Decisions Decisions....Advise Needed: I have the Canon T3i and the Canon 75mm x 300mm and it takes decent pics but the sharpness just isn't there for me at the 200 -300mm range. I have...

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Decisions Decisions....Advise Needed

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Feb 9, 2012 15:08:32 #

rmcquese Loc: NW Georgia

I have the Canon T3i and the Canon 75mm x 300mm and it takes decent pics but the sharpness just isn't there for me at the 200 -300mm range. I have been looking for a new telephoto lens to replace it. Here are all the lenses I have currently

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III
Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

I like to take nature shots and also pics of my kids playing sports.

I decided on the 70 x 300 but for a little more cash I could get the 70-200mm f/4L USM which I know I would be happy with but not so sure it would give me the zoom I am looking for though and not sure if I want to spend that kinda cash (yet)...

Any advice on these lenses ( or any other ) would be greatly appreciated for me.

Should I just keep what I have or sell the 75 x 300 and replace it. I am still really new at photography and I really love shooting pics but I have missed alot of shots I knew I could have gotten if I my telephoto lens was better quality.

Thoughts / Suggestions / Recommendations ... Please...

Feb 9, 2012 19:59:43 #

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

How long have you been using this camera? When I get a new lens it takes me a while to learn how to use it. I think you should be getting great shots with what you have. A faster lens for taking sports would be the only thing you might want.
Erv

Feb 9, 2012 21:17:58 #

rmcquese Loc: NW Georgia

Just started the whole photography thing back in September 2011 so bout 5 months. I have been getting good shots. I'm still new to it all and still learning.
The only images I'm not happy with is the ones I take with 75 x 300mm. If the subject is within 30 ft from me then the image is good. But say I see a hawk in a tree and I want to take a pic. I take the shot but still have to crop image to bring it in closer. When I do a 100 % crop the hawk become fuzzy. That's why I'm thinking it may be this cheaper lens.
Then again it may me not taking a good shot. I will post pics later to show what I'm talking about.

Feb 9, 2012 21:35:59 #

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Does the lens have IS or if a Nikon VR? If you are shooting over 60-80 feet, that is a long ways a way. It takes a lot of practice to hold the camera steady. I would put the camera on a tripod and do a few tests with it. Pick a subject about how far the bird was. Then set your settings. Zoom all the way out take a picture, then zoom in a little and take a picture. Do this a few times at different zoom lengths and see what they look like. Most lenses have a sweet spot. If they are all better than you got with the bird picture, then it is you. If they are still out of focus, it might be the lens.
Erv

Feb 9, 2012 22:01:46 #

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

rmcquese wrote:

I have the Canon T3i and the Canon 75mm x 300mm an... (show quote)

It's difficult to get a steady shot at long distances. Without image stabilization at 300mm your shutter speed should be at least 1/300th of a second and that's if you have a steady hand. What were your shutter speeds.

Image stabilization gives a big advantage for long distances.

Feb 9, 2012 22:33:18 #

rmcquese Loc: NW Georgia

Here is the image I was referring to. Both were shot with a tripod with a 2 sec delay.
Both were at 1/500sec / F8 / ISO 200 RAW exported to JPG for UHH

Maybe it was my settings

Here is the same shot hand held at 1/400 sec F8 / ISO 200 with my 100mm L Lens with IS

Feb 9, 2012 22:48:54 #

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Looks like the lighting was against you too. And the weather. Do you use spot metering and focus?
Erv

Feb 9, 2012 23:01:01 #

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

rmcquese wrote:

Here is the image I was referring to. Both were shot with a tripod with a 2 sec delay.
Both were at 1/500sec / F8 / ISO 200 RAW exported to JPG for UHH

Maybe it was my settings

You need a quality lens for this type of photography

Feb 9, 2012 23:13:25 #

rmcquese Loc: NW Georgia

It was a cloudy / overcast day. Went back and looked at file info and I used spot metering on the 100mm shot but , Partial metering on the 300mm shots. That may be why is was so fuzzy

Feb 9, 2012 23:14:15 #

rmcquese Loc: NW Georgia

What would you recommend?

ring wrote:

rmcquese wrote:

Here is the image I was referring to. Both were shot with a tripod with a 2 sec delay.
Both were at 1/500sec / F8 / ISO 200 RAW exported to JPG for UHH

Maybe it was my settings

You need a quality lens for this type of photography

Feb 10, 2012 00:18:13 #

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

rmcquese wrote:

What would you recommend?

You might try practicing on something just a little more difficult than a hawk in a tree 100yds. away:
A dollar bill in a friend's pocket from the far end of a football field at about 11:30pm.
Get my drift? You're trying to shoot about the most difficult thing there is to shoot. I'm not saying to lower your goals, but maybe lower your expectations.
You're doing great! Never stop trying!

Feb 10, 2012 03:08:09 #

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I shoot a t1i and have a 75-300. I'm not having the problems you're describing - settings? Could be I don't know.

I shot this with this setup at 1/1000 and allowed the camera to set exposure - it was wide open. ISO-200.

Dove in Arizona

Feb 10, 2012 05:58:15 #

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I would go out in the yard and try what I suggested above. You can't go much passed 50-60 yards unless you have good light. Even the good lenses F2.8's will have a hard time with what you are trying. They do make some bad lenses though, some back focus and some front focus.
I got a 28-300 last spring and it took me a few days of playing with it in the yard to get any sharp pictures.
At 300mm on your camera is really around 450mm, that is a long lens. Takes some work to have good shots come out.
If you read the reviews on your lens, seems like folks are pretty happy with it. Go play in the yard. Let me know how it goes. And above all, keep trying and ask questions.
Erv

Feb 10, 2012 06:15:16 #

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I'm going to tell you (and I have HORRIBLE focus issues) that 1/500 at that focal length is not a guarantee of sharpness.

I just can't use the rule of 1/focal length...I'm just not steady enough, so shots that others get, I cannot.

Notice the other poster...same lens but at 1/1000....sharp.

I know that I blamed my lenses until i realized this unfortunate fact about myself.

It appears that you should try to shoot something at a distance using 1/1000 and see if your sharpness comes up any before spending cash on a new lens.

Feb 10, 2012 06:49:18 #

rmcquese Loc: NW Georgia

Was that pic hand help or on a tripod?

With a pic like this then Im sure it is my settings. I will shoot some at 1/1000 sec wide open and see what happens.

Thanks For the comments everyone. This is really helping me.

jimmya wrote:

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