Do you consider this sharp?

I'm debating sending my 150-500OS in for considering. This shot is the BEST of a series of handheld test shots I took. Straight out of camera, no PP, 100% crop.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Redirected to error image by ZENFOLIO PROTECTED

imahawki wrote in post #10091310
I'm debating sending my 150-500OS in for considering. This shot is the BEST of a series of handheld test shots I took. Straight out of camera, no PP, 100% crop.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Redirected to error image by ZENFOLIO PROTECTED

I would send it in, but I'm extremely picky

focal length? aperture? shutter speed? iso? any sharpening or absolutely no PP what so ever?

Looks ok to me as a 100% crop on a 15MP camera (although since I don't know any of the above I can't make a good judgment)

CJM Photography wrote in post #10091315
I would send it in, but I'm extremely picky

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but how can you give that advice without knowing more info? On top of that have you ever shot such a telephoto lens?

Sorry.

500mm, F10, 1/320, ISO 100, on a 50D. I've messed around quite a bit with the micro adjust (in this image it is zeroed out). It doesn't appear to be front or back focusing, it just appears to be soft.

Yep, shutter speed, f stop, and FL are important to know before declaring the lens has a problem.

1/320 is a little slow @ 500mm. Try it a 1/640 and see if that makes a difference.

I can post some ISO 200+ shots but I'm having trouble getting higher shutter speeds considering the aperture of this lens.

Also, if you have a tripod that will support it that would be the best way to test the sharpness.

Well for starters, that shutter speed is WAAAYYYYYY too slow for handheld shooting with that big lens.

And just my opinion-----trying to determine lens sharpness HANDHELD borders on complete ignorance. You should be using a very good tripod, or even better, a sandbag on a solid table or rock

imahawki wrote in post #10091360
I can post some ISO 200+ shots but I'm having trouble getting higher shutter speeds considering the aperture of this lens.

What is it at 500mm? Don't be afraid to bump the 50D up to 1600 if you have to.

imahawki wrote in post #10091340
Sorry.

500mm, F10, 1/320, ISO 100, on a 50D. I've messed around quite a bit with the micro adjust (in this image it is zeroed out). It doesn't appear to be front or back focusing, it just appears to be soft.

Consider those settings, I'd say it is very sharp!

At 500mm, even with IS (OS) I would have it at 1/500 on a crop frame camera. Also at f10 the 50D is gonna have softness due to diffraction issues, it's limit is around f7.6.

Also how did you micro adjust it? Canon recommends you microadjust at a minimum of 50x focal length, at 500mm thats 25 meters (around 82 feet minimum!)

If you really want to test for sharpness, get a sturdy tripod, a remote trigger, and turn on mirror lockup and repeat the test.

Good luck! (but honestly, it looks fine)

Sharp is not the word you should be using here.You should want to know if it is out of focus or is there camera shake causing some blur.If you can't get the shutter speed you must change the lens opening or increase the ISO.That is called photography.

500mm, ISO200, 1/640, f/10

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Redirected to error image by ZENFOLIO PROTECTED

The photo needs a little PP. Contrast etc.