I need a lot of help.

What am I doing wrong.I can't get good sharp images.Focus was on gooses eye.Taken with a 20D and canon 70-200 f/2.8L.Is it out of focus,motion blur,to high contrast?Shot was hand held. 100% crop with no resizing.Most of my shots come out like this.Very little keepers.Also no PP was done.

Settings:
1/400 Shutter speed
5.0 ap.
Evaluative metering
ISO 200
200 mm

Thanks Jim

HI Jim, Have you tried a tripod? I've been told the longer your lens and if you shoot at the end of the focal reach(200mm) just pressing the shutter can cause blur. Breathing too. I'm no expert. I'm a NEWBIE.Good luck
Jenny

My best guess harsh afternoon sun shallow dof. It looks like the bright sun is washing away the details of the subject. Choose earlier or later part of the day or wait till the clouds pass over the sun. Since you are shoot at iso w/ an IS lens why not take advantage of IS and slow down the shutter and close down the aperature a little maybe to f11.

W/ IS and at 1/400sec that wouldn't be an issue. The rule of thumb for shakes are 1/focal length so in his case is 1/200 sec. and with IS he can go 2 to 3 stop lower as long as the subject is not moving.

I don't have the IS version.

Jim

Thanks lostdoggy, I'll make a note.
Peace.
BG

Ooops I saw the Is next to it and assumed that it was an IS version not to think that it was "Is" as in the word "is". Me Duhh

Here is another shot with the same settings under different conditions.Does this look any sharper?Focus was on mossy stuff.100% crop and no PP.

Jim