Just went through 2 100-400L lenses.

Bought a new Canon 100-400L lens yesterday. Shot two hundred pictures and couldn't get a sharp picture to save me. None out of the lot. Took it back and exchanged it for another one. Shot over 200 hundred pictures with it today. Got 2 sharp pictures from it. I'm actually laughing because my 7D eats lenses. This is now the third time I've had a lens my camera doesn't like. With My first 24-105L I had the same problem. Pictures just come out looking all smudged. I love my 7D but I'm convinced Canon knows there is a problem with more than just a few 7D's not liking certain lenses. So now I'm back to the store on Monday to exchange it for a 300mm f/4L IS. Well below is one of the only three shots I got that was sharp. At least the lens left me something to remember it by.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/25261775@N02/6​906027532/

The fact that you're getting good shots at all--it's going to make people ask if technique isn't the bigger issue here. Maybe it's just back or front focusing? Your 7d can handle MA, if that is the case. Maybe you're not used to the 2-stop IS of the 100-400? The 4-stop 70-200 f4 IS is much easier to handle, and it's lighter.

I think you're prematurely blaming the 7d and the 100-400s. You haven't confirmed what types of tests you've run. You haven't confirmed settings. If you're shooting 1/250s shots and expecting perfection, you may be sadly mistaken.

I had a similar problem when I first got my 7D; turned out to be the camera, not the lenses. Sent the camera in for some adjustments and haven't had a problem since then.

both lenses you mentioned were IS, if you're shooting tripod mounted you're making sure that IS is OFF, right?

Actually many of the shots were at 1/2500 and 1/3200 of a second. I know many will have there recomendations on how to help, but I'm actually not looking for any help. I know there are a lot of 7D's and 100-400 lenses making beautiful pictures, but mine won't be one of them. The 7D is well documented all over the internet with lens and body issues. My local pro shop has taken back three 7D's for this exact same issue. I have experienced this first hand with my first 24-105L. I've been shooting with my 7D for sometime now and rarely have a problem, other than is just doesn't like certain lenses. I don't know why, and no one who has had these problems can explain it. I don't for one minute think the lens is bad. I've ran enough tests on tripod, off tripod, IS on, IS off to know the lens is probably fine. But in the real world, 99% of my pictures were out of focus with both lenses, no matter what I did. The first lens had a obvious front focus issue. This one has the typical smudged look that the 7D is infamous for.

I'm not worried, I will switch to the 300 f/4L and everything will probably be fine. If not, I smell a 5DIII in my future. LOL

Are you shooting raw or jpg? How are you evaluating sharpness (100% zoom)? Do your other lenses produce sharp images or are all of them soft?

Can you post up a sample of a unsharp pic with EXIF intact? I too struggled with the 100-400 when coupled with my 40D. Sent it to Canon a couple times for adjustment and they made it better but it never was perfect. Then I got the 50D and was able to MFA the lens. What a difference. My soft 100-400 not is a very sharp 100-400.

Hitthespot wrote in post #14222607
Actually many of the shots were at 1/2500 and 1/3200 of a second. I know many will have there recomendations on how to help, but I'm actually not looking for any help. I know there are a lot of 7D's and 100-400 lenses making beautiful pictures, but mine won't be one of them. The 7D is well documented all over the internet with lens and body issues. My local pro shop has taken back three 7D's for this exact same issue. I have experienced this first hand with my first 24-105L. I've been shooting with my 7D for sometime now and rarely have a problem, other than is just doesn't like certain lenses. I don't know why, and no one who has had these problems can explain it. I don't for one minute think the lens is bad. I've ran enough tests on tripod, off tripod, IS on, IS off to know the lens is probably fine. But in the real world, 99% of my pictures were out of focus with both lenses, no matter what I did. The first lens had a obvious front focus issue. This one has the typical smudged look that the 7D is infamous for.

I'm not worried, I will switch to the 300 f/4L and everything will probably be fine. If not, I smell a 5DIII in my future. LOL

Again, why not have the camera looked at instead of playing the lens carousel? I haven't had a problem with it "disliking" any lens I've used on it ever since I got the body adjusted.

Prior to that, I had the same thing you're talking about...even in controlled circumstances, some shots would come out 'smeared' [not motion blur, but like the lens had vaseline on it] and others would come out crystal clear, even with the same settings and setup.

I always shoot raw. I wouldn't want to start filling this thread up fuzzy pictures, but I would be happy to send anyone who PM's me their email a copy of some examples with exif information attached.

You MA your Zoom lens? According to a bulletin I read from Canon you cannot effectively MA a Zoom Lens. This is intended for Primes only. When you do you are only making the focal length you are adjusting the lens at better? The lens must have been exactly out of focus at every focal length the exact same amount. I thought that was highly unlikely. Anyway the 100-400 I have on the camera right now is fine at 100 all the way to 250 I'm guessing. It only starts looking bad twards the long end.

Snydremark wrote in post #14222671
Again, why not have the camera looked at instead of playing the lens carousel? I haven't had a problem with it "disliking" any lens I've used on it ever since I got the body adjusted.

Prior to that, I had the same thing you're talking about...even in controlled circumstances, some shots would come out 'smeared' [not motion blur, but like the lens had vaseline on it] and others would come out crystal clear, even with the same settings and setup.

Thank you for confirming exactly what I'm talking about. I highly appreciate that. I may just send the camera in, OR like I said previously, I have a crystal ball and see a, looks like a 5D mark III. LOL

Thanks

First, if the lens is capable of even one sharp picture, then the problem is certainly either technique or calibration. A duff lens is duff 100% of the time. An out of calbration lens is going to be bad only most of the time.

Second, the best way to buy any Canon lens that has a reputation for sample variation is used. Get sample images and buy from an experienced user who can vouch for the lens. I'd almost pay retail for a used lens from an experienced and trustworthy photographer on a lens like the 24-70 or 100-400.

That is in fact how I got my 100-400. It's used (heavily used) with paint worn off, but it is very sharp.

My 7D and 100-400L lived together well without MA. I was never happy with it in AI Servo though or with the 70-200 II. I had a 5Dii that would hit just as well. And I'm with the OP, why does everyone think they need to find the fault. Like it's user error. I would keep the 100-400L and get a body that works. Mine worked on my 40D just as well as my 50D and 5dii. No MA on any.

I cannot speak for the 100-400L because I have used it only once. The results of that use were good but, not stupendous...

I do use the 300mm f/4L IS lens on my 7D and they seem to get along very well together.

My 7D also likes my 70-200mm f/4L IS. my 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and my 400mm f/5.6L lenses...

One thing that I really like about the 300mm and 400mm L lenses is the built-in sliding lens hood. This is not like choosing a car because of the position of the cup holders, the sliding lens hoods are really a joy with which to work. I wish my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens also had a sliding lens hood...

JeffreyG wrote in post #14223125
First, if the lens is capable of even one sharp picture, then the problem is certainly either technique or calibration. A duff lens is duff 100% of the time. An out of calbration lens is going to be bad only most of the time.

Second, the best way to buy any Canon lens that has a reputation for sample variation is used. Get sample images and buy from an experienced user who can vouch for the lens. I'd almost pay retail for a used lens from an experienced and trustworthy photographer on a lens like the 24-70 or 100-400.

That is in fact how I got my 100-400. It's used (heavily used) with paint worn off, but it is very sharp.

That is an interesting point of view, and maybe a valid one. I always figured anyone selling a used lens just might want to get rid of a lemon, and i could just end up with someone elses problem.

Good 100-400L should be able to get you something like this: