Does my lens need calibration?

speed200 wrote in post #8471051
Is this image sharp enough by the stands of this lens?

Actually, I can't tell if it is not zoom in 100%. but that looks ok in this size and resolution.

After whole bunch of test, I found out the lens is just getting softer and softer towards the 200mm. Those sharp shots I have taken are all less than 200mm. Can anyone confirm if your lens has the same behaviour? Here are the pics.

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gte357s wrote in post #8471663
Actually, I can't tell if it is not zoom in 100%. but that looks ok in this size and resolution.

I have only resize the image to put in here.

gte357s, take a look into these pictures a see for you self.

http://rapidshare.com/​files/268323821/Tests.​zip

speed200 wrote in post #8472905
gte357s, take a look into these pictures a see for you self.

http://rapidshare.com/​files/268323821/Tests.​zip

Sorry, I don't understand. What am I supposed to see?

gte357s wrote in post #8473602
Sorry, I don't understand. What am I supposed to see?

If your pictures at real life look as sharp has mine.

gte357s,
If you will not replicate my test, for comparison, can you at least go outside, and shoot a nice building front which would not be prone to
a. your shaking the camera
b. subject motion

Those shots of the police car were all taken at 1/125 sec. If you have even the least bit of unsteadiness due to your tripod, which you said was somewhat flimsy, the shake/blur would worsen as the focal length increased - which would make sense that the images got softer as you increased the FL toward 200mm.

These are some sharper images from my 70-200/2.8 IS wide open. If you have doubts, send the lens in for calibration. This lens probably needs it more than any other Canon lens from factory, but once calibrated, it's very good.

145mm, 1/500s, F2.8

200mm, 1/500s, F2.8

speed200 wrote in post #8476261
If your pictures at real life look as sharp has mine.

I see .. although those are not controlled testing pics, I think I can still compare. I will take a look when I go back home.

Wilt wrote in post #8476387
gte357s,
If you will not replicate my test, for comparison, can you at least go outside, and shoot a nice building front which would not be prone to
a. your shaking the camera
b. subject motion

I am trying to replicate your test with the block, I don't have any VHS tapes. It is taken indoor (no wind), on a tripod, IS on. Although my tripod is not a very high quality one, but with IS on and shutter speed at 1/100, it should be good enough to elimate handshake factor .. right?

And thanks for everyone's reply ... I did more search, and I am pretty sure it is the known issue/limtation of this lens at or close to MFD at 200mm. Here is one of the link that talks about it. And there were some previous discussion in this forum too.

http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/617286/0

I will do some more test shots to prove that. If it is proven to be the MFD issue, then I don't know if it is worthwhile to send it for calibration. Because first of all, I don't know if it is fixable. Secondly, I don't usually take pictures @ 200mm with FD < 2m, I have a macro lens. I take these photos for testing only. Otherwise, this lens is very sharp ..

Can everyone of you try take a macro like picture at 200mm @ 1.2m FD, and do a 100% crop to see how sharp yours is?

gte357s wrote in post #8476721
I am trying to replicate your test with the block, I don't have any VHS tapes. It is taken indoor (no wind), on a tripod, IS on. Although my tripod is not a very high quality one, but with IS on and shutter speed at 1/100, it should be good enough to elimate handshake factor .. right?
...

Can everyone of you try take a macro like picture at 200mm @ 1.2m FD, and do a 100% crop to see how sharp yours is?

Go rent some!

You can use books from the library or book store (on their shelf), you can use rectangular spice cans from your cupboard, you can use breakfast cereal boxes.

I'll go home and shoot at 200mm at MFD.

Here is the test at 200mm, MFD. VCR boxes staggered at 2cm increments. Focus plane in the center where the 9" mark on the ruler is. First the full frame resized for POTN