Sigma 100-300 F4 DG -- Canon Lenses in photography-on-the.net forums

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Sep 08, 2006 16:18 | #1

I got this lens last week and took it to Marwell zoo to try out, I had the sigma 1.4 converter attached and it was not the sunniest day so I had the iso on 200 and this pic was taken at 420mm at 1/250 f5.6

Now this photo reflects all taken with the lens and the photos are not as sharp as id expected.

Is it because of the lack of light and the fact I used a monopod

the 2nd pic is a crop

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-MasterChief-

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Sep 08, 2006 16:20 | #2

IMHO, 1/250th is too slow if youre shooting at 420mm focal length. even with a monopod, you should at least be shooting at 1/400th or greater. the not so sharp image might be the result of slight camera shake. hope this helps!

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coreypolis

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Sep 08, 2006 16:26 | #3

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considering the low shutter speed, and tele converter, thats not bad. try some more with a high shutter speed, a non moving subject, and no tele converter to find out. Too many variables to pin point it from that shot.

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BigBlueDodge

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Sep 08, 2006 23:21 | #4

I think your problem is from lack of contrast. The cheetah's fur (i'm presuming) is very close in tone to the background. As far as I can tell, the lens looks sharp (as witnessed by the crispness of the whiskers on the 100% crop). I think your lighting that day is at fault.

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condyk

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Sep 09, 2006 02:45 | #6

This lens demands a secure platform to work from. Handheld it won't deliver unless conditions and settings are spot on. In this case they weren't. Monopod and correct exposure will work. I had one and got some great shots.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php?t=1203740

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Trung_EP3CTR

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Sep 09, 2006 03:36 as a reply to @ condyk's post | #7

I'm struggling to use this lens too. :cry:

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Boswell
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Sep 09, 2006 04:38 as a reply to @ Trung_EP3CTR's post | #8

Ok, I have just done another test under controlled conditions.

I have 6 images, first 3 with the 1.4 TC @ F5.6 and 1/2000 at 140mm 280mm 420mm and last 3 without TC @ F4 and 1/4000 at 100mm 200mm and 300mm and I focused on the letter g in drawings

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Boswell
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Sep 09, 2006 04:39 as a reply to @ Boswell's post | #9

next 2

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Boswell
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Sep 09, 2006 04:41 as a reply to @ Boswell's post | #10

last 2. I am suprised that the last pic at 300mm without the TC is the worst one, i dont understand why its in focus at the edge when i focused in the center, i took anther 3 pics and they are all the same.

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Boswell
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Sep 09, 2006 05:54 as a reply to @ Boswell's post | #11

I have done a few more tests, and found the higher the F number the better.

F4 is blurred and gets better at F9 and F11. Is my lens faulty

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Boswell
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Sep 09, 2006 05:54 as a reply to @ Boswell's post | #12

F7.1 and F9

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Boswell
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Sep 09, 2006 05:55 as a reply to @ Boswell's post | #13

and F11

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lungdoc

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Sep 09, 2006 08:20 | #14

Clearly higher F numbers giving higher depth of field and thus more in focus. Question is whether you are achieving proper focus using lower F numbers - is it front or back focusing or just not locking on the point you think you are locked on. Long lenses have very shallow DOF at low F stops so it's a lot more sensitive to it. Not clear if it's the lens or the 350D either if there is a problem. What happens if you manually focus? Were you on a tripod to eliminate movement? Did you check the Zoom browser/DPP to see where the focus point was on the picture? I presume single focus point?

It may be worth researching and duplicating a couple of the "how to test a lens" subjects to do a more precise test, if consistent issue you may need to get lens calibrated.

It may also be worth doing exact same test with your 105 macro and 100-300 at 105 to see if any difference.

Mark
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Boswell
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Sep 09, 2006 08:54 as a reply to @ lungdoc's post | #15

Mark, looked at zoombrowser and the focus point was on the letters g and s on the word drawings which was on a sigle focus point, and the 105 macro has no issues at F2.8 or F4. All shots were used on a tripod and I also used a remote shutter release.
I will look for some threads on how to do a proper test

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