topic Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm in EF & RF Lenses

70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

MBURK_GVL — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 17:41:58 GMT

I have an issue for some time now where images I shoot at 200 mm at 2.8, 4, and to some degree 5.6 are blurry. They are not out of focus, but the images have a soft, blurry quality to them. I suspect the only way to resolve this is to send the lens in for repair, but was wondering if anyone else had similar issues and has a diagnosis. I have attached a sample image. Thanks

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 18:25:58 GMT

What focus points are you using?

Does this happen if you set the camera to P mode and One Shot AF?

What if you switch off Image Stabilization?

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

ebiggs1 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 21:22:43 GMT

"They are not out of focus, ..."

Yes, it is.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

ebiggs1 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 21:25:41 GMT

You deleted all the EXIF data so I can't tell much about your settings but the side bar indicates you used Ai-servo. Turn it off for a shot like that.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

Waddizzle — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 21:47:09 GMT

That is a screenshot, not a sample image. But, at least we can see the EXIF data ... and then some. Does that say you are zoomed in 1:1, or 100%? Have you been pixel peeping?

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

MBURK_GVL — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 21:57:07 GMT

ebriggs1 - It is difficult even for me when looking at the image on my LCD screen or computer screen to tell whether the image is in focus or not, but when comparing the image to others that have truly been out of focus, I can assure you this particular image is not out of focus. A series of several images of this moment all exhibit the same characteristics. And I’d have to counter that in this particular situation where a subject is walking towards me, which he was, AI-Servo really is the appropriate AF setting.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

RobertTheFat — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 22:04:38 GMT

@MBURK_GVL wrote:
ebriggs1 - It is difficult even for me when looking at the image on my LCD screen or computer screen to tell whether the image is in focus or not, but when comparing the image to others that have truly been out of focus, I can assure you this particular image is not out of focus. A series of several images of this moment all exhibit the same characteristics. And I’d have to counter that in this particular situation where a subject is walking towards me, which he was, AI-Servo really is the appropriate AF setting.

What shutter speed were you using? When an entire picture is blurry but not OOF, it's usually because of camera movement.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 22:07:21 GMT

If you are using AI SERVO are you placing the focus point on the subject and pressing the shutter button half way for about ½ second before pressing fully.

If an image isn’t sharp you basically have two choices - motion blur caused by too slow a shutter speed or out of focus. Do you have any other possibilities you can think of?

Looking at the image there is no evidence of motion blur, supported by the 1/800 shutter speed. So, if the image isn’t sharp it must be out of focus.

I know you can’t reproduce this image, but can you try similar images at 150mm and 200mm?

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

MBURK_GVL — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 22:12:55 GMT

I was shooting at 1/800th so camera shake really wouldn’t be an issue. I don’t autofocus with the shutter button, I use back button focusing, and yes I was using AI-Servo. I will do some tests. From my recollection, it seems this only happens at 200mm. I looked at a series of several images of this moment and they all had the same blurry quality. I say that I am fairly confident the focus is not off only because I have never been able to see a different point in the image that appears to be sharper or more in focus in images that exhibit this quality.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

MBURK_GVL — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 22:27:10 GMT

What is really confounding is that there are some situations where the images are perfectly sharp. Here are three screenshots, zoomed in, showing three different apertures.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 22:35:07 GMT

Download Canon DPP software from the Canon site and check where the focus point is on your images.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

Waddizzle — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 23:55:05 GMT

@MBURK_GVL wrote:
What is really confounding is that there are some situations where the images are perfectly sharp. Here are three screenshots, zoomed in, showing three different apertures.

Screenshots are not really helpful in evaluating the IQ of images.

I see that you are using AI Servo focusing. Which AF point(s) are you using?

What drive mode are you using, One Shot or Continuous? If you are using Continuous Drive, then what are your 1st and 2nd Image priority settings? This last is crucial, because they control whether or not the camera can fire the shutter before it can lock focus.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

ebiggs1 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 13:48:18 GMT

" Here are three screenshots, zoomed in, showing three different apertures."

Which absolutely proves there is nothing wrong with the lens. The problem has to be with you. In the situation with the man you do not need Ai-servo. It probably just missed focus or as others have indicated motion blur. Sometimes it doesn't need over thinking.

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

Kaylyn1111 — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 21:40:11 GMT

Hello there!

Did you find out what needed fixed? Camera and/or Lens?

I am having similar issues as you described. It's been hard to explain that it's an intermitten issue, doesn't happen every shot, and that I know it's not user error...although I was hoping it was me, as it would be MUCH easier and cheaper to fix my brain than continue to do tests that don't explain the issue. *deep breath*

I've done tests on tripod, 100iso, different bodies, different lenses, etc. Nothing seems to show me the reason for the intermitten blurry images I see on my monitor when home from a shoot(outdoor senior sessions).

I just want to know if I should send in my lens...or if my camera(new 7 months ago) needs to be sent back. I MISS MY LOCAL CAMERA STORE SOOOO MUCH!!

Body is 6dii and lens that i use for senior sessions is 70-200 2.8 L USM Shutter speeds/settings are fast enough that there should not be this blurring problem. I guess I need to find myself a test subject and go out to test withOUT having camera on tripod. Urgh...this is super hard to explain... again, I WISH it was user error.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for sharing your experience/outcome with what sounds like a very very similar issue!!

*HUGS*

Re: 70-200 2.8 L IS II blurry at 200mm

jrhoffman75 — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 23:07:14 GMT

Hi kaylyn. Welcome to the fporum.

Can you post one or two problem images to DropBox or OneDrive with a link here so we can see what you are seeing?