Frustration with Canon 100-400
Mar 18, 2013 12:42:31 #
It is all technique. Tripod is the biggest help as mentioned above but for birds in flight and quick shots from the car or trail the 100-400 is great.
I laugh when I hear is is heavy - I like it because it's light. Wait until you pick up a 400mm f/2.8 or my 600mm f/4 - now they are heavy. I can't shoot hand-held with this monster so I get to beef-up even more with a 3# Winberly head and a 5# Sirui tripod - now that is heavy!
I laugh when I hear is is heavy - I like it because it's light. Wait until you pick up a 400mm f/2.8 or my 600mm f/4 - now they are heavy. I can't shoot hand-held with this monster so I get to beef-up even more with a 3# Winberly head and a 5# Sirui tripod - now that is heavy!
Mar 18, 2013 12:46:42 #
GeneM wrote:
quote=aerides My 100-400 is challenging me to get... (show quote)
You're my new best friend. (Just looking for a little more feather detail, though.) Great advice. You're totally right about PP. I've been avoiding it. I'm going to load Elements today!
Mar 18, 2013 12:51:24 #
Hello!
I've been shooting with a 7D using a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens with a 1x4x II extender and have tried both the AV & TV settings on my 7D. Both give great results but I found that if you have the patience the AV settings are sharper pics but more work and work best on slow tho still birds shots.
Now the TV setting is faster to learn and gives great results with (BIF) birds in flight. Depending on light etc. ISO can be from 400 -1000 for decent results. I do not know how your 100-400mm will respond but try it out.
I'm moving to a 300mm f/4.0L IS USM Prime this week and I don't know how that will effect what I have been use to. But it sure is fun when you see great results.
Your pictures look great and the edits are very nice also.
Best of luck!
I've been shooting with a 7D using a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens with a 1x4x II extender and have tried both the AV & TV settings on my 7D. Both give great results but I found that if you have the patience the AV settings are sharper pics but more work and work best on slow tho still birds shots.
Now the TV setting is faster to learn and gives great results with (BIF) birds in flight. Depending on light etc. ISO can be from 400 -1000 for decent results. I do not know how your 100-400mm will respond but try it out.
I'm moving to a 300mm f/4.0L IS USM Prime this week and I don't know how that will effect what I have been use to. But it sure is fun when you see great results.
Your pictures look great and the edits are very nice also.
Best of luck!
Mar 18, 2013 15:10:57 #
deauxrite wrote:
The only hand held success that I get with my 100-400 is to stop the lens down at least two stops from wide open and increase the ISO so that I can increase shutter speed. As long as there is sufficient light to do those things, I get very good results.
That lens also has IS, mode 1 & 2.
I never used that lens with a tripod for aviation photography.
I step down to about f/8.0, I use the IS without any problems.
Remember: IS mode 1 is for hand held stills, mode 2 for panning.
Turn IS off when mounting on a tripod.
Mar 18, 2013 15:21:58 #
James Parrish wrote:
Hello! br br I've been shooting with a 7D using a... (show quote)
Thanks for the nice post and comments, James. I wish you great fun with your new prime. Your 70-200 2.8 with extender was the leading contender to my 100-400 when I was deciding on my birding telephoto. If I had to do it over again, I wonder... 8-)
Mar 18, 2013 15:54:25 #
imagemeister wrote:
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.
Yes, I know. 8-) I bought a good one, but haven't practiced with it yet. I did try it quickly that day (I had the clamp on my camera already) but it felt too weird for the moment so I went back to hh. And yes, the photos were shot through window glass. I have such a great view of my woods through my bedroom window. Hope to install a long picture window (that can open quietly) some day.
Again, thanks to everyone for the support and great ideas. I'll let this thread die now, if it wants to!
Mar 18, 2013 16:07:46 #
Don't forget the 1.6 multiplier on that lens - it's a 160-640 and any movement is gonna blur. Might want to try a tripod and lock your mirror.
Mar 18, 2013 16:37:00 #
Having same problem,too heavy to hand hold for any length of time.We always use it with a monopod,for sports mainly,and still get mainly "soft" images.Get the odd usable shot and thats about it....
Mar 18, 2013 16:58:39 #
magicunicorn
Loc: Melbourne Australia
Hi I shoot horses in sport, although the 70-200 2.8 L is the one recommended and I do have one without IS I still prefer my 100-400L USM IS lens. Yes it is heavy, yes I bump up the ISO to around 640 all the time not always the F stop but I would not trade this lens for anything it's fantastic.
I love my lens, experiment with your settings at long range monopod is a must ( and to stop my shoulders becoming sore- as I can use it for 6-8 hours on a shoot).
