My Focus Test shots

I`v been unhappy with my new 100-400L. Can`t get a real sharp pic.

I`m shooting with a 40D. Handheld. Just got a 681B, haven`t used it yet.

Today I shot a Focus test on a Tripod Manfrotto 3021. Couldn`t get the self timer to work! So I shot with AF button. Don`t yell at me, I know I had the chart leaning to the right. Sorry.

Can anyone tell me anything with these shots?

Camera Model Canon EOS 40D
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/800
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
ISO Speed 800
Focal Length 400.0 mm

[IMG]http://i290.photobucke​t.com …Focustestshots0​04.jpg[/IM

Camera Model Canon EOS 40D
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/640
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
ISO Speed 800
Focal Length 200.0 mm

[IMG]http://i290.photobucke​t.com …tos/Focustestsh​ots009.jpg

C&C please.

Sorry, my 400mm didn`t go through. Hope it does this time.

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It would help even more if you could post some of your real world shots. The first shot is just too small to read. The second shot seems ok, but having it skewed at an angle will doesn't help either.

Looks fine to me.

Sorry, I don't think that shot proves anything at all.

You are using a device to test front/back focusing at very close range. It is designed to be used with wide open aperture, very close focus on the center line at about 45 degree angle to the sheet, from a tripod, with a remote release and proper exposure in enough light to allow the auto focus to work properly. The resulting zone that is in focus will tell you if you have that specific problem, but your shot does not tell us anything.

Put the camera on a tripod and attach a remote release or use the self timer. Tape a newspaper to a well lit wall, or find a nice, evenly lit, brick wall (those are the standard amateur devices) and take several shots at various focal lengths and aperture settings. Meter properly. Keep the shutter over 1/125. ISO 100. Use the center focus point and focus before each shot. Make sure you write everything down. Then go look at the images and come back to report what you see.

Hereis one.

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Hard to tell with the first shot. The second one looks good once you apply a little PP.

You aren't front or rear focusing, which is what that chart is (sometimes) useful for determining.

Here I simply increased the brightness and contrast, no other PP:

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rral22....Here is what I used. Without the self timmer.

http://focustestchart.​com/chart.html

cracker65 wrote in post #6125311
Hereis one.

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I don't see why you were shooting at such high ISO and shutter speed...

That shot, like the others you posted look underexposed... underexposed shots lose detail.

Thanks m-bartelt. I get so excited seeing what is in the frame I forget to look at the viewfinder. I will keep the underexpoure in mind, I hope. Thanks again.

Ideally, you want to shoot as low as ISO as possible and only move it up when your shutter speeds drop below 1/125-1/160th or so.

I'm sure someone more experienced will come along and offer some better advice though, I'm technically still a noob too.

Thanks m-bartelt.. I`ve got ALOT too learn. This is a new game ( 5mos. ) to me.

Agree with the other posters and it looks like you have a sharp lens. That's a great thing. Now, read and practice to take advantage of it.

Good luck and post some more pics as you progress.

m-bartelt wrote in post #6125479
I don't see why you were shooting at such high ISO and shutter speed...

That shot, like the others you posted look underexposed... underexposed shots lose detail.

O.K. now I am still learning and trying to understand all the ropes, but I thought that under low light conditions you would have to up the ISO in order to let more light in and to get a faster shutter speed. Which in this case I would think this would be a low light situation calling for a higher ISO. Am I wrong???? Just when I thought I was understanding things a little.

Bumping up your ISO is fine to compensate for low light conditions. Ideally you shutter speed should be equal to your focal length or faster so you did not do anything wrong but you could have got away with something like ISO200 or ISO400 since you shutter speed should be quick enough for using that lens at 400mm