topic Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 21:12:48 GMT

I have a canon xsi that takes lovely, crisp pics with the EFS 18-55 IS lens and a EF 50 1:1.4. I wanted a zoom to take pictures of sporting events like soccer, baseball, and horseback riding. I purchased Canon zoom EFS 55-250 1:4-5.6 IS. Every single picture I take with this lens is blurry. If a take a photo with a FL of 55 or 250, the image is blurry. If there is action or if I'm zooming in on a still object, the image is blurry. I have used the lens in great lighting conditions, and still blurry images. I have made sure the the settings for the lens include stabilizer "on". I have tried to trouble shoot, but have missed too many shots and need expertise. Not sure if there is more for me to do (operator error), or is this an issue with the lens?

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

Skirball — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:25:59 GMT

The lens, in general, is a fine lens. It's possible that you got a bad copy. If it is truly "every single photo" then most likely this is the case. If you really mean, a lot of images are blurry then it could depend on many things. If you posted a few examples (with EXIF data) it would help us determine if it's the lens or user error.

In general longer lenses require faster shutter speeds to get sharp photos. But if you've taken photos in good light (i.e. fast shutter speeds) and it's still blurry then something is off. Hard to say what that something is without seeing images, otherwise we'll just have to guess. Common questions would be:

Are you able to manual focus and get good photos? Were you in autofocus at all? Did you get confirmation (beep) that AF locks? Is the image clear in the viewfinder? What is the shutter speed? etc.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

cicopo — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 01:33:14 GMT

I doubt that lens has a panning mode capable IS system which may be a big part of your problem. Try turning IS off & see how it works.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

ebiggs1 — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:56:57 GMT

" I have made sure the the settings for the lens include stabilizer "on"."

Also you must remember IS is for camera shake not subject.

You realy need to do a more controlled test. But, just a simple full daylight shot in "P" mode with the lens in AF and the cmera in One Shot AF will tell a lot. It may be good to reset the camera to defaults first and make sure you have a fully chatged battery.

Is that photo sharp?

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 18:56:36 GMT

As you suggested, I reset the camera, put the camera in P mode and made sure the AF was on. I took a few pics of my son kicking a soccer ball.

ISO 800, 1/320, This is typical of the shots I get with this lens. My son was even relatively still during the shot.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 18:58:29 GMT

I added a photo below for you to see. Let m know what you think. Yes, I am using autofocus, yes I had confirmation (beep), yes the image is perfectly clear in the viewfinder. I have tried to manual focus on a distant object, and I still get blur.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 18:58:43 GMT

Thank you.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

cicopo — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 21:30:45 GMT

In my opinion NOTHING in that photo is in focus. It's not looking good for that particular lens but if you have a tripod take a few shots using it & a 10 sec delay to prove whether it's technique or the lens.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

hsbn — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 06:24:14 GMT

This is camera shake blur. Not lens problem.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:09:11 GMT

Then, what would you suggest. The ISO 800 with 1/320 SS? Why so much camera shake at that SS? And the blur is present at both short and long focal lengths? I do not want to use this lens with a tripod because of the nature of moving around to get shots.

Please share with me your advice on improving technique. If another lens would be better, please feel free to suggest that as well.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

cicopo — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 11:58:07 GMT

The suggestion to use a tripod is to verify whether it's a lens problem or bad technique. Whenever a lens problem is suspected the best way to test is by making sure there is no camera shake, and that's done by mounting the camera to something secure.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

ebiggs1 — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:26:22 GMT

What we want to do is to eliminate the camera and lens in this equation. That is why I wanted the camera reset and outside in good daylight. Any camera and lens should work well in that situation.

If you do the test shot from a tripod and still get a photo that looks like the one you posted, the lens is faulty.

I am correct in assuming the other lens you have works as it is expected?

BTW, with a 250mm lens on a crop body, 1/320 is a little on the slow side for hand holding. 1/500 is more better.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

Skirball — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:34:09 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
BTW, with a 250mm lens on a crop body, 1/320 is a little on the slow side for hand holding. 1/500 is more better.

And the EXIF is saying 1/250, not 320... certainly on the cusp, although with IS I would have expected better.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:34:17 GMT

Thank you, everyone, for your input so far. I appreciate the time and expertise you have given to help me answer this question. OK. I had time to take some photos this weekend:

This photo was taken with a tripod with the lens in question:

The following shots were both taken with a standard 18-55mm lens (unedited)

and...

This photo was taken at a good extended trot, so good motion there as well, with clarity throughout.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:50:32 GMT

Thought I should include the same image quality as the first shot (taken with the zoom). When I look at these two shots in aperature, they are sharp images.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

ebiggs1 — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:00:18 GMT

The lens is bad.

To make absolutely sure, try it on a different camera body.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:13:34 GMT

If you were to recommend another moderately priced zoom lens for sports shots (like riding, soccer, baseball), would you do so? Only if you feel comfortable doing so. Thank you.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

ebiggs1 — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:37:19 GMT

What does "moderately" priced mean?

The best buy, bang for the buck, is the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM at around $1100. The best lens period bar none is the Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L II IS at around double price of the Sigma.

Not needing or wanting f2.8, Canon makes the lens in a f4 version and it costs considerably less.

These lenses are constant aperture and they don't extend as you zoom. A real plus in my book.

I don't recommend Tokina or Tamron because of their horrible track record with Customer Support. If you are going to produce hit amd miss lenses, you need good CS! However I just bought a new Tamron and things look very much better. Maybe they will be OK from now on but I don't like to recommend stuff I don't have personal knowledge of. And besides why buy the Tamron when the Sigma is so good and their CS is fine. Or if you have the cash, the Canon is top of the mark and CS is out of sight good.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

hsbn — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:46:22 GMT

Also if you test the lens on tripod, make sure IS is OFF.

Re: Blurry photos with zoom lens

LNieman — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 00:32:59 GMT

Thanks!