Getting pin sharp birds? Frustrated!!

I don't know whether it's me or the camera, but trying out the new 500L on birds in the garden, I just cannot get a pin sharp picture.
These are 1250/sec F4, ISO 400, AF mode -Al focus, centre focus (aimed at birds head) but each time I try I'm still getting slightly soft images.
Used on tripod, locked off as well & the IS turned off.
Tried the same with 'one shot' af and get the same.
I'm pretty sure the 500 is OK as this keeps happening with my 100 - 400 as well, yet the camera produces good crisp pics with all the smaller lenses (17 - 85, 24 - 105).
So where am I going wrong here please?

original

It looks like the focus is on the leaves and branches in the top 3rd of the pic.
eg can see the veins on the leaf at the very top left,
a crop in the area would probably confirm this

Hi Tater
Here's a crop of the leaves

You might find that focusing with a 30D is more difficult with only 9AF points than with say a 1D with its 45.

What af point are you using?

The first pics were using central AF point, then I thought try all 9 for the 2nd pics - which actually look worse.
The AF point was centred on the birds head in the first set, but looking at the crop it appears to be much higher up (somehow I can't get the AF points to show in ZB, otherwise I'd post the pics with the AF)
It does seem odd that I can get some real sharp pics, then on another occasion they just look rubbish.
Keep thinking it's got to be something I'm doing wrong.
I may try and borrow someone elses Canon and compare shot for shot with my 30D

I don't think the 30Ds lesser AF points is the issue here - there are many photographers using that combo who take great, tack sharp shots. I think it is your technique, rather than the body or the lens. I had to get used to my 500mm as well - took some time.

Here is my set-up and my technique: Gitzo CF 5 series tripod (very rigid and vibration free), Wimberley head (started out with the side kick, but pretty soon swapped for the full Wimberley), IS on the 500 is always on (either in mode 1 for your type of shots or in mode 2 for birds in flight). My left hand rests on top of the lens when I take pictures.

I use either AI Servo, or single shot AF and I typically shoot in AV mode.

Given that both your long lenses produce soft pictures, it must be your technique or you have the worst of luck and both of them don't focus correctly.

I'm also using full wimberley head & Gitzo 3530ls tripod- (rock steady) - It's too heavy for me to hold for very long that's for sure.
Also prefer to use AV mode and normally one shot or al servo with central AF point.
The IS is off, as I'm led to believe it would do so anyway mounted on a tripod.
I guess it's probably me even tho' I'm soft on the shutter button and never 'stab' at it.
Have just taken some more which were much closer to the camera (probably 15 or 16ft max) and will post them on the Birds forum - they seem to have come out OK!!
Thanks for all the replies - we won't learn unless we ask.

Vulcan58 wrote in post #6640419
These are 1250/sec F4, ISO 400, AF mode -Al focus

Aaargh! Try ignoring AI focus. It's supposed to have the advantages of AI Servo and Single-Shot. In fact it seems to combine the disadvantages of the two modes. For the sort of shots you're taking I'd stick with Single-Shot.

What was the shooting distance in the first image? If the bird was a significant distance way (like 50 feet for example) then there are two possible factors affecting sharpness:

• the bird may not be filling enough of the frame to get a sharp image
  
• the AF point is actually somewhat larger than the box etched on the focus screen and it tends to pick the point of sharpest contrast and not what is under the red dot

Thanks for the reply Bill B.
I was thinking along the lines that the subject may have been too small to reproduce at a decent size when cropped.
Distance to the feeder was about 25 - 30ft away, yet when Itried hand held at about 16ft or so, they've come out reasonably -ish well.
Thinks to self that I must attempt to fill the frame more.

Vulcan58 wrote in post #6643405
...Thinks to self that I must attempt to fill the frame more.

Yes, I think that is the key. So easy to say, but so difficult to do.

AI Servo, centre AF Point, get closer, keep at it.

Leave the IS on when using the 500/4 on a tripod.

gasrocks wrote in post #6659643
Leave the IS on when using the 500/4 on a tripod.

That contradicts Canons info - that the IS will be turned off when on a tripod as the circuitry in the lens foot detects the tripod, although power will still be supplied to the IS circuit.

One thing that gets me thinking - if the foot detects a tripod, how come the IS still works with the lens plate attached, using hand held?

Vulcan58 wrote in post #6664050
That contradicts Canons info - that the IS will be turned off when on a tripod as the circuitry in the lens foot detects the tripod, although power will still be supplied to the IS circuit.

One thing that gets me thinking - if the foot detects a tripod, how come the IS still works with the lens plate attached, using hand held?

The foot doesn't detect a tripod. The IS system detects when there is no movement and switches itself off.