Canon 75-300mm III Lens not sharp

[scapilot]

I've had this lens for many years and tried everything from diffrent bodies (eos Rebel and t5) and still all of my shots (Near or Far) are not clear. I have to photoshop everyone of them to get them clear. Is it the lens or something else?

[Tronhard]

The Canon 75-300 is a cheap kit lens and is arguably Canon's worst telephoto effort optically.  If you really want some decent images, get a replacement.

If you want something with the same reach then there are alternatives: read my review:

https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/Lenses/Non-L-70-300-Canon-Lenses/m-p/262318#M14886

You could pick up a MkI version (which is stil way better than the 75-300) for a song most likely, but the MkII is definitely a great lens and you could probably get one refurbished from Canon if you check their website.

Do you still shoot with the T5 and Rebel (which model)?  I have a fair range, so I am pretty confident I can find a comparible one and put the EF 70-300 MkII version on that.  Also what subjects do you shoot - I'll see what I can find that might be similar and will post a couple of images to this thread for your consideration.

In the meantime I will take a Canon EOS 80D with me - that should be more demanding than the bodies you referred to.

[scapilot]

I'm using my T5 solely and I have a very slim budget due to to coronavirus issue and no work 😞 .. I'll definitely look into an alternative lens.. thanks 

[Tronhard]

Right.. so, I went for a walk in the fall sunshine this morning, visiting a local graveyard that has some lovely walks and the Pacifica graves are amazingly colourful and unique, so I thought they might prove interesting subjects.  I have tried to take a selection of images covering focal length, distance, aperture etc.   All images were brought into Photoshop to make them small enough to be able to post here, but I did very little apart from that - one image I cropped quite a bit to make a point.

Canon EOS 80D, EF-70-300 IS USM 4-5.6 MkII, 278mm, f/5.6, 1/250sec, ISO-100

Canon EOS 80D, EF-70-300 IS USM 4-5.6 MkII, 79mm, f/5, 1/40sec, ISO-100

Canon EOS 80D, EF-70-300 IS USM 4-5.6 MkII, 113mm, f/5, 1/500 sec, ISO-100

Canon EOS 80D, EF-70-300 IS USM 4-5.6 MkII, 300mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO-100

Canon EOS 80D, EF-70-300 IS USM 4-5.6 MkII,135mm, f/18, 1/40 sec, ISO-100

Canon EOS 80D, EF-70-300 IS USM 4-5.6 MkII, 300mm, f/11, 1/320 sec, ISO-200

Canon EOS 80D, EF-70-300 IS USM 4-5.6 MkII, 300mm, f/11, 1/320 sec, ISO-200

(Previous Image Cropped)

Canon EOS 80D, EF-70-300 IS USM 4-5.6 MkII, 238mm, f/8, 1/25 sec, ISO-100

[Tronhard · Accepted solution]

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@scapilot wrote:

I'm using my T5 solely and I have a very slim budget due to to coronavirus issue and no work 😞 .. I'll definitely look into an alternative lens.. thanks 

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Ah, sorry.  I had been posting the samples when you made this reply.

Well, if the budget is slim and you prefer not to wait, then I would recomment the MkI version of this lens too.  In my post reviewing the Non-L lenses, you will have seen the sample of the seagull taken with that lens.   Not likely to be available new, but you could get a used, or preferably refurbished one for a fairly low price.

I just looked at the Canon USA refurb site and there is a Mk II available for $359, if that is of any interest - I would suggest selling your old 75-300 lens.  Otherwise, try a second-hand website...

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/refurbished-lenses#facet:-8109841011081011...

Good luck and my condolances on your trying times.  The world has changed a lot, very quickly, and I fear there will be a new reality afterwards.  I cannot express how luck I feel to live where I do.

[Tronhard]

As another thought. The Canon EF-S 55-250 IS STM lens could be an economical alternative.  They are generally significantly cheaper and though they have a shorter reach, depending up on what you are trying to photograph, they coud give you what you seek.  NOTE get the latest STM version and not the earlier IS or IS II ones.

Being a kit lens there are tons of them around on the market and you could likely pick up an STM version for not a great investment.  On the same Canon Refurb site there is a STM version for $216.

I have this lens and for most purposes it does a great job and should be a great partner to your T5.  (not sure if that is the T5 or T5i...

Canon EOS 60D, EF-S 55-250 IS STM, 89mm, f/8, 1/1600 Sec, ISO-200

Canon EOS 650D (Rebel T4i), EF-S 55-250 IS STM, 57mm, f/8, 1/200 sec, ISO-200

Canon EOS 60D, EF-S 55-250 IS STM, 109mm, f/11, 1/200sec, ISO-200

Canon EOS 80D, EF-S 55-250 IS STM, 105mm, f/7.1, 1/250 sec, ISO-800

Canon EOS 7DMkII, EF-S 55-250 IS STM, 140mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 sec, ISO-200

[scapilot]

Wow.. beautiful shots ! That's exactly what I was looking for. Clear sharp photos. I looked at a few lenses online last night and I found a couple of them for around 400.00 and that's something I can work with. I'll get one once my stimulus check gets here.. lol. Thanks for sharing. Keep the photos coming.

[ebiggs1]

"I have to photoshop everyone of them to get them clear."

It is tough to impossible to make a soft picture sharp with PS.   I am curious to exactly what you do to make a soft photo have better IQ.  Can you post with steps you use?  BTW, adding clarity doesn't sharpen a photo. It simply defines edges.

[Tronhard]

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@scapilot wrote:

Wow.. beautiful shots ! That's exactly what I was looking for. Clear sharp photos. I looked at a few lenses online last night and I found a couple of them for around 400.00 and that's something I can work with. I'll get one once my stimulus check gets here.. lol. Thanks for sharing. Keep the photos coming.

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If funds are an issue, and I would assume they are, then DO consider getting a refurb unit from Canon.  They come with a warranty and they have been fully serviced by their specialists, so they are just as good as new, but for less money.  About the only thing you will miss is that the lenses may come in a white box instead of the normal livery.

[scapilot]

Sorry it took so long getting back.

Using Corel After Shot Pro. I select the sharpening option and slide the amount to desired sharping.