Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Mike, what Alan has raised with the One Shot, AI Focus and AI Servo focus modes is one of my reasons why I sometimes think the more professional cameras are actually sometimes easier to learn and use than than the Consumer oriented cameras. My 1Dx Mk II does not even have AI Focus mode only One Shot and AI Servo. And with AI Servo and BBF that is all I ever use 99.99 percent of the time. I always tell people who try BBF and say they don't like it or find it hard to use to give it a month of use or several thousand shots. If people give it that much of a try to become second nature to them I think they rarely will give up BBF for shutter button half press for focusing.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

MikWar Loc: Chicago, Western Suburbs

I'm going to do just that (remove the protective filter and test). One other person mentioned the filter and I dismissed that concept. I appreciate you looking carefully at the pics and sharing your analysis.
Mike

MikWar Loc: Chicago, Western Suburbs

I haven't reprogrammed my T3 to do that yet, but I will give it a try based on your recommendation. Thanks.
Mike

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Some lenses just do not play well with filters, the 100-400L mk 1 was one of them. Without a filter there is a world of difference in sharpness/IQ on that lens.
Any piece of glass no matter how high end added will make one more layer of glass and two surfaces where things can happen to change sharpness and IQ. And if it is a not so high end filter then really bad things can happen.

With my now traded to KEH 100-400 mk 1 and now with my mk 2 I do not use any filters, I keep the hood on. A minimum SS of 1/640 or even higher and IS is turned on, with the mark 2 I use IS setting #3. When doing macro or set piece/non moving subjects I use One Shot and all other subjects AI Servo. When having the camera on a tripod and pre-focused waiting for the subject to come (like a feeder or regularly used perch) I of course use One Shot.

If you should get the urge to upgrade your body the Canon Store has the 80D with a limited time drop of 15% extra for under $700.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Mike,

I talked to the guy I know who shoots the 100-400 II with a 5D3 tonight.
The images are the key things he said about shooting it...

He also said you might think about a 6D as an inexpensive alternative to the T3...
You are ultimately being limited by that body with the 100-400 II we feel.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

MikWar Loc: Chicago, Western Suburbs

Dear Mr. T.O.D.,
Thanks so much for pursuing this with your friend. I am going to take off the protective filter and see what happens (already switched to AI Servo).
Mike

MikWar Loc: Chicago, Western Suburbs

I have convinced myself that the 7Dii is my next camera. Just waiting to see if it goes on sale during Black Friday.
Mike

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

You will like it.
I on the other hand am going to trade my 6D and 7DII, add on the $1400 store credit I have and replace them with the 5DIV and 80D. I will still have both FF and APS-C but a great upgrade on my FF body and a ??? on my APS-C body. The 7DII is built like a tank and fast, the 80D has a newer sensor and almost as good an AF system (in some ways better-27 points do f/8.0 AF as opposed to one for the 7DII) but will give me more megapixels for more detailed birds etc and in most other ways is almost the equal of the 7DII, except in that built like a tank thing. But I tend to baby my gear anyway.

KEH will be at my local store the week after Black Friday and they give about 10% more than the store can afford to (asst manager told me) if I take it as a store credit gift card instead of cash.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

You may want to do some checking for a refurb 7D2 with Canon or B&H or other referb sellers. I have gotten notifications that Canon already has rebates and discounts on lenses and cameras I believe. I purchased my new camera and lenses about mid October last year...and deals were in place at B&H by that time of year too...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

7DII body only right now $1104.32 with the limited time 15% additional savings from Canon direct. Body only is in stock as of 5 minutes ago.

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras

MikWar Loc: Chicago, Western Suburbs

Thanks for the info. I like the "built like a tank" part for the 7DII, as I don't baby my equipment enough and drag it all over the place.
Mike

MikWar Loc: Chicago, Western Suburbs

Thanks, but I would prefer going new rather than refurbished.
Mike

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Mike, I can understand that as I went new too. I believe that Canon offers a 1 year warranty on the refurbished units they sell direct.
You pays your money and you takes your pick as they say!

Best,
Todd Ferguson

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Mike - I'd love to hear how it all works out. Also, which suggestion made the most difference. I'm betting on needing a fast shutter speed to freeze motion.

gessman Loc: Colorado

It may not be necessary but I'd like to suggest that you change only one factor at a time in trying to isolate the problem, like removing the filter, and try to duplicate your experience as in the pictures you first posted as nearly as possible to see what action you take changes the quality of your images recognizing that in the end it may indeed be a combination of factors. Often, when we make several changes at once, like removing the filter, changing the IS, going from "AI focus" to "AI servo," and speeding up the shutter speed at the same time, if our problem gets solved, we haven't isolated the problem to one single cause, and it may cause us to stop doing something that may be beneficial in other instances just because it adversely affected one type of shot. I can see a filter causing problems, and certainly, we need to keep our shutter speed up to avoid shake, but there may not be anything wrong with the IS setting and what you're using may not be contributing to the problems with your shots but you won't know that if you change to another IS setting without knowing if the one you're using is contributing to the problem or not and may actually introduce another problem you didn't have before.