70-200 2.8 IS, soft @ 2.8?

My other lenses (Tokina 12-24, Tamron 17-50 and Canon nifty fifty) work great on my 400D.
The first two are tack sharp wide open. The 50mm @ F2.2 is sharp enough.
The only lens that keeps me worried is the 70-200 2.8 IS.

aRJun wrote in post #9720197
How would you tell ver1 from ver2? I'm on the verge of getting this myself, but Amazon says 'Date first available at Amazon.com: September 22, 2002'

About $1000 price difference.
Mk 2, 3 etc are marked with roman numbers on the lens barrel: II, III...

ManuGD wrote in post #9719569
Thanks for commenting.
I took some shots of a building (infinity focused), let me know what you guys think:

[...]

Should I be worried?

Thanks.

Infinity focused ?
This is not a proper test... and btw the shots do not seem to be at infinity.
Did you remove the filter ?

At f/4, in the center, a good copy of the lens must be almost indistinguishable from a very good prime.

I suggest repeating the test NOT at infinity.
The buildings are ok as a test subject.

A good copy of MK1 is significantly sharper. Canon can fix yours.

Wide open, 2.8, 200mm, handheld.

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CheshireCat wrote in post #9722705
Infinity focused ?
This is not a proper test... and btw the shots do not seem to be at infinity.
Did you remove the filter ?

At f/4, in the center, a good copy of the lens must be almost indistinguishable from a very good prime.

I suggest repeating the test NOT at infinity.
The buildings are ok as a test subject.

Damn, focused at infinity. I'm not great thinking in English.
Yes, the shots were done without the filter.

Savas K wrote in post #9722740
A good copy of MK1 is significantly sharper. Canon can fix yours.
Wide open, 2.8, 200mm, handheld.
Detail of the image above:
Grab shot of a couple walking:
A bird from the other day:

Wow. If I compare my copy to yours, mine is absolute crap. I think I need to send it to be fixed, but I don't know if I'd have enough money to do it.

Thanks guys.

I don't think it costs a lot to get it calibrated, they may even do it for free.

Dave

I apologize as I read only the first page. I had the same lens and was fairly sharp on my 1dsmk2, and razor sharp on my 40d. I switched to the f/4 70-200 version and it is razor sharp on my 1dsmk2 and fairly sharp on my 40d. Do you know anybody with a canon you could put the lens on and rule out that it is the lens?

ManuGD wrote in post #9722802
I'm not great thinking in English.

Don't sweat it -- neither are most people in the US

ManuGD wrote in post #9722802
Damn, focused at infinity. I'm not great thinking in English.

Don't worry, neither am I
But I did understand you, and I am really saying that the lens does not seem to be focused at infinity.

Theoretically, a lens focused at infinity cannot resolve any detail smaller than its aperture no matter the distance.
In your case, 200mm/2.8 = 71.4 mm (~2.8 inches), so I doubt the lens could be able to resolve the holes in the balcony with that resolution.
Which ironically means that is a supernaturally great shot with the lens @ infinity.
If you are sure the lens was focused at infinity, then I am really puzzled and I'm going to check this theory a little better in practice tomorrow

ManuGD wrote in post #9722802
Wow. If I compare my copy to yours, mine is absolute crap. I think I need to send it to be fixed, but I don't know if I'd have enough money to do it.

If the lens warranty has not yet expired, then Canon should fix it free of charge. Call them.

CheshireCat wrote in post #9723413
If the lens warranty has not yet expired, then Canon should fix it free of charge. Call them.

The problem is that I bought the lens in B&H last summer, when I went to NY on holidays.
So I don't have any European/Spanish warranty (only the US one), and it would cost me money.

ManuGD wrote in post #9726116
The problem is that I bought the lens in B&H last summer, when I went to NY on holidays.
So I don't have any European/Spanish warranty (only the US one), and it would cost me money.

I'd send it to the Canon Service center nearest you...its less than a year old, under warranty, and my guess is that they would treat you with equal service as if you purchased it down the street from you.

It is quite soft compared to the normal copy... you'll feel soo much better after you do this.

Finally my lens is back.
I went to the Canon Service center in Barcelona and told them my problem.
They said the international warranty (USA&Canada) was also valid here in Spain, because it's an L lens.
Wow, I was so happy when they told me that.
They adjusted it, cleaned it, and done all that was necessary, and now it's sharper.
Not razor sharp, but well, I'm happy with the new results.

General view:

Looks about right. Glad you got it sorted out!

That's it. Now you have no excuses

[QUOTE]Infinity focused ?
This is not a proper test... and btw the shots do not seem to be at infinity./QUOTE]

What was meant my this is when taking some test shots you focus out to infinity before refocusing on the object. I always do this if not the camera might not move the focus at all and hence no reason to make 5 or so shots. By doing this you get the camera to refocus and can see where the focus falls each time.

Kinda like sighting in a gun. You take a few shots and see where the grouping is and then adjust. The lens and camera won't focus at the same exact spot every time.

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