Canon 100-400 vii lens - Pictures could be sharper Need help!

[Summerlee340]

Okay, so it could be me - I'm not a total noob, but who knows. Been shooting with my Canon Rebel T3i for several years. Mostly used my 55-250 kit lens and at times I got some tack sharp photos from that lens

Regarding my new 100-400 vii lens, I have yet to get a crisp shot - the shots are just okay to me. Granted I am hand holding the camera and lens when  trying to take photos, and it is a bit heavy (mostly of birds and wildlife) but I do have the IS on.  I usually shoot on M but lately I've been using TV mode - my photos are okay but they just are not sharp enough.  I have it on AF - and sometimes it takes a few seconds to focus.

Even with my tripod, again, the shots are okay - some are passable, but I know what sharp is as I've taken a few with my 55-250 and so far I'm not cutting it.  

I usually have the lens to full zoom at 400 and I try to keep the shutter speed at least 400 as I've read the focal length should be reciprocal to the shutter speed.  My histogram looks great quite often...

Question/Issues:  Perhaps I am too far away from my subject? Birds are so skittish so I usually stand maybe  20 feet away.

 I thought with the larger zoom that meant I wouldn't have to be as close to my subject .  

So am I too far away?

If someone has a few moments, perhaps I can get some advice or point me to a great website....Thanks very much.

[Summerlee340]

ebiggs, thank you for your comments about my photos. The squirrel, if I recall, I didn't think of focusing on the eye. The bird, same thing - they move so fast.  The butterfly, I focused on the butterfly - at least I think I did.

Interesting about lens correction. 

I never used the disk that came with my camera (got the camera as a gift  in 2012). I will have to check it out. I wonder if there is a more current one - I will research that.  Anyhow - I agree about setting the ISO myself-I am trying every which way that is suggested. You are so right - experience is the best teacher - when I look back at my photos from 2012 I can see a difference.

You mention "high speed shooting"?  Do you mean AI Focus the one that detects movement and changes to mode automatically?

Thank you for your comments!

[Summerlee340]

diverhank,

Thank you for taking the time to comment. 

My focus mode is a single point in the middle - I wil try again (and again) and focus on the eye.

I don't why, but I never looked at the disks that came with the camera. I don't see a DPP disk. I see a disk for basic controls and a disk for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 with a 30 day trial.

 I imagine there must be a free download of DPP somewhere on line.     Perhaps Canon's website?

[Summerlee340]

Wadizzle,

Thank you!  I'm trying. I need more practice - I go for weeks sometimes without taking photos and then I am out there every day. Need to be more consistent.

I like what you said that they "tremble like a tuning fork".  From what others say, I need to focus on the eye. 

My Manfrotto tripod appears to be sturdy. I took a basic photo course at a high school recently and the instructor said he puts his camera bag on the tripod to sturdy it even further.  Anyway, next I will take shots with the tripod. 

Yikes is right - would hate to see my gear get crushed. Didn't know that about the center column.

I appreciate the detailed comments. There is nothing like the feeling when I get a crisp shot. I need to get much more of them!

[ebiggs1]

"You mention "high speed shooting"?  Do you mean AI Focus the one that detects movement and changes to mode automatically?"

High speed is the 'motor drive' for a DSLR. It fires multiple shots very rapidly.  My camera fires 10 frames per second, FPS.  I don't remember how fast yours is but it is quick.  Wildlife make small quick changes in their movements and sometimes this will catch it.  You may shoot 10 frames in a second and only get one in critical focus.  But you might have missed it all together with just one chance. 

IMHO, avoid Ai-servo shooting. It will throw you off for now.  Concentrate on One Shot but select the High Speed function.  It might be called 'continous mode' on your camera with a high and a low option.

[Summerlee340]

Yes I use that mode you are correct it's called continuous.

[TTMartin]

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@Summerlee340 wrote:

Do you mean AI Focus the one that detects movement and changes to mode automatically?

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Do NOT use AIFocus!

For moving subjects or subjects that may move use AIServo.

[diverhank]

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@Summerlee340 wrote:

 I imagine there must be a free download of DPP somewhere on line.     Perhaps Canon's website?

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You can download them at the Canon website:

Canon T3i Download website

[Summerlee340]

Great! Thank you

[Waddizzle]

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@Summerlee340 wrote:
Great! Thank you

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I think you need to check your camera's default AF point setting.

You will get the most consistent results by using the largest AF point in the center.  Here is the legend.

The active AF point was the one near the squirrels belly. Focusing on the branch he's sitting on is not necessarilly a bad thing.  I sometimes focus on branches to pick a bird sitting a on branch, among a multitude of branches.   Your depth of field at this distance and focal length is less than an inch.  

But the sharpest part of the image seems to be the tree behind the squirrel.  Seeing where the focus point is, and how the sharpest part of the image seems to be behind the focus point, it may seem that the lens back focuses a bit. I zoomed in to the AF point that was indicated as locked. 



Of course, the AF point display can be misleading because you may have recomposed the shot, especially since you used One Shot mode to take the picture.  I think this image shows the camera focuses fairly accurately. 

I still think this little guy was trembling.  Notice how the head and feet seem to be in focus, but the body seems less sharp, even though all is about the same distance to the camera.

[Summerlee340]

Hi, Wadizzle, 

I read everything you just said and I am loving that breakdown of information. It's from Lightroom, correct? I can't recall, but I think either you or someone else said that LR will automatically diagnose photos upon uploading onto a computer.

Questions or comments (if you have time!-Thanks!)

1. On the squirrel photo (which is on a bench) and on most of my photos, I have the AF point setting 99% of the time at "Manual" with the largest point in  the middle.  If I set it to the middle point in this photo (unless maybe I didn't - can't recall) I wonder why the locked AF point is below the middle point and on the belly of the squirrel.  I don't know if the middle point is the default or not...And how would I check if it is the default. If I set it, shouldn't it remain at what I set it at?

2.  I have been recomposing my shots, but I can't recall if I did in this photo.  My next practice session I am going to make a point to focus on animals' eyes.  Sometimes I'm in such a rush to capture a photo and don't think as much as I should.

3. You mention that my DOF and focal length is less than an inch - what does this mean?

4. If this lens seems that it may back focus, what can I do about that?

5.  Finally, there is a note on your comment that you "don't rent software".  How expensive is Lightroom? How does one get Lightroom - do I rent it? Buy it?  I ask because some people tell me they rent it and that it should not be bought because it eventually becomes outdated. Don't want to spend a lot - I have no idea how much it would cost. I will look it up but would like your opinion.

6. You mention the camera focuses fairly accurately - but isn't it also the lens? That is what I'm concerned about. 

7.  The next step for me is to put the camera and the 100-400 on my tripod and take some photos.  I want to buy a wireless remote control for my camera. I have an Altura, it worked once, then it died. I put in a new battery - still dead. So I'm going to order a Canon remote. If you have any thoughts on which remote, I'm all ears - otherwise, I think I've asked plenty of questions here.

 I really enjoy photography and plan on learning a lot more. Thank you so much - I absolutely appreciate the time you've taken. That focus information is so helpful