EF 100-400MM F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Blurry photos on EOS 60D

[Traveller]

i use Canon 60D and until today with simple lenses.

I wanted to step on the level and i buy super lens - Canon EF 100-400MM F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and it should be one of the highest level in lenses. the photos are ok but not sharp like photos i see on the internet and galleries, and the photos are little blurry - i want to see all the most little details in the photo, and i don't... 
I tried to reset all settings and deleted all settings, i tried to play in another situations and still don't get the perfect shot.

if you see closer, you can see the photo is not perfect - its not sharp as it should be.

what am I missing?

Please - your help. and thanks'...f7.1 1/10s iso-100 400mmf7.1 1/640 iso-2000 321mmf7.1 1/1000 iso-2000 400mmf7.1 1/640 iso-1000 400mmf7.1 1/1600 iso-2000 400mmf7.1 1/10s iso-100 400mmf8 1/1600s iso-2000 400mmf5.6 1/2500 iso-2000 400mmf6.3 1/1600 iso-2000 400mmf7.1 1/1600 iso-2000 263mm

[Waddizzle · Accepted solution]

Do you shoot RAW or JPG?  

Do you use any filters?

Is there any particular reason why all your images only 999 x 666 resolution?  At least the three that I downloaded are 999x 666.  This means the images may look soft.  Very soft.

Can you post a link to the original file from the camera?  Use DropBox, OneDrive, Google Drive or some other public file sharing service.

This file looks to be a good diagnostic, too, except it seems like it could be significantly cropped.  Nevertheless, I conclude the camera/lens combo probably does not AFMA correction, something which the 60D may not have, anyway.

[Traveller]

Hi and thanks

sorry - what is DPP ?

[kvbarkley]

"Digital Photo Professional" Canon's free RAW processor. You can get it from your camera's support page.

[Traveller]

ill search it now  and ill check and show it here...   (interesting) 

thanks

[Traveller]

As you can see, its very bad...  it need to be perfect with my new lens

[Traveller]

[p4pictures]

Can you also press CTRL I to show the extended information panel while viewing the images in DPP. It will give you a panel like this one which will help  the forum members give you more information as to how to get better pictures with your lens and camera.

[Traveller]

hi

here all the details..

[p4pictures]

Thank you for this information, it does help with identifying some aspects to work on.

You have a single AF point selected in the centre of the available 9 AF points on your camera, and are using one-shot AF. In the earlier screen shot the highlighted AF point is not on the front of the moth, but above it. To me it looks like you focussed and then recomposed your shot since the AF locks automatically in one-shot AF. Recomposing especially at close distance with a large lens can result in the camera to subject distance changing, even by a few fractions of an inch. As you are shooting at f/6.3 and 400mm focal length the depth of field at such close distance will be minimal which further acerbates the result of recomposing after focus lock.

I suggest that you focus and then take the photo rather than recompose.  This ensures that the focus should be optimal and with 18MP you can adjust the crop a little with DPP or other programs after taking the shot. Equally you might want to give AI servo AF a try, this will keep the focus updating until you take the shutter is released, but is really important that you keep the AF point on the moth's head. 

With a lens such as your EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, the Image Stabilisation is optimised for more distant subjects where small angular movement needs to be corrected. When using the lens at close range, near minimum focus distance it is less effective so increasing the shutter speed as well as accurate focus is key.

Lastly, I know that you want to minimise the noise in the photos, but going from ISO 100 to ISO 200 will allow for faster shutter speed or more aperture value to extend the depth of field and there's no significant difference in the image quality between ISO 100 and 200 on your EOS 60D. You could even try ISO 400.

[kvbarkley]

I wouldn't call this "very bad". One problem with an image like this is that after focus is set, you can move the handheld lens back and forth a bit losing focus. That is why the 100mm macro has the new IS system that can compensate for front and back movements.

If you really want to check focus and sharpness, try this technique:

https://bobatkins.com/photography/technical/lens_sharpness.html

[Traveller]

thanks  but  "This site can’t be reached" 🙄