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

I agree that closer is always better with birds, but I'll post this test shot from a couple days ago. I was testing the 70-200 with a 2.0x TC. Not micro focus adjustment has been done with this combination. I am interested in comparing this combination to a 100-400 L lens for sharpness. I don't have that lens but so far this combination's sharpness seems acceptable to me. what do you think on that question?

I have displayed the EXIF data for all to see. This is straight out of the camera and the focus was on the stop sign which was probably 500-600 feet away and the buildings another 600 feet behind that. Focus was on the stop sign. Shot hand held. You can see that I shot at a much higher shutter speed and at ISO 800, but wide open at F5.6. I post the EXIF screen shot and the original for you to examine also. One issue is the lens in question is perhaps not a very high quality lens. I believe I had that lens and now my daughter has it. I used to shoot motocross volleyball and train photos with it. I do think much better results should be possible than what the OP is getting.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

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burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Looks like motion blur to me. 300mm on APS-C needs at least 1/450 second, preferably 1/1000 or faster.

Try supporting the camera with a beanbag, monopod, tripod...

Toment Loc: FL, IL

👍👍👍

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I think you need a new lens AND camera! What you have now makes your neighbor's house look all weird!
BTW, I have the 70-200 2.8 II and the 100-400 II. Don't have a 2x extender but I do have the EF 1.4x III. I think you will find that the 100-400 is hard to beat when compared to the 70-200 and 2x extender. To me, the stop sign looks just a bit soft.

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

I will start saving for an upgrade and photography lessons too!!! That's just the way we build our houses here... No micro focus adjustments have been done...straight out of the box. Maybe it would be interesting if you got the chance to go out and shoot a stop sign at 500' at about the same time of day with your 100-400 and we could compare...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

agillot

i have in some way a similar issue [ nikon D300 ].going to the numeral menus , found that the camera was set at 6 mp , so went to full size [ 12 mp , set at jpeg fine , and cancel any kind of compression .will see , that should help . the problem comes up on cropping , the pic fall apart too quickly . raining today , so maybe tomorrow .ton of various birds in winter in san diego . ospreys now are making nests , and blue herons in pine trees next to bay .

catchlight.. Loc: Wisconsin USA- Halden Norway

Are you on Servo mode for a moving subject?

What does a static test show on a focus card or other sharpness target?

Can you hear the drive motor working?

Do you have another lens or camera body to compare? ...find someone who has one or go to a camera store.

Trabor

Well I down loaded into photoshop, used the "Select focus" tool which indicates that the best focus was in the pile of wood chips down and to the right of the bird
used the "shake reduction" tool which provides a graphic of the measured shake at selected portions of the pic
it shows minimum shake in the previously noted region, with shake increasing as you move away from that area, the direction of shake varies with location

I think this indicates twisting of the camera during exposure

LaoXiang

Actually common among newer photographers ... or those who get distracted and forget technique now and then, like myself. Squeezing the shutter button torques the camera just enough to blur the image ... in top of other motion.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

D800, hand held, 600mm 1/25 sec

uncropped

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little tiny detail crop

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gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Lack of contrast is a problem too. Hard for the eye to find something to focus on in the first place. Eliminate the shake and it still won't "look sharp".

LaoXiang

Yeah, and I know some shooters who do amazingly sharp pans on objects moving at high speed 500 feet away using shutter speeds of half a second ... but most people cannot.

I applaud your superb steadiness. But in a way it is like someone saying, "Just run that 100 meters in nine seconds ..." and finding out the poster is Usain Bolt.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Were you using any form of vibration reduction?

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I'm not a pixel peeper but I agree that the added contrast in the extreme crop adds an appearance of sharpness. Post processing can help a lot too. I do this all the time.

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

Looks like some camera shake. Don't know if your lens has a image stabilizer, but if it did, you have to hold AF for a second so for the stabilizer to be effective.