Is it ( ME)...or what?

Check this one out...........

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/400
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
ISO Speed 800

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If you haven't gotten a sharp image out of a lens in 4 months, it's not "operator error".

Check this one..........

Camera Model Canon EOS 40D
Shooting Date/Time 4/27/2008 9:52:49 PM
Shooting Mode Program AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/160
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Focal Length 44.0 mm

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check this one.... Cannonloader

File Name 100-400 024.JPG
Camera Model Canon EOS 40D
Shooting Date/Time 6/6/2008 10:22:48 AM
Shooting Mode Program AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/1000
Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0
ISO Speed 1000
Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length 400.0 mm

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cracker65 wrote in post #5861418
Thanks....joayne & buddy 4344. I shot in Al Servo all the time. Also it was 7:00pm, kind of overcast too.

Just thought about the UV filter I have screwed on, could that be the problem?

This thing never been sharp as some I`ve seen on POTN. I`ve done no PP.

OPERTAOR ERROR more than likley.

I have a 70-300mm canon lens that was taking great photos until I placed a cheap UV filter on. It took me awhile to figure out it was the filter. Put on a better one and it made a VERY noticeable difference. It is certainly worth taking it off for a few shots just to see if anything improves... I am certainly an amateur at my very best, but the advice people have given above seems great to me.

Canonloader and I have a brief exchange on another thread yesterday about my 100-400mm. It was taking very sharp images until the I.S. started getting jittery and weird. It's now back at Canon and hopefully soon to return.

On the dove shot, the birdbath front lip looks sharper than the bird. On the egret, the eye and bill look pretty sharp.

I'm late to this discussion, but you say you're not doing any PP? Try Maybe 250, 0.3 in smart sharpen, CS3. Your egret is looking better.

I've been following this topic just out of curiosity but I have a question.....

I may have missed it but are you using a tripod, are these handheld or is the camera/lens supported in anyway?

I have read that when using a lens with IS you need to do something with the IS...somebody who owns a lens with IS can chime in if this is accurate info and how it needs to be set.

If you're not using a tripod try using one or support the camera on a sturdy object. I'd also remove any filters you have on the lens and try it that way.

Thanks all you guys....jkrohn, Buddy4344,yonni, Duane N,cannonloader you guys are the GREATEST

Duane N, the PAPA JOHN PIZZA test shots was the only one I used a tripod on.

Today is another day, Will try again the test shots that cannonloader said to do and remove the UV FILTER also.

Sleepless night here.

ROOKIE.

Mediocre filters, any aperture smaller than f/10 or so, any ISO above 800 or so...

They all contribute to softer images.

Shooting JPG? Set 40D's sharpness to +3 or +4.

100-400 f/4-5.6L is NOT the sharpest lens, and never has been. I read about it long ago and used one once, and the results confirmed that. I think it pales in comparison to some of Sigma's offerings.

Thanks form, I`ll give this a try.

this lens can be sharp. Maybe not same as prime, I don't know, I don't have a prime, but pretty sharp. These have been processed, but I think you will see the point. BTW, The trees with blue background was shot with a 1.4 extender attached, so that one is at 560 mm plus effect of 1.6 crop on a 30D

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Another example of sharp - and this is bird in flight. Note forward wing has a little blur. This could be from wing motion or dof, but tallons and bird head are not bad.

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The headstone and the egret look sharp. But they are at f/8 and f/11. You have to do the test at different f/stops to find the sharpest one though, and then use that f/stop all the time at that MM setting. All lenses have a sweet spot, and you really have to test all lenses when you get them to find what it is, cause not all 100-400 will have the same f/stop sweet spot. Every lens will be different. I've tested all of mine and have them memorized, and this is one reason I never use Tv Mode when shooting birds. I don't want an idiot-chip setting the aperture to one that is soft.

The last two pics are sharp.

wonder if I used a 1.4 extender for the reach, would that help with my promlem. May be I`m not getting close enough in the first place.