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Thread: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

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    Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Hello

    I am new to photography and I purchased the above lens, I am using a Canon 550D Camera and finding it difficult to get a clear image in AF mode see image 1. I have also taken the same photo using a Canon AF75-300mm with a Vivitar 2x converter which is image 2. Both are taken using a tripod. It may be something simple and just me
    All help would be much appreciated.

    1.jpg

    2.jpg
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    • File Type: jpg 2.jpg (95.0 KB, 411 views)
    Last edited by Donald; 28th February 2012 at 11:22 PM. Reason: Images posted inline

  2. #2
    mstrozewski's Avatar
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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    What is the shutter speed on both of the images? Also - even though a long lens is on a tripod, if the TP is not steady or there is some wind, you will get some movement. That particular L lens is nice and works quite well if done correctly.

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Looks like camera shake to me, and since you were shooting from a tripod, I suspect you had IS turned on. I would try the shot again, using a tripod as before, but with IS turned off.

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    New Member SteveK's Avatar
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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Hi Clive,

    I'm no expert and I don't have that lens.
    But did you have the Image Stabilization "IS" turned OFF???
    Most IS lenses require it to be off when using a tripod

    Steve

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    jeeperman's Avatar
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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Also, give the tripod a little help and weight it down. I hang my bag and gear from the center, it can make a lot of difference with a big lens.

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    It does look like camera shake or perhaps IS feedback. Any or all of the following parameters need to be addressed:

    * What kind of tripod were you shooting with? Was it stable enough for this lens?
    * Did you have the camera body attached to the tripod head or were you using the tripod ring?
    * What was your shutter speed?
    * If the shutter speed was very slow, did you use mirror lock-up / remote or timed release?
    * Did you have IS turned off? Older IS systems must be turned off when tripod mounted.

    I am curious that the ball in image #2 (75-300mm + 2x TC) is smaller than the ball in image #1 (100-400mm) what were the focal lengths that you used.

    Finally, do you know of anyone who owns a Canon DSLR camera? It might help to try the lens on another body!
    Last edited by rpcrowe; 29th February 2012 at 12:06 AM.

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    If your trying to use a converter with that lens, autofocus won't work. Is autofocus even turned on???


    A couple simple things it could be.

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Hi Clive
    As others have said, is IS switched on?
    Was it windy, did you use a cable release?
    Did you use the 2x convertor with the lens as AF doesn't work with a 2x convertor

    Trev

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Hi
    speed is 1/800 sec. Autofocus was switched on and IS was switched on, I was using a SLIK F630 tripod which was attached to the lens as opposed to the camera body, no converter was used. Will try same shot with IS off and see if that helps.

    Thanks
    Last edited by Clive; 29th February 2012 at 12:19 PM.

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Also,when you do use the IS,you need to give it a second or so to engage and stabilize.
    You want to 1/2 press the shutter button, pause then full press to take the shot.

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    There isn't a lot of contrast in that scene so it is possible that the autofocus simply failed to 'lock on' successfully.

    Try again with a better scene, following all the previous advice and see what happens.

    It is always possible that you do have a faulty lens so some careful tests are certainly worth doing.

    The shot with the 75-300 plus x2 converter is surprising good for such a combination, so your camera body must be OK. Did you manually focus for this shot?

  12. #12

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    I have tried other scenes and not much better, I have now tried the same shot with the IS switched off but to no avail. I again use the alternative lens and am getting good results I am now wondering if the lens is faulty.

  13. #13
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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Did you buy the lens new or used? Sounds like a definite problem.Are you getting focus confirmation on the camera?

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    I bought the lens new and the camera is registering the image as being in focus.

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    Have a guess :)
    Any filters on the lens? Rear element clean?

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Camera and lens are all clean, lens does have a CPL filter
    Thanks
    Last edited by Clive; 3rd March 2012 at 12:03 AM.

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Okay,one more thing to try.Put on a tripod,aim at something with good contrast,switch the lens to manual focus.1/2 press the shutter button and use the fine focus ring.When you hit focus you should get a confirmation beep and the focus point should flash briefly.Take a shot.

  18. #18

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive View Post
    lens does have a CPL filter
    It's VITAL that you remove this for testing.

  19. #19

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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Ok will try that, have just tested it on a friends Canon 5D body. Again it confirmed that the image was in focus, however it was blurred, so it is definitely not the camera.

  20. #20
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    Re: Help with the Canon 100-400mm EF f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

    Take IS and auto-focus out of the equation. Turn of the IS, use a tripod, and use liveview with 10x magnification and focus manually. If there's still an issue, then it could be a decentered element; if manually focusing is fine, then AF calibration may be warranted. Either way, it's looking like a trip to a service center.

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