Frustration with Canon 100-400
Mar 17, 2013 21:56:01 #
aerides wrote:
My 100-400 is challenging me to get clear hand-held shots (on 7D). It's me, for sure - every now and then I do get sharp images. Maybe I should just give it some more time. Bought a good monopod too, that could help. No clear question here, just inviting comments. I'm frustrated because I had a pair of pileated woodpeckers in my back yard last week and didn't get one single clear shot. Not much time to practice.
It looks like you are shooting at f/5.6 which on that lens is wide open and the lens will not be at its sharpest. Stopping the lens down a bit will get you closer to hitting the sharp sweet spot of that lens. If properly exposed the 7D should have no trouble at ISO 800.
It is just a suggestion but my experience has been that none of my lenses are at their best when wide open. Stopping down one to two stops substantially improves sharpness for me even with the required increase in ISO.
Mar 17, 2013 22:08:46 #
FredB
Loc: A little below the Mason-Dixon line.
The 1-4 is a heavy lens, and is nearly impossible to handhold at 400mm and get a decent sharply defined shot. Add in the 5.6 aperture, and you have a recipe for fuzz.
Might I suggest, at the least, setting your 7D to continuous shooting in these circumstances. Bump up the ISO to around 800, stop it down to f/8 or thereabouts, and run off 10 or 12 shots at once. I bet you get at least one, if not two sharpies then. Throw the rest away.
Might I suggest, at the least, setting your 7D to continuous shooting in these circumstances. Bump up the ISO to around 800, stop it down to f/8 or thereabouts, and run off 10 or 12 shots at once. I bet you get at least one, if not two sharpies then. Throw the rest away.
Mar 18, 2013 06:47:10 #
Hi,
The 100-400 is a bit of a bear at times for me as well. I find it seems to need lot of light and a higher than the norm shutter. Some times I forget the crop value when mentally calculating what the shutter speed should be. Image stabilization I don't rely on on all that much. It might help to get a workable image in a tight situation.
So this being said I would suggest advancing the ISO to give you the min 1/500 @ F8 or so if need be.
Also, check out the B&H video on youtube with Arthur Morris, the great bird photographer. He makes mention of some of the issues people seem to be having with this lens and then proceeds to show sharp images with this lens at 400mm with an extender!!
Hope this helps.
The 100-400 is a bit of a bear at times for me as well. I find it seems to need lot of light and a higher than the norm shutter. Some times I forget the crop value when mentally calculating what the shutter speed should be. Image stabilization I don't rely on on all that much. It might help to get a workable image in a tight situation.
So this being said I would suggest advancing the ISO to give you the min 1/500 @ F8 or so if need be.
Also, check out the B&H video on youtube with Arthur Morris, the great bird photographer. He makes mention of some of the issues people seem to be having with this lens and then proceeds to show sharp images with this lens at 400mm with an extender!!
Hope this helps.
Mar 18, 2013 07:04:58 #
I'm really nobody to be giving advice, but I've noticed with my 75-300 lens that I have difficulty focusing on the subject when it's behind branches, etc, like your 1st 2 and the last is much better without any obstruction. I think the camera tries too hard to focus on the forground rather than what you want. For me, at that distance it's difficult to see perfectly in the viewfinder and magnification doesn't help that much.
Mar 18, 2013 08:52:09 #
aerides wrote:
My 100-400 is challenging me to get clear hand-held shots (on 7D). It's me, for sure - every now and then I do get sharp images. Maybe I should just give it some more time. Bought a good monopod too, that could help. No clear question here, just inviting comments. I'm frustrated because I had a pair of pileated woodpeckers in my back yard last week and didn't get one single clear shot. Not much time to practice.
What does it's manual say about use of I.s. on a monos ?
Mar 18, 2013 09:17:47 #
I have posed several times on the frustration of the 100-400 and I, too, am learning how to use this great lens. It is touchy and almost all of the issues are long shots at 400mm and wide open aperture at f/5.6. Close-up the 100-400 is tack sharp so I did a bunch of trials and will confirm what others have said above: increase the ISO 400-800, shoot at 1/500 or faster, shoot f/8 to f/11. Use the IS if hand held and +/- on a monopod. Turn IS off on a tripod. Use a cable release and (when you can - rarely) use the 2 second delay or mirror lock-up. You will be delighted with the difference these things make. Keep shooting.
Mar 18, 2013 09:19:42 #
Because of the complexity of the lens, some 100-400's are better than others. Are you using a "protective" filter ? If so, I would take it off and see what you get. Have you "micro-adjusted" your lens to your camera ? As you know, I would defintely be using a monopod - irregardless of shutter speed.
Mar 18, 2013 09:46:42 #
Are you sure you have it set for image stabilization? The switch is confusing.I used mine for a month thinking I had it on IS and it was not.
Mar 18, 2013 09:48:07 #
I'm interested in seeing what becomes of this because I'm considering the 100-400L.
One suggestion I have is that I believe the 7D has a microfocusing application that you can set the lens specifically to your camera. I know the 5D III has it and I think I remember that I read somewhere that the 7D had it
One suggestion I have is that I believe the 7D has a microfocusing application that you can set the lens specifically to your camera. I know the 5D III has it and I think I remember that I read somewhere that the 7D had it
Mar 18, 2013 10:02:09 #
I have a 100-400 as well and get pretty decent shots. First off I would be using a monopod most of the time with this lens especially when you're shooting so far from your subject, it's much more difficult to get spot on shots by hand hold only. You might want to turn your dial to sports setting and auto mode plus I'm sure you have the lens stablizer on. I use my lens for long wildlife shots and am very happy with end product. Good luck and keep practicing.
Mar 18, 2013 10:04:47 #
Try shooting in fast burst that the 7d can do, may catch one sharp, the foreground may be getting the focus attention, try spot focus
Mar 18, 2013 10:06:20 #
aerides wrote:
Reloading pics with "store original" The first one is different, still soft though. I put a third one in too, that I'm happy with in terms of sharpness and exposure.
Ok, for starters increase your ISO up to about 800, the 7D will handle it with a little noise that can easily be cleaned up. This will allow for a higher SS.
This is one of my favorite hand held lenses in spite of its weight. Try using a rest of some type, window sill, door jamb, ect... Open it up to f6.3 or f8, increasing the ISO will allow it but keep the SS above 500 when ever possible. If need be jump up the ISO a little above 800. Like I said above, it is easy to clean up.
Jim D
Mar 18, 2013 10:19:52 #
I had the same problem with my 150-500 lens. A monopod really helped the keeper rate.
Mar 18, 2013 10:23:26 #
Thats a lot of lens to hand hold. Leaning on something like a tree or building will help. Use a high shutter speed, raise your ISO. You can always clean up a high ISO shot.
Mar 18, 2013 10:24:31 #
I shoot with a Canon 50D, and am looking to buy a 7D in a few months. I am also interested in the Canon 100-400mm L lens. So, I'll be watching this thread. I did borrow a 100-400 last summer to take a photo of a bird in my backyard. The lens was huge, and heavy. I used a monopod, and tripod, the tripod worked best. I used these camera setting. ISO 1000, f8, shutter 1/500th, spot focus, RAW+1, high speed burst and a CP on the lens. I was disappointed though, the bird didn't show up again until I returned the lens. I was able to catch it with my 70-200 f4L USM. I again used high speed burst, and got 11 very good shots, out of 31.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.