Is the Canon 100-400mm a sharp enough lens?

[Jake]

Hello everyone,

My name is Jake Miille and I am photographer in California. I use a Canon Rebel XSi (Hoping to upgrade to a Canon 7D Mark ii if it comes out in January) as well as a Canon 10-22mm and a 24-105L. I shoot mainly railroads throughout the Western US and sometime 105mm just doesn't cut it. I have been hoping to upgrade my telephoto lens (I do have a kit 55-250 but it's... you know) for awhile. I have seen a few options and I was hoping I could get some of your opinions/advice.

The Canon 100-400 looks like a nice lens and I'm really excited about the coverage it could get me. I am not too worried about the limited aperture because railroad scenes are usually shot on f/7.1 or higher. I have heard the push/pull system can be weird but I have no doubt that I could get use to it. My one concern with this lens is the sharpness and quality. I have heard it is not the sharpest L lens out there and I was wondering how that would affect my photos. I'm a little torn/confused because the lens is Canon L series, but people have discussed it as being a little soft. Does anyone out there have experience with this lens? Is it sharp enough? Will it be worth the money?

If you wouldn't recommend the 100-400, what do you think about the 70-300L? If those two lenses are equal in quality, the 100-400 would give me a better range. Is the 70-300 actually a sharper lens?

Thanks for the help.

[garphoto]

Thank you. The fellow with whom she was in contest, was mesmerized by the reflection of the sun as well and while these are bouts of skill and not speed, he nearly stepped into her rapier.

[cicopo]

That might have hurt, plus soiled the outfit.

[highrockphoto]

I just got my 100 - 400L so I am still getting used to it. Honestly I thought this would never be my "walk-around" lens but after using it a few times, I love it and I belive I can produce better images with it than my old kit Canon 55 - 250mm which is a respectable lens. The bottom line is, I love this lens!

Here are a few images, they are probably not the sharpest in the world but good enough for me. 

ISO  200 | 400 mm | f 5.6 | 1/1000 | not cropped | hand-held

ISO 200 | 260 mm | f 5.6 | 1/1800 | not cropped | hand-held

[cicopo]

I've got good news & bad news. The aircraft shot shows that you need more panning practice with it, which is VERY understandable. It's a much heavier lens than you're used to & it takes time to get the hang of panning. Also did you set the IS to mode 2 for that (off may have been a good choice too) ? If not that may also have hurt the potential sharpness 1/1000 should have provided. In an effort to help you improve try to remember that a good prop plane photo has prop blur making it look like it's actually under power flying through the sky. Unfortunately that takes both remembering to slow the shutter speed & even better panning skills, but with practice you'll get better. Also note that when a prop plane is landing the engines are usually spinning slower than on take offs

Enjoy your new lens, it should provide you with endless possibilities.

[Lulu]

I am very unhappy with my 100-400.  Nothing is sharp.  I even sent it out for calibration and it isn't any better.  I am beginning to think it is back or front focusing although I am not knowledgeable enough to know how to test and fix it myself.  I have ruined several shots with it.

[ScottyP]

Wow.  Hopefully he was not coming for you and your 100-400!

[cicopo]

Lulu, this link might help.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=857871

However having had a 40D which wasn't quite right here's the easy test BUT you must use a tripod & set it up correctly. You'll need 3 targets that are the same (preferable) such as soft drink cans. Set them up at so that they are staggered apart & front to rear but that all 3 can be seen from the camera position. Place the one on the left 1 foot further back than the one in the middle, & the one on the right 1 foot closer than the one in the middle. (You'll need some distance from camera to targets) Set the camera to center AF point only & the camera to Av & select f5.6. (wide open) & use 400 mm. Lock the AF on the middle target & take a few shots but pause in between them to let the camera settle.Move the outer targets further forward & backward but don't move the middle one. Shoot more samples. Download & examine. The center target should always be in focus but the others should be a bit soft, but if one of them is more in focus than the center one you have a camera problem  Repeat as necessary to determine if it actually focusing in front or behind where it says it is.

[ScottyP]

But see this sharpness comparison to the Canon 400 f/5.6 prime...

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/forgotten-400.shtml

That shows a fairly stark difference in sharpness.

[cicopo]

Although I have used Luminous Landscape many times over the years & learned several valuable bits of information from it that test looks like the 100-400 used was out of calibration. I've examined hundreds of images from others & shot thousands with my own that are much sharper than they imply I will see. I've also followed many "which is better" threads over the years without ever seeing that big a difference between the 2. 

[Michaeldigital]

This test came to the same conclusion as the Luminous Landscape test. A large number of 100/400L's were used to make sure results were accurate. The only lens or lens/extender  combo that scored worse than the 100/400L was the 70/200 f2.8 with 2x.

http://www.naturescapes.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=127089