Good luck you will have lots of fun, can't wait to see more of your work.
I love my lens, experiment with your settings at long range monopod is a must ( and to stop my shoulders becoming sore- as I can use it for 6-8 hours on a shoot).
Good luck you will have lots of fun, can't wait to see more of your work.
Mar 18, 2013 17:04:13 #
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.
With that long a lens, the use of a solid tripod and a remote shutter release would significantly improve the situation. A monopod may not be steady enough to eliminate the movement of your fingers as you take the shot. Also try using higher shutter speeds and higher ISO settings to stop motion. You can always remove any noise through PP programs.
Mar 18, 2013 17:04:59 #
Daryl -
I don't have experience with a monopod for support but I would imagine that it would help and the lens be used as if hand-held. IS = on (mode 1) (or mode 2 if panning.) It probably needs the ISO up to 400-800, aperture f/8 to f/11, and shutter speed at least 1/500 second.
I don't have experience with a monopod for support but I would imagine that it would help and the lens be used as if hand-held. IS = on (mode 1) (or mode 2 if panning.) It probably needs the ISO up to 400-800, aperture f/8 to f/11, and shutter speed at least 1/500 second.
Mar 18, 2013 17:05:00 #
Thanks for your response. I almost bought the 100-400 last week. However, I wanted to try a prime lens. Yes I also considered the 400mm f/5.6 but have seen some great shots using the 300mm and the 1.4x II.
My friend who shoots with a Nikon D200 uses a 300mm 2.8 and a 1.4x extender with great results. now that he has a Wimberely Gimbal his pictures have really improved.
He is getting the new D7100 this week and that should nail it for him for a while.
I have been shooting with a Opteka GH1 Gimbal and love the results. If you haven't tried a Gimbal you should. The Gimbal I'm using only costs $49.00 and it's load capacity is 30 lbs. So if you get into the big 400mm 2.8 L IS USM Lens you can still stay with that Gimbal. I don't know how it will respond with the 500mm, 600mm or the 800 mm.
Well looking forward to your shared shots in the future.
My friend who shoots with a Nikon D200 uses a 300mm 2.8 and a 1.4x extender with great results. now that he has a Wimberely Gimbal his pictures have really improved.
He is getting the new D7100 this week and that should nail it for him for a while.
I have been shooting with a Opteka GH1 Gimbal and love the results. If you haven't tried a Gimbal you should. The Gimbal I'm using only costs $49.00 and it's load capacity is 30 lbs. So if you get into the big 400mm 2.8 L IS USM Lens you can still stay with that Gimbal. I don't know how it will respond with the 500mm, 600mm or the 800 mm.
Well looking forward to your shared shots in the future.
Mar 18, 2013 17:34:45 #
jimtidd
Loc: Kitchener Ontario Canada
I like you, use the same lens on a 7d canon. The bird is under exposed with the histogram way to the left.
Your exposure on the eye and the white around the eye is perfect but the bird is a dark color. Any time the bird is dark to get detail you must dial the exposure up at least +1 to plus 2. Doing this will at times over expose things like the sky but you can fix that. Google Artie Morris ( leading bird guy) and watch his camera setting for birds. Here is one I took that gives you an idea of the detail improvement you can get. The Cardinal given the distance you were is a good as it gets. IMO it is always better to make sure a good part of the histogram is over to the right. One more small item the 100-400 is sharpen around 380mm rather then the full 400
Your exposure on the eye and the white around the eye is perfect but the bird is a dark color. Any time the bird is dark to get detail you must dial the exposure up at least +1 to plus 2. Doing this will at times over expose things like the sky but you can fix that. Google Artie Morris ( leading bird guy) and watch his camera setting for birds. Here is one I took that gives you an idea of the detail improvement you can get. The Cardinal given the distance you were is a good as it gets. IMO it is always better to make sure a good part of the histogram is over to the right. One more small item the 100-400 is sharpen around 380mm rather then the full 400
Mar 18, 2013 17:40:38 #
Forest Squirrel
Loc: Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Are you sure the problem is with the lens and not the 7D,?
I had terrible focus problems with a 100-400,a 70-200 Mk2 and a 400 DO Prime, all of which were solved by the purchase of a second hand Canon 1D MK 2
I had terrible focus problems with a 100-400,a 70-200 Mk2 and a 400 DO Prime, all of which were solved by the purchase of a second hand Canon 1D MK 2
Mar 18, 2013 18:26:35 #
IMHO - If your lens cannot deliver wide open, - then it is NOT a good lens ! Because they are less complicated and less mechanical, the 300 F4 non IS and the 400 5.6 ( no IS )will deliver much more consistant results than the 100-400.
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