Canon 100-400 f4/f5.6 IS Zoom

[GerryNick2]

Well I purchased this lens last year having read numerous reviews all singing its praises and after viewing some very impressive images it produced. By the way I am using it in conjunction with a Canon 30D.

After 6 months and 1000's of images using just about every possible exposure combination I just can't seem to get a sharp image with any detail, the images always seem to be soft and any detail smoothed out, particularly birds plummage. There are some excellent images on the forum taken with the 400mm f5.6 with terrific detail and I am assured I should get comparable images with the 100-400mm.

Have come across one or two comments in forums to the effect that you either get a good one or a bad one, I reckon I must have the bad one.

What I would really like to know is has anyone else had similar problems with this lense and gone to the trouble of getting it re-calibrated and if so was the end result worth the expense.

Gerry

[mh68]

Have you tested whether its focussing slightly in front of, or behind the target Gerry. A friend had a similar problem with a Sigma lens and it turned out to be back focussing slightly, after correction he got some very nice results with it.

Mark H

[Brocker]

Hi Gerry,

I have used this lens now for about the same time. I first used it with a 20D and the results started a little mixed. I did find that between 370mm and 400mm, the images had that softness you describe. I did find however that if I used a lens hood the images would be sharper. I cannot explain that but if you are not using one try that. I then upgraded to the EOS 1D MK3 and still found that at the lens extreme they could still be soft. All I do not is pull back a little and use the computer to zoom a little closer. . . The lens undoubtably works better in good light or fast camera speeds. My only suggestion is take your camera and lens to a retailer and try your lens with a different body and your body with another lens. This will at least identify where the problem is. Once you know, you can take it further. Keep us informed.

[glsammy]

From what I've read Gerry, I doubt you'd get images as sharp as the 400mm F5.6. That lens is about as sharp as they come.
Have a look at : Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens Review
Put in the 100-400 and the 400mm F5.6 You'll see the image is much sharper on the prime, which is what I'd expect.
That doesn't means you lens isn't wrong. Is it still under warranty? I'd be tempted to contact Canon to get them to check it for free. After all, it's supposed to be L glass. You pay one heck of a lot for that quality, you've a right to expect it perform.

[willing to learn]

I had this lens a few days ago, not real used it in anger but took quite a few pic's today. I was always perhaps to far away from the subject, but still quite surprised how good and clear they was (for me) when quite heavily cropped. None of them made real good pics as they were taken walking round the local park car park and the concrete wall always seems to spoil the shots. I hope to get out again, in a better setting and give it a good work out. The trouble is being new to this type of photograpy not sure if I can do the lens Justice I use it with a 400D

[JeffH]

Gerry, I've had my 100-400 for some 15 months now and initially had similar problems to you.

After posting some shots on a photographic forum I was advised by a semi-pro photographer to take some test shots of a brick wall at various focal lengths. I did so and he checked them over for me and concluded that one of the lens elements was probably out of line.

I took the lens back to the dealer (Jessops - I bought it on a price-match deal) and also showed them some of the photos I'd taken with it. Without any quibble whatsoever they exchanged the lens for a new one and there was an immediate and noticeable improvement.

Also, soon after buying my 30D and 100-400 I went on a couple of the Canon Experience seminars and I met another guy who'd had a similar problems.

My advice would be to take your lens back to the dealer in the first instance and seek a replacement.

Jeff

[MagpieMick]

Well Gerry,

I use the 400L F5.6 Canon prime and encountered the same problem by the way that you've described yours.....I questioned my lens after hundreds of shots i kept looking at other images with same lens and the pump and my images seemed dull and lifeless and just wasn't pinsharp. It got to the point where i was going to send it away to be re-calibrated....

Images need to be 99% spot-on straight out the camera with no need, or minimal photoshop tweaking in my view !!!!!!!!!!!
Any image thats not up to par--------DELETE !!!!!!
Unless its a real corker of a image that must be tweaked to get the best out of it ..........

I spend very little time in Photoshop on each image..

Thats my way and i stick to it with the exception for record shots.

I believe i may be able to help try this.............!!!!!

In the 30D camera menu first go to PICTURE STYLE
Then scroll to USER DEF.1
Then press JUMP
Now change the following..................
SHARPNESS to 3
CONTRAST to 1
SATURATION to 2
COLOR TONE to 1

All this is explained on page 56 to 58 of the manual

Give it a try it worked for me , Hope this helps !!!!!

Mick..

[PMG]

I've been using the 100-400 'pump' for almost two years. I must have been lucky as I think the images are sharp. Its not comparable to a 400 prime generally speaking (and I'm useless at any sort of maths) but I have realised that there is an optimum distance depending on the size of the critter/bird whatever and that distance is - as near as you can poss get and the closer the better! And its exactly the same for the 4 and 500 primes - there is a distance at which they deliver superb results!

The thing I have noticed thro taking more shots now with digital is that Canon really does have bouts of 2 shots not clear or even blurred and 1 shot pin sharp! Not great if you only get one shot off but until there is something better.........

When I bought my pump I wanted to use it hand-held for flight shots - I still haven't achieved clear results yet with flight photography and I've stopped using it hand-held - the only way to have pin sharp esp with the majority of dire weather since I got it, is to always use a tripod. A bean bag out of the car window and hide windows is as good - but the lens has to be still to get those crisp images.

I can see reading Grahams recent posts and pics that Adobe Lightbox is going to make a big difference to crispy finished pics - but I'm afraid spending anymore at the min is a definite NO! I shall just have to limp along with my ways in Paint Shop Pro











I've put a few from my Gallery here to show what I mean by close and all are cropped in the computer to some degree - tho I had got close - within 10 - 15ft and nearer than that where I could - even if it meant things like sitting for 6 hours on Loch Garton car park to get the Crested Tits!!

Pauline

[GerryNick2]

Thanks for all your comments.

Some very nice images Pauline, particularly like the Crested Tit, gives me some encouragement.

Thanks for the tip Mick, not tried a User Defined picture style before, will give it a go tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

The more I research the subject the more I am beginning to think its just me expecting too much, certainly looks like the prime lense has the edge on sharpness. Will also give flash ago, got one of those flash extenders a while ago but still to take it out of the package.

Here is a couple of my better Owl pictures taken with the 100-400mm, would welcome some honest views on them.






Gerry

[mh68]

They look reasonably sharp to me Gerry, but downsized images always look sharper anyway.Maybe worth posting a couple of 100% crops so other users of this lens can compare them to their own results?

Mark H