Frustrated with 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

I have a Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM Auto focus Lens. The lens is mounted to a Canon 5D. I have owned the lens for a little over a month. I am not happy at all with it, I’ve been using it as a portrait lens in studio and environmental. I have a hard time getting sharp pictures. I’d love to know if it is user error or if there is a problem with the equipment. It’s getting very frustrating I hate losing great shots. I’m handholding and using a tripod doesn’t make any difference. I’d say 30% of the shots are tack sharp.

Pictures (with EXIF)? Is the problem occurring at a specific focal length range or just in general?
Try testing it on a sturdy tripod with MLU, IS off, etc. I'd try wide open and f/8 at different focal lengths

Try in good light. Use batteries or soda cans(if you have some distance) and use a tripod. That should give you a better idea.

Maybe a shot in the dark, but is the IS "spoiling you" and making you a bit careless? Just a thought since I tend to get a little cocky with my fast aperture glass, ignoring most, if not all, general rules re: shutter speeds, etc.

I know it's wierd...but it's just an idea that quickly skimmed my otherwise empty mind.

thank you. I'll run more tests

Issues aside,. this is a very odd choice for a studio portrait lens.

At fractions of the cost you'd get a far more capable lens.. or lenses. 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8 Even the out of this world 85mm f/1.2L (mki) is affordable by comparison.

I'm with CDS - the 28-300mm is really a specialist lens, for tasks such as fast moving photojournalism. It's for when you need wide angle to fairly long telephoto in a single lens on a single body, but the result is a "jack of all trades, master of none" lens.

It's a slow lens - f/4 by 50mm is extremely slow, it's heavy (noticeably heavier than the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, which is a lens I own), the hood has to be very small because of the 28mm end and it's optical performance is mediocre, especially at both extremes. I found it very clumsy to use when I tried handling one, though I am familar with rotary zoom lenses and not push-pull (I own three rotary zoom L lenses - EF 16-35mm f/2.8L, EF 24-70mm f/2.8L, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS).

For situations when no other lens will do, it's great - but if you have the option of splitting the range into two or three, do so. Most people would be better splitting the range with something like EF 24-70mm f/2.8L and EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, which are much faster lenses, too.


As CDS says, Canon sell some prime lenses that should work very well for portraiture and not break the bank - such as the EF 50mm f/1.4 and the EF 85mm f/1.8. I'd sell the 28-300mm and buy more suitable lenses if portraiture really is your main application for the lens.

David

I'm going to say any non-sharp photos are related to the shear length of the lens when used at portrait focal lengths. I'd try the heaviest largest tripod/w collar and more testing first before replacing the lens.

I was going to go with the 24-105 f4 but it was backordered for as much as a month. a fellow photographer told me that his lens of choice in the camera room was the 28-300mm.. so I went with his advice and got it. If it was sharp I'd be thrilled with it.

B&H has the 24-105 in stock and ready to ship...

I've got a brand new 75-300 IS USM that I never taken a picture with yet .. would this be a sharper choice?

Try it...

The 75-300 isn't reknowned for being an ultra-sharp lens... again, try something like the 70-200 zooms or a nice prime..

I'm particularly fond of the 28-135 for studio work. At the studio we keep it racked out and have a head sizer in the camera body. This setup works really well for us. Mounted on a tripod as well...

here are a couple shots with the lens. out side shot at 28mm inside with 2 girls 150mm
I'm sure it will appear softer do to resizing for web.

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