Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM has gotten blurry at full zoom
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01-26-2014 02:56 PM
Does this sound familiar to anyone? I have had the 60D and 70-300 lens for about a year now. I use the camera primarily for birding. It used to take very sharp pictures at full zoom even after cropping as long as I was fairly close. Recently I have gone out birding several times, but none of the pictures were sharp. I put this down as operator error for a while until I realised I had not gotten a good shot in quite some time. I did some experimenting using a tripod taking pictures of a birdfeeder right outside a window. At 70mm the images are sharp weven after heavy cropping. At full zoom the pictures are never sharp. I tried turning off IS and using manual focus, but still it appears there is something wrong with the lens. I also have a 50mm 1.4f that takes great pictures so I think that rules out the body. Can a lens be tuned or adjusted? Right now its useless to me.
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01-26-2014 08:55 PM - edited 01-26-2014 09:19 PM
Sounds like internal problems & yes it can be given a "tune up" or be re calibrated but it may also have worn or damaged parts. Either way it needs a trip to a repair shop or Canon.
Edited to add.
By any chance have you recently added a filter to it or do you have a filter on it. If so test without it on the lens to see if that's the problem.
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01-27-2014 11:14 AM
I have not added a filter. In fact, during troubleshhoting I removed the UV filter I have been using for the last year, but there was no difference. Do you know would there be a difference in sending this back to Canon or can a local shop do this kind of work?
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01-27-2014 10:21 AM
Which Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM is it? Is it the white one?
If not, it may not be worth having it fixed as a new one will be nearly the same cost.
If it is not the white one already, this is a good excuse to check one out. They are great lenses.
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.
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01-27-2014 11:12 AM
This lens costs $600.00. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007Y794O/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Does it cost that much to repair? Thats not good. I guess I need to try to find a local shop and see what they say.
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01-27-2014 11:28 AM
No it shouldn't cost $600 but depending on what the problem is, it could be several hundred bucks. I have seen that lens for as low as $330 up to $650, so it would depend on where you get it. Best Buy and some others are selling it for $548 right now.
You must decide if a few hundred, if that is the case, is better for a repaired lens or a few hundred more for a brand new one?
And of course the "great white" Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM is around $1600 bucks. But if you can swing it, it is a fantastic lens. Built like a Sherman tank. It has all the qualities that make it an "L" series lens.
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.
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01-27-2014 11:55 AM
It's hard to estimate a cost when none of us can know whether it just needs calibration or a full tear down & some parts.
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01-27-2014 03:12 PM
I have no problem with the $1600 cost. It's the cost of the subsequent divorce that would soon follow that I have a problem with :). I guess I will just have to check out some one local to take a look.
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01-27-2014 04:16 PM
Another alternative seems to be the newest Tamron 70-300 VC
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01-28-2014 09:51 AM - edited 01-28-2014 09:54 AM
"... the subsequent divorce that would soon follow ..."
I am aware of that feeling!
But after some 40 or 50 lenses and a few dozen cameras she gave in and I don't really know if she knows when a new one comes home or not.
But since I retired I don't buy much anymore. For one thing I will never use all the stuff I have now.
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.