Hockey - Sigma 70-200 possible focus problem, need opinions

Hello, This is my first time posting on this message board although I've been reading it for quite some time. I've been shooting D1 college hockey for about a year now with a Canon EOS 20D and Canon 70-300mm f4.0 lens and have been somewhat happy with it except that I can't get a shutter speed high enough to really stop action with a correct exposure, so I did some research and based on the great recommendations and awesome photos I saw on this board I finally decided to upgrade to the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM lens. I used it the last two nights shooting hockey which is the main subject I'll be shooting with this lens and I'm a bit disappointed. All the photos feel as though they are just slightly out of focus, they just aren't sharp (action and still shots). I've attached some sample shots, these are SOOC, so I know that I need to adjust WB, exposure, etc. , and I know I have alot of work to do on horizon issue (skating uphill), but I was hoping to get some opinions on what looks like a lens focusing issue to me? What do you all think? Thanks!

Oh and you can see the original size photos at my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/​photos/carinh/. These are a bit small to really see the focusing I was mentioning. Thanks!

Hello, Im not an expert but I shoot sports as well (mainly volleyball).

If you think you have a focus problem you should print out focus chart and take some example shots.

What I do different from you is never go under 1/650 for quick sports (hockey is definatelly a quick sport) and always use F2.8 because we dont need anything in the background to be in focus. Its always about the subject that needs to be sharp.

Im also not afraid of going into high ISO like 4000 or even 6400, but photos after that needs to be processed by a good noise reduction software (i use noiseware).

I also use manual focus (not all the time) even my lens is HSM. When i do that I need to wait for the ocation to come to me and its bit longer but it pays off.

And finaly I set up one white balance for all the pictures befre i start shooting. This icludes many test shots, but at the end they look the same and its much better effect (also i can use the same actions in the photoshop to correct all of them at once).

I dont shoot in RAW. I shoot JPGs as many as possible. Sometimes its a 1 good photo vs 30 but its worth it.

Have you shot anything static/non-moving to judge the lens for focus problems or only the hockey game? A bunch of the assumed problem could be that you're taking crops from long shots from your 20D maybe... BUT the main problem seems to be you're not shooting in manual at F2.8 since you bought the lens that allows it.. 1/400 isn't fast enough to really stop college hockey.. 1/640 is barely enough for the women's game (I haven't shot the men's game yet but I'm pretty sure that 1/800 would be good.)

Just a couple thoughts. You might not be able to get faster than 1/500 anyway but F2.8 with 1/500 might give at least better stopped action in some instances?

Thanks for the suggestions. I did some focus tests this afternoon with the lens and found that between 70 - 100mm it focuses great; nice sharp, clear photos, but over 100 up to 200mm it is out of focus. It isn't front or back focusing, it just isn't focusing. Should I exchange it for another? Maybe I got a bad lens? Or should I try to have it calibrated somewhere?

Hockey at 1/400 or 1/500 is sometimes a necessity depending on the lighting. I routinely shoot at 1/500, f/2.8 and ISO 3200. Faster shutter speeds would be nice but are not always possible.

I am wondering, though, like DHMN, why you are shooting at f/5.0 and -2/3 EC with an f/2.8 lens? Open it up to get as much light as possible and, if you have too much, either drop your ISO or increase your shutter speed.

From what I've read Sigma lenses sometimes have some quality control issues with the focusing. I would start by taking some shots of static objects or using a focus chart to see if the lens is focusing properly. If they are OOF on the static objects send it back to Sigma and have them adjust the focus.

DHMN wrote in post #9366113
Have you shot anything static/non-moving to judge the lens for focus problems or only the hockey game? A bunch of the assumed problem could be that you're taking crops from long shots from your 20D maybe... BUT the main problem seems to be you're not shooting in manual at F2.8 since you bought the lens that allows it.. 1/400 isn't fast enough to really stop college hockey.. 1/640 is barely enough for the women's game (I haven't shot the men's game yet but I'm pretty sure that 1/800 would be good.)

Just a couple thoughts. You might not be able to get faster than 1/500 anyway but F2.8 with 1/500 might give at least better stopped action in some instances?

+1 to all of this.

DHMN wrote in post #9366113
Have you shot anything static/non-moving to judge the lens for focus problems or only the hockey game? A bunch of the assumed problem could be that you're taking crops from long shots from your 20D maybe... BUT the main problem seems to be you're not shooting in manual at F2.8 since you bought the lens that allows it.. 1/400 isn't fast enough to really stop college hockey.. 1/640 is barely enough for the women's game (I haven't shot the men's game yet but I'm pretty sure that 1/800 would be good.)

Just a couple thoughts. You might not be able to get faster than 1/500 anyway but F2.8 with 1/500 might give at least better stopped action in some instances?

So true!