not a subtle problem! The camera was carefully focused manually and on a solid tripod. Trust me, it's not due to camera movement or focus.

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/openapeture.jpg

I don't know about you but I'd call that unusable. What's the point in getting an f2.8 lens if you can't use it wide open?

On Luminous Landscape, the author posted a sample of this same lens at f2.8, centre of image, 100% crop:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/images6/24-70-28-center.jpg

That is a lot better. Do I have a bad sample?

Here is another shot I took an hour later, still on tripod, manually focused, but at f8, 100% crop. No complaints here!

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/my_doorbell_img323.jpg

[LightRules]

i'm assuming you were shooting beyond the lens' MFD? that shot is NOT representative of the 24-70L wide open. the key is consistency...are you getting this KIND of result consistently? don't MF, use centerpt AF and shoot a lot. if this is what you are getting consistently, something's definitely wrong.

[internationalmanofmystery]

i'm assuming you were shooting beyond the lens' MFD? that shot is NOT representative of the 24-70L wide open. the key is consistency...are you getting this KIND of result consistently? don't MF, use centerpt AF and shoot a lot. if this is what you are getting consistently, something's definitely wrong.

First, I have to use manual focus because the autofocus is way off every time. (There was another thread about that). Manual focus works great at f8. It's the open apeture which is causing me problems, consistently. There is a halo around everything.

I find it totally unacceptable, but I wanted to know that they weren't all like that, and that I just had a bad sample.

[Camo 757]

Send it in per your last thread. Something is up.

[LightRules]

return it; if you are getting these kinds of results consistently, as you say, and if AF is way off everytime, your lens is bunk. i assume your other lenses can AF okay (so as to not suspect your camera)...

[Rokkorfan]

Yes, of course there is something wrong. You may have something wrong in your focus registration. If you are getting these results with manual and autofocus then the camera is more likely to blame. Send both camera and lens in to Canon for warranty service.

[Tom W]

Image #1 isn't good at all.

I recommend testing under highly controlled conditions, using AF, mirror lockup, tripod, remote release if you have one, and good light.

If it doesn't pass that, let Canon have it back for a tune-up or send it back to the store for replacement. Either way, show them what's wrong. The retailer may re-sell it if the problem isn't made known.

[Mocking-DX]

i have the same problem with my 24-70
so i resorted to using higher f-stop but still not satisfied
Unfortunately i used it a lot on a wedding and ruined most of my shot

So i sent it for repair in New Jersey last week
Hope to get it back soon

so you might wanna send it to canon also

[summerwind4]

the lens is fine, but the focus calibration is off......don't get any further into this as people are telling you about DOF issues. it's not, the same people have (myself included) shot this lens at similar targets at f/2.8 and not had an issue.
the glass looks to be perfect, but there is a calibration issue going on here.......look at what happened with my 70-200f/4 that Canon just calibrated.
i sent it into them and had it back within a week.

http://www.pbase.com/summerwind4/update70-200

look at the full size shots to see what i'm talking about.

i ran into this with my 24-70 and just as the 70-200 was calibrated, my 24-70 was as well

[internationalmanofmystery]

look at the full size shots to see what i'm talking about.

Hi Summerwind4. Looks like we're on two of the same forums ;)

Thanks for the link. That's a lovely result second time around.