ef 100 f/2.8 macro sharpness?

I have shot about 75 photos with my new 100 f/2.8 macro. All the photos, at various apertures, shutter speeds and ISO rating look very soft. What should I expect from this lens?

Are all the shots in 1:1 macro mode (ie shortest focus distance) ?
Are they all autofocus?
Tried any normal shots- ie 10 to 15 feet away with manual focus?
The shots should be sharp. If you are taking macro shots with it you may be fighting with the extremely shallow DOF and perhaps the autofocus.
Might be an idea to post a couple of the soft shots.
Brian V.

I have taken some normal head shots. That is where I started getting concerned. Those shots were taken on the closest focusing mode. I will play some more and see what I get.

Judging from your other equipment, you know what a sharp photo should look like. If your macro isn't giving you pictures at least as sharp as your zooms at normal distances with a moderate aperture, then something is definitely wrong. I would exchange it.

Samples? EXIF data?

If it is the USM macro it should be sharper than your other lenses except perhaps the 50mm.

I would do some controlled tests with a flat subject like newsprint and compare to your 70-200 zoom @ 100mm. Use a tripod and cable release etc.

They may both seem equally sharp on a 20D as the difference tends to show up at the edges of full frame.

If the 100mm is not at least as sharp as the zoom you have a problem.

Be careful with the depth of field if you are focusing close. At f2.8 the DOF is VERY small. this can cause pics to look oof.

My macro is probably the sharpest lens in my collection. You should be getting crisp shots from this lens with the right shooting technique. I'm assuming you're using some post-processing sharpening, but a shot with EXIF data would be helpful in assisting you with your problem.

Mark