Merlin1300 wrote:
No. My concern was only at the Wide end of the zoom range - namely 18mm.
And lenses are usually sharpest in the middle of their aperture range typically between f/8 and f/16. That's why I want you to take a shot at 18mm and f/3.5
Okay, first, one of the Images (above) was at 18mm (albeit at f4.0).
Anyway, here it is at 18 mm, 1/20 sec at f3.5, ISO 400, Flash fired. It does seem a little soft but I suspect that is because I was unable to hand-hold it very steady at 1/20 sec. In any event, I am still happy with the lens choice... perhaps even more so after all this.
Interestingly, I downloaded PhotoMe and found it already installed. <oops> I guess my real question is how did you use PhotoMe to retrieve the Metadata for the Image in your browser? (I am using Internet Explorer v11.)
Merlin1300 wrote:
To do what I want you'll have to shoot in manual mode with zoom set to 18mm, set f/3.5, shutter 1/60 and pick an ISO that works with that
I'm confused. Weren't we interested in the focus (sharpness) of the lens at different zoom setting? How would the difference between Apertures f3.5 and f4.0 make a great difference?
Merlin1300 wrote:
Well - - we're getting closer - - I'm looking for a center crop of a shot set at the widest your lens will go. This would be the 18mm marking on the lens barrel.
Okay: Again, These are RAW images with camera set to Program and everything set to Auto (except the 400mm was manual focus -- AF would not lock on) and no Post-processing except conversion to Jpeg. The 400mm shot was as far back as I could get.
This Auto Focus issue (see also earlier post) at 400 mm is somewhat concerning but ambient light was somewhat on the dark side so this will take further investigation.
18 mm - 1/60 sec at f4.0, ISO 400.
400 mm - 1/60 sec at f 6.3, ISO 400
Just out of curiosity, what program did you use to get the Metadata from the earlier images?
rmorrison1116 wrote:
I've had the 7D II since its introduction. Technology wise it is getting a little long on the tooth but it is still a great camera and the fastest crop sensor body Canon makes. It is better weather sealed than the original and it is capable of creating excellent images. It also has quite a sophisticated auto focus system.
A Canon refurbished unit would be a great choice if you want a good camera and want to save some money.
I agree 100%. I went from a 7D to a 7D Mark II (the 7D handed down to wife). It is everything I would want in a camera. The Canon Refurbished Camera site is here -
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras. That is where I purchased mine several years ago.
Merlin1300 wrote:
Set that up on your lens under lighting conditions where you can also shoot at 1/60th or faster - - post a center crop.
If I read your request correctly: This (hand-held- auto focus) shot is at 50mm (remember this is a crop sensor camera - 7D Mk II), 1/60 sec at f5.0, ISO 400. I used the built in Flash -- this is a walk-around lens (for me) and there would be times when flash is needed but rarely. The image was not processed beyond opening it in Lightroom and converting to JPG for upload. I don't know if I can post the RAW file.
Maybe it could be sharper, I don't know.
Merlin1300 wrote:
A "Few" rough spots MIGHT have been OK, but a Rough Spot from 18mm to about 100mm is TOTALLY surprising. Lens went back to possibly find a more tolerant home.
I posted the 400mm shots because that was the zoom I was most concerned about. In fact, almost all of the shots that day were at the range. I did take two other shots that were separate from all the others. Both are handheld (which is the way the lens will be used) and are RAW converted to JPG to post here. Both are minimally processed as not being worthy of time spent for such foolishness. Oh! and the camera is set to program because that will be the most common setting while using this lens.
The first is a Sunrise that is processed only as a Lightroom 3-image HDR merge -- otherwise, straight out of camera. It is at 18 mm, ISO 320, 1/125 sec at f/3.5.
The second is processed with LR's Auto Tone only -- and White Balance corrected. It is at 64 mm, 1/125 sec at f/5.0, ISO 4000. It is very noisy because the room was fairly dark and no flash. The focus however seems acceptable to me.
So, as a "Walk-around" lens, I believe I will be happy with it.
RonBoyd wrote:
I received my 18-400 Tamron (Canon mount -- finally) yesterday and was only able to take four shots (7D Mk II) and was not all that impressed either.
I change my mind. Yesterday, I went to the "Wild Animal Sanctuary" to take few shots. Before I left, I put a polarizing filter on the lens... and then promptly forgot I did that. <blush> All of the shots are hand-held -- which was a problem at great distance because I wasn't all that steady and the auto focus kept searching. Oh! and I set the camera to Program and let the camera decide exposure. (They were all shot as RAW files.). These are a couple results:
The lions are about 100 yards away -- the first image is 177mm and the other two are at 400mm. The male image is cropped.
The tiger is even further away -- maybe half again as far -- and it is cropped substantially. Shot at 400mm. This is out-of-focus primarily because I was unable to hold the camera steady and the AF never stopped searching.
The wolf is quite close maybe 40 feet and at 400mm not cropped.
The airplane was the shocker. It was several miles away and was just a white blob to the naked eye. It is at 400mm and cropped substantially.
All of images were processed only with Lightroom's new "Auto" Tone feature.
All things considered, I have no complaints.
Oh! I forgot about that. "Alexa, play WQXR."
Great sound. I will add that to my list... as well as KUSC.
I don't know what I would do without Internet radio. I have a tabletop Sangean wfr-1 radio (now discontinued -
http://www.sangean.com/products/product.asp?mid=23) in my office and use the Yamaha DVR in the Home Entertainment System. My favorites are WWOZ.org (New Orleans) and KUVO.org (Denver) but have been known to listen to many others.
I can also recommend Applian's Replay Radio program (
http://applian.com/replay-radio/) -- it is $2.95 a month subscription or comes as part of the Replay Capture Suite (
http://applian.com/replay-capture-suite/) for a one-time $79. Don't rule out the Suite, however, until you look at all it can do.
Anyway, I use "Replay Radio" to automatically record, for instance, three programs on Sunday morning from WWOZ -- "Hazel and the Delta Ramblers" (very old-time Bluegrass), Cajun and Zydeco w/Charles Laborde or Jim Hobbs," and "Acoustic Blues w/Cousin Dimitri." That way I can listen in my own time and place.
Just out of curiosity: Does anyone like "Slide Show" type of articles? I got to slide three (which is more than usual for me) before my patience ran out and I simply gave up.
Or if so, what is the purpose behind them as opposed to the "normal" way of presenting?
rydabyk wrote:
Is this better?
Yes... however, I really had no complaint with the original image. I merely posted the above link as one way to process the image. FWIW, I did struggle with whether to post that or not.