A question about the Canon 400 f5.6L lens (IQ)

Sorry I already posted this in another thread, but seeing as the previous post was over a year ago, I thought it may be ignored. So here I am...

I recently purchased the 400 f5.6L, as I wanted a step up quality wise from the Sigma 150-500, and I heard the 400L was incredible. So I did a little test, and it seems there isn't much difference? Could this be an issue with the lens, or the camera? Or is this just how it is?

A couple of 100% crops... All 400mm, 1/320, f/6.3, ISO500

On a 60D body

Feeder is about 25-30ft away (terrible at estimating distance!)

No PP, just RAW to JPEG conversion.

Canon 400 f5.6L tripod mounted

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/oertzeni/820882​9958/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/oertzeni/820773​9999/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/oertzeni/820773​9179/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/oertzeni/820882​9750/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/oertzeni/820882​9538/

Are you hand-holding this?

ss too low. I would use 1/640. Bump up that ISO or do the test in good light. Focus also seems off butbu0d doesn't have MA. That's why I don't like that camera.

I see you using tripod in #1. I would still try the test in good light. Post happenstance and then crop.

uOpt wrote in post #15275833
Are you hand-holding this?

Some were handheld, others tripod mounted. It says about each picture which is which.

bobbyz wrote in post #15275835
ss too low. I would use 1/640. Bump up that ISO or do the test in good light. Focus also seems off butbu0d doesn't have MA. That's why I don't like that camera.

Aah ok. I worry about the ISO going much higher because of the noise.

A starling, same distance, 1/640, f/5.6, ISO1000. After cropping and PP, including noise reduction (about 25 in Lightroom)

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/oertzeni/820787​4741/

look at left side on those metal things. They look more in focus to me than the bird. Maybe I am wrong as on low res screen. Do the test in good light falling on the subject. It should be super sharp at f5.6, like any superstore costing $$$ more.

bobbyz wrote in post #15275861
look at left side on those metal things. They look more in focus to me than the bird. Maybe I am wrong as on low res screen. Do the test in good light falling on the subject. It should be super sharp at f5.6, like any superstore costing $$$ more.

Maybe the AF was off. I'll try again in good light, which won't be today. UK weather!

It is very dark and dingy in the UK at the moment and I think that's why your images are suffering.

1/320 of a second is probably too slow, try bumping your ISO to 800 and aim for a faster shutter speed or try it on a brighter day.

I notice your tripod shot is sharper than handheld, but bear in mind that a bird feeder will probably wobble in the breeze slightly which can introduce small amounts of motion blur, as well as the potential to go in and out of focus.

From personal experience I can tell you the 400 5.6L is sharp wide open. Increase the ISO to get a decent shutter speed. Let's say no lower than 1/500sec. The OS on the Sigma zoom is nice, but it won't get anywhere near the image quality of the Canon prime. Work with it a bit longer to be 100% positive it is not the lens. Sometimes a new lens takes a bit to master.

Thank you much, everyone. I really appreciate your help.

The weather is meant to be nice this weekend, and I'm planning a trip to RSPB Minsmere, so I'll take them both along and see what happens!

I think this is partly down to the sensor cleaning paranoia, and I always freak out that I've damaged something!

the 400L looks to be quite a bit sharper, when you compare the images in two different tabs...if you stop the 150-500OS down to f8, it'd probably be a lot closer...also the sigma is pretty good in the center, it's the edges that do poorly against the L prime...

here's another comparison, looks to be similar to your findings...
https://photography-on-the.net …highlight=400mm​+150-500mm

I went from the Sigma 150-500 to the Canon 400 f5.6L and I am very happy with the image quality of the Canon. It is much better than my 150-500, but my 400 f5.6L needed +5 micro adjustment to shine on my 7D.

You will need to keep your shutter speed higher for hand-holding. When tripod mounted using a remote release will also help minimise vibrations.

This photo was taken with the 400 f5.6L on Monday late in the afternoon. Approximately 4 meters from the feeder.

EOS 7D ISO 1600 1/250 F5.6 Tripod and remote shutter release.

Thank you both. The picture of the blue tit, there is very little noise. I'm sure my 60D would produce a lot more noise at 1600...


Posted from Photography-on-the.net App for Android

slwx wrote in post #15276378
Thank you both. The picture of the blue tit, there is very little noise. I'm sure my 60D would produce a lot more noise at 1600...

Posted from Photography-on-the.net App for Android

if you expose it properly it should look exactly the same (noise wise).

slwx wrote in post #15276378
Thank you both. The picture of the blue tit, there is very little noise. I'm sure my 60D would produce a lot more noise at 1600...


Posted from Photography-on-the.net App for Android

your peanut shots all look under-exposed, which makes noise more prominent...

slwx wrote in post #15276378
Thank you both. The picture of the blue tit, there is very little noise. I'm sure my 60D would produce a lot more noise at 1600...

I used the "Salt & Pepper" noise filter in Paint Shop Pro to remove some of the noise. There would be less noise if I had selectively sharpened the Blue Tit, rather than the whole photo, or used further noise reduction. The photo was also darkened by 1/2 a stop during processing. Exposure to the right (ETTR) of the histogram helps to keep noise down.

Tim