Images are not sharp?

This has been boggling me for a while. I'm an amateur photographer and I sometimes get images that are not very crisp when viewed at 100%. Example is the image posted below... I think I'm doing something wrong, but not sure what it is. I guess I may have to read up on this some... any suggestions?

EOS 30D
1/1600
f 5.6
ISO 400
300mm
Action Program

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Describe "sometimes".

What is your RAW default sharpness set to?

What kind of lens?

I don't think it is a sharpness issue, looks more like motion blur. "Action Program" means the camera is making all the adjustments, ie a big point and shoot. Learn the creative mode settings: AV, TV or M. You want a high shutter speed for fast moving objects. Your 100-400 has IS, use mode 2 for panning race cars.

That's true too. You could be forgetting to choose the horizontal IS for these types of shots. If you don't know what I'm talking about, read the little book that came with your lens. (if it's a Canon)

How do you guys know he's using a 100-400L?

How much of a crop is that?

Is that a 100% crop or more?
The car is coming almost towards the camera. Probably just not focusing quick enough. Good panning is best when the subject is going from your left to your right or the opposite.

I don't. That's why I said "What kind of lens?" and "(if it's a Canon)".

That was "my bad" as I misread the post. Sorry

IF it's the 100-400 then the widest f stop at 300 mm would be near f5.0-f5.6 and with a fast moving subject on an AF system that is not the best in the world to start with, you could expect the set up to struggle.

Why do you thing a serious photographer would use an f2.8 lens on a 1D series body to get the best shot?

vetkrazy wrote in post #3487352
I don't think it is a sharpness issue, looks more like motion blur. "Action Program" means the camera is making all the adjustments, ie a big point and shoot. Learn the creative mode settings: AV, TV or M. You want a high shutter speed for fast moving objects. Your 100-400 has IS, use mode 2 for panning race cars.

Normally I would agree with statements like this but the SS was 1/1600 so that is not the issue.

dahis wrote in post #3489532
IF it's the 100-400 then the widest f stop at 300 mm would be near f5.0-f5.6 and with a fast moving subject on an AF system that is not the best in the world to start with, you could expect the set up to struggle.

Why do you thing a serious photographer would use an f2.8 lens on a 1D series body to get the best shot?

There are lots of lenses that are f/5.6 @ 300mm and some focus pretty fast. If it were the AF not keeping up then part of the back of the car would be sharper and it isn't.

dahis wrote in post #3489532
IF it's the 100-400 then the widest f stop at 300 mm would be near f5.0-f5.6 and with a fast moving subject on an AF system that is not the best in the world to start with, you could expect the set up to struggle.

Why do you thing a serious photographer would use an f2.8 lens on a 1D series body to get the best shot?

So you are saying that the 100-400L is crap for action? Why do you think that pretty much every airshow photographer pro or otherwise usually uses that lens?

There are a lot of "If's" being tossed about here. I PM'd the guy requesting more lens/situation info.

Working with what we have.......'amature' tells me he is not very experienced at this kind of shoot, which is reinforced by the "action mode" of the camera.
I don't know anybody that uses 100% in prints on a regular basis and screen resolution isn't very accurate for judging anyway.

The 100-400 L does tend to be a bit soft at the extreme end (mine is sweet at 365mm but falls off after that). IF it is that lens.
I'm thinking he is using a 75-300 or the newer 70-300 and that does have a bit slower AF.

I believe he had motion blur caused by the slight hesitation the instant he clicked and wasn't doing a "follow-through" with his tracking movement.

Jon, that's all true and if that's the case, then he needs to shoot in burst. I've never had this problem with my 100-400 at extremes, but I shoot at least 3 burst for something like this.

The more I look at his image, the more I think it's just "short" AF timing. I think you're close Jon, but I think it's a case of not enabling AI as opposed to one-shot and the mix of not allowing enough time for the camera to focus. (especially on the 30D)

RCoulter wrote in post #3490891
So you are saying that the 100-400L is crap for action? Why do you think that pretty much every airshow photographer pro or otherwise usually uses that lens?

Did not say it was a crap lens, All I was pointing out was that the AF responses of a 2.8 lens on a 1D series body will be FAR SUPERIOR to a 5.6 lens on a 30D body.

"There are lots of lenses that are f/5.6 @ 300mm and some focus pretty fast. If it were the AF not keeping up then part of the back of the car would be sharper and it isn't."

That's assuming that the AF had found focus in the first instance. Are you not able to release the shutter when AF has not been achieved on EOS cameras in AI Focus mobe.

(Idea being it is better to have any shot than no shot, even if it is slightly oof.)