RF800mm F11 IS STM Images do not seem sharp...ringing around image

[dcomora]

I am new to Canon products and recently purchased an R5 with the the RF 800 fixed f11 lens.  I have been shooting birds over the past few months.   I have been comparing my shots to those I see posted on line and it seems I am not able to get the sharp focus that I see others getting.  I am using the animal eye focus setting, I am shooting at  shutter speeds of  between 1000 and 2000, my ISO is usually never above 2000.   I have the image stabilization engaged and I most recently used a tripod.   When I zoom into my images, I see a little "ringing" around the outside of the birds and birds eyes.   Someone said I should use Topaz AI sharpen to get sharper images, but I am thinking that should not be necessary.  Is it possible that the lens is out of calibration or am I still doing something wrong?  I also have an R 25 - 105 lens and photos are super sharp. Any advice would be appreciated. 

[dcomora]

Thanks for your post.  When I Zoom into your photo, I am not seeing any of the ghosting or ringing that I am seeing with my 800mm lens.  This is more along the lines of what I expected to see with my lens, which makes me think there may be an issue with the lens.  I have tried animal eye focus, spot focus, manual focus and I cannot get a real sharp image with the lens.  My bird shot that I posted earlier was about 40 feet away.   

[Waddizzle]

---

@dcomora wrote:

Thanks for your post.  When I Zoom into your photo, I am not seeing any of the ghosting or ringing that I am seeing with my 800mm lens.  This is more along the lines of what I expected to see with my lens, which makes me think there may be an issue with the lens.  I have tried animal eye focus, spot focus, manual focus and I cannot get a real sharp image with the lens.  My bird shot that I posted earlier was about 40 feet away.   

---

I would not expect particular good results with any of those focusing approaches.  

As I pointed out earlier, Eye AF only works when you use one of the Zone AF point selection modes.  It does not work with just a single AF point.  If you only had a single AF point enabled, such as Spot AF, then your Eye AF could never turn on , even though you may have selected it to be enabled.

Testing using manual focus is good advice, but you need to select better test subjects or targets.  Casual photos such as those you have posted can easily lead you to the wrong conclusions. You need positive confirmation of where you are focused.

Also, what software you using to process the images?  If you are using the Canon DPP4 software, it can show you where you locked AF point is located, assuming that you actually had a locked AF point when the shutter fired.  

You could have a bad lens.  If you are taking test shots on a tripod, then I highly recommend using the shutter delay timer.  I would also shoot in Av mode, ISO 100, and let the camera calculate the correct shutter speed.

[ebiggs1]

"Zoom into your photo, I am not seeing any of the ghosting or ringing that I am seeing with my 800mm lens."

You can't do that because your photo is OOF or camera movement or something else. So comparing it to a good shot and trying to analyse it is fruitless.

They very first thing you need to do is test it.  You need a good subject that is flat like a newspaper. Tape it to a wall and make sure it can't move. Now mount your gear on a "sturdy" tripod. set ISO 400 or so. Good bright daylight. Use One shot never AI-servo or any other mode. Just the center focus point. No IS, turn it off. Take some shots and vary the f-stop and the ISO. Always Raw never jpg. And for this test P mode is fine! Let the camera/lens do the focusing, not you.

This will tell you what you have.  It will also tell you if the problem is with the gear or yourself. If you have Photoshop open the Raw file with it and do the customary adjustments in ACR. Or, if you have something like Dropbox u/l a unaltered sample Raw and I will open it in PS for you.

[dcomora]

I was able to rent the same RF800 F11 IS STM lens from my local Unique Photo this afternoon and I did some comparison shooting.  The images I collected handheld of birds in flight were amazing.  I swapped the rental lens with my lens and took a couple of handheld shots for comparison.  I'll post them below.  The first is of a cell tower.  The image on left is the rental lens.  The difference between lenses is obvious, especially if you zoom in. 

[dcomora]

This comparison of a bird house, hand held is the Canon Raw files... You can see the ringing or ghosting of the image on my lens on the right side at the roof of the bird house.  The rental lens is spot on.  You may need to zoom into images. 

[Waddizzle]

I'm convinced. You have a bad copy.  Contact Canon Support to arrange a service ticket.

[dcomora]

For comparisson, I just shot the same subject using my R24-105 lens at same settings at 105mm... just moved closer.  Seems to show a lot more detail and better focus. 

[Waddizzle]

---

@dcomora wrote:

Hi, Thanks for your input.  I am using the Animal Eye focus, which I have set up for back focus on the AF-ON button.  I also have spot focus on the "*" button which I use if I can't get the animal eye focus to catch or if it is stuck on the wrong subject.  Here is shot taken on a tripod of a very stil Jackalope. the specs are 8192 x 5464 (before crop).. size is 7.63MB, F11, exposure time 1/1250, iso 1250 also,  Used the animal eye focus. 

---

I don't think Animal Eye AF works with Spot AF.  I think you need to be in one of the Zone AF modes.

[kvbarkley]

Are you shooting RAW?

What you describe sounds like jpeg artifacts.

Can you supply a sample?

[dcomora]

I had to crop the photo to get it upder 5MB, but as you blow up the photo, the detail on the feathers, etc... just seems unclear and there is slight ringing around beak...this is probably the sharpest photo i have been able to get.  This is a jpeg, but the CR3 file is the same.  

Dimensions 8182 x 5464, size 11.1 MB (full photo with out crop), Canon EOS R5, f11, exposure 1/1250 sec. ISO 2000.   

Thanks for any thoughts!!!

David