Canon 17-40 question

I have a brand new Canon 17-40 that I'm considering buying.
Used it for the first time today since I received it.
Downloaded the pictures on my desktop computer and while looking them over, I noticed something in some of the pictures that doesn't look right.
The pictures are of some lobster boats and what doesn't look right is the painted white lines on the hull of the boats.
Other than saying that part of the white lines look distorted, I don't know how else to describe what I see.
I would like to post one of the pictures to see what people think.
Under what section of this site should I post the picture?
The picture would be an attachment as I don't use online picture host sites.

Thanks

canongear wrote in post #16099824
I have a brand new Canon 17-40 that I'm considering buying.
Used it for the first time today since I received it.
Downloaded the pictures on my desktop computer and while looking them over, I noticed something in some of the pictures that doesn't look right.
The pictures are of some lobster boats and what doesn't look right is the painted white lines on the hull of the boats.
Other than saying that part of the white lines look distorted, I don't know how else to describe what I see.
I would like to post one of the pictures to see what people think.
Under what section of this site should I post the picture?
The picture would be an attachment as I don't use online picture host sites.

Thanks

You could certainly post it here - I don't think anybody would have a problem with that since you are trying to explain a characteristic.

Regarding the appearance of the white lines, are they really distorted or was the user shooting it at 17mm and not aiming perfectly straight at that portion of the boat? With any UWA you need to aim straight on to avoid perspective distortion which is normal for that type of lens.

The picture is sooc.
It looks a lot better original size when viewing it with Canon ZoomBrowser EX than how it looks as an attachment so it might be difficult to make out what I want to point out.
When viewing this image using Canon ZoomBrowser EX, the top two white lines on the blue boat appear a bit distorted. Mainly in the area at the end of the lines towards the boat name.
In ZoomBrowser there is a jagged appearance.
But, when I magnify that area of the image, they don't seem as distorted.

Viewing the image with the default Windows XP image viewing program on my computer, the lines appear blurry.

Hand held manual exposure
fl 27mm
ss 1/200
iso 160
It was a bit windy at the time so maybe camera shake is the cause for what I see but what I see when viewing the image with ZoomBrowser, it's more distortion than blurry. If that makes any sense.

I agree that the white lines on the blue boat curve as you stated in your first post. That is because the painter did it that way to match the hull of the boat. Also, it's possible that he didn't paint the lines in a perfect fashion. Is that what you are referring to?

I agree with sapearl. If you look at the waterline against the bottom of the boats, it looks fine/straight (to me). Unless you are talking about something else that you will need to point out more, the lines look fine as that is how they were painted.

sapearl wrote in post #16099948
I agree that the white lines on the blue boat curve as you stated in your first post. That is because the painter did it that way to match the hull of the boat. Also, it's possible that he didn't paint the lines in a perfect fashion. Is that what you are referring to?

I don't think it's the curve of the lines or quality of the paint job.
The only other way I can describe what I'm trying to point out is that there is an area in those lines that have a pp over sharpened look to them.
I've noticed it on all the boats.
I can notice the same distortion on the white cables by the side ladder towards the back of the 'Greatful One" red boat .

Probably due to the size limit of the picture, I don't see what you are trying to explain. Can you do a crop of the image area/s of what you are talking about and post that? Maybe we can tell something from that.

17-40L isn't the best option for a 40D regardless...you should look at a 17-55IS instead

DreDaze wrote in post #16100525
17-40L isn't the best option for a 40D regardless...you should look at a 17-55IS instead

+1. I must agree.

Or if you're looking for a wide angle, the canon 10-22 or the sigma 8-16 if you want wider.

DreDaze, SamFrench, and drzenitram yoy are correct that there are better lenses for a crop camera (faster, IS, sharper across the entire frame), but that still does not answer the OP's question about the lines.

Though again, from the picture posted, I am not seeing what canongear is talking about.

canongear wrote in post #16099994
I don't think it's the curve of the lines or quality of the paint job.
The only other way I can describe what I'm trying to point out is that there is an area in those lines that have a pp over sharpened look to them.
I've noticed it on all the boats.
I can notice the same distortion on the white cables by the side ladder towards the back of the 'Greatful One" red boat .

Really sorry, but I just don't see the issue.

What's interesting though is your comment "have a pp over sharpened look to them. I've noticed it on all the boats." The lens itself would in no way impart that type of look. I'm just wondering if it's some way your s/w is displaying the image in conjunction with the type of monitor you're using to view it.

I've examined it on my 24" calibrated IPS monitor as well as another and just don't see the issues.

jimewall wrote in post #16101044
DreDaze, SamFrench, and drzenitram yoy are correct that there are better lenses for a crop camera (faster, IS, sharper across the entire frame), but that still does not answer the OP's question about the lines.

Though again, from the picture posted, I am not seeing what canongear is talking about.

i figured the lines were just painted that way...

op, take a crop of just the area you are trying to point out...

DreDaze wrote in post #16101488
i figured the lines were just painted that way...

op, take a crop of just the area you are trying to point out...

That is what sapearl and I said, but the op said it was a different issue. I also suggested take a crop of said area and posti t. He/She just has not done so - yet.

Has anyone considered the fact that the problem occurs when viewed in zoom browser? I've noticed zoom browser does lots of fun things with contrasty lines. Especially when viewed at less than 100%. The blurry issue appears when viewed in the Win XP image viewer, so same image area but different issue.

OP... have you tried other software?