Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM has gotten blurry at full zoom

[davewo]

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.

[cicopo]

My wife can't be paying attention but then again we have separate bank accounts. I left my camera with a newly bought (used) 300 f2.8 L IS on the dining room table for a week and she never asked anything about it.

[davewo]

*Update*

1/30/14 - I have sent my lens to the Canon repair facility in Va. I should hear something next week and will update in case some one else has a similar problem.

[SunnyDez]

Hi.

I have the same lens, purchased several years ago.  It was great for a while andnow I'm realizing the same thing you commented about.  My pictures are soft, even when using a tripod.  How did the repair go with Canon?  Was there a repair needed or just a maintenance/service?  May I askhow much it cost, if there was a repar?

Thanks for posting about this problem.  Much appreciated any updates on your situation!

[timmyleeturner]

I will be courious to know... but mine is the L series 70 to 300.  But I've got to do something quick. Maybe rent one.

[kvbarkley]

---

@timmyleeturner wrote:

I will be courious to know... but mine is the L series 70 to 300.  But I've got to do something quick. Maybe rent one.

---

This topic was bout the non-L black version.

[timmyleeturner]

Yes, but I didn't seem to notice it until I purchased a new 90D, now I cannot get a tac sharp picture.  I shoot motorsports and have fought this for 6000 pics in two weeks and much figure it out... getting ready to send back my 90D to Amazon.  I can switch to my kit 18-135 USM and get sharp pics, but I can also switch the lens back to my old camera and get pretty sharp shots too.

[ebiggs1]

"...getting ready to send back my 90D to Amazon."

What will that fix?

[timmyleeturner]

Get something I like better and works with my lens.