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04/26/2005 08:44:56 PM · #1 |
I just got my lens and so far so good. I really haven't had too much time to play with it. I have read that there are soft focus issues with this lens. Is there anything that I should look for or test to see if I have any of those issues?
BTW, this lens is really big and heavy, but that's not a complaint. I think that makes me a Bad Ass!! LOL! |
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04/26/2005 08:49:16 PM · #2 |
I ordered one on friday, and the demo I got was most impressive...and no soft focus. I tested 24/30/35/40/45/50/60 and 70mm using my own body and when I looked at the files there was really no problem.
This lens is BadAss your quite right... I've been pretty much only using my 70-200L 2.8 IS USM since I upgraded to the 1DsMkII because of it's full frame, my 16-35 became way to wide...so I'm looking forwared to getting it!! |
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04/26/2005 08:53:17 PM · #3 |
Shoot some close-in candid portraits or other subject with fine detail wide open and look at the fine detail and whether the focus is on the point you expected. Use the center focus point and be careful not to recompose or move after locking focus.
If you have a flash that you can bounce off a ceiling, use that. At 70mm, you'll probably notice a little softness at f/2.8, but toward the middle or the wide end, it should be quite sharp wide open. That seems to be the behavior of the lens if everything is right.
I suspect that the 20D body will give excellent focusing resutls with this lens. Let us know what you find.
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04/26/2005 08:55:26 PM · #4 |
Am I gonna hafta defend my firt-place spot on the 24-70L page??
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04/26/2005 09:06:27 PM · #5 |
| Thanks for the input. I hope to get to play with it tomorrow sometime. I'll definitely post some shots of my findings. |
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04/26/2005 09:07:33 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Am I gonna hafta defend my firt-place spot on the 24-70L page??
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That's a GREAT shot!!. If I get a chance to get into NYC, I'll see if any of my shots can come close. |
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04/28/2005 05:03:42 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Shoot some close-in candid portraits or other subject with fine detail wide open and look at the fine detail and whether the focus is on the point you expected. Use the center focus point and be careful not to recompose or move after locking focus.
If you have a flash that you can bounce off a ceiling, use that. At 70mm, you'll probably notice a little softness at f/2.8, but toward the middle or the wide end, it should be quite sharp wide open. That seems to be the behavior of the lens if everything is right.
I suspect that the 20D body will give excellent focusing resutls with this lens. Let us know what you find. |
I'm shooting 20d with the 24-70L, and yes, am noticing some softness and as Kirbic mentioned, sometimes the focus point is NOT where I intended it, especially on the close-in portraits with f/2.8. I usually use the center focus point and get that on the eyes, and then recompose the shot while holding focus lock. Either I also change the distance (however slight would matter if I'm close in enough to the subject? (someone with better understanding please confirm this?)) as I recompose, or there's something else going on, as I'm as likely to get soft eyes as I am to get sharp ones.
I've been experimenting with using greater depth of field, and the bokeh is still quite good at f/3.2 or even f/4, and this is yielding better sharpness in the areas that I want sharp.
On the lens build issue, this is a satisfying lens to hold. The weight can be considerable, but not too much. And although I've not dropped it yet (knock on wood), I'd have more confidence that it could take a fall than I would in other lenses.
Message edited by author 2005-04-28 05:05:20. |
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04/28/2005 06:18:34 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by robgo:
Either I also change the distance (however slight would matter if I'm close in enough to the subject? (someone with better understanding please confirm this?)) as I recompose, or there's something else going on, as I'm as likely to get soft eyes as I am to get sharp ones. |
Hi-ho,
I've noticed this phenomina with the 70-200 @ F/2.8 as well.. And my theory for the day is this:
When you focus then recompose you're going to loose focus, because you're shiting the 'focus plain' slightly.. When you focus with any lens, the in focus area (DOF) is a flat plain, perpendicular to the direction you're pointing the camera. If you move the camera slightly, you shift this 'flat plane' of focus slightly as well. Ergo, your shots are out of focus.
What I've found from the playing around I've done so far with the 70-200 is that if you're working in close don't recompose. Instead I compose with the intention of cropping, or manually focus. Using a single (non-center) focusing point works OK most of the time, but they are not as accurate as the center (Cross) sensor on the 20D.
Hmmmm, that made sense, right?
I'll draw a picture. :-).
Back in a tick.
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04/28/2005 06:34:04 AM · #9 |
Excuse the suspect quality of my diagram...
If you consider that at 70mm and F2.8 and a typical 'head shot' distance of 2 meters, your DOF is only 8cm, you can see how movements of the camera might shift some parts of the photo out of focus if you focus and recompose...
Cheers, Chris H.
Message edited by author 2005-04-28 06:43:31.
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04/28/2005 06:43:17 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by robgo:
And although I've not dropped it yet (knock on wood), I'd have more confidence that it could take a fall than I would in other lenses. |
About this issue I can tell you a little story. I got this lens in back in feb 2004 and when I had only had it for about a week I was taking some outdoors portraits in snow and I put my model up next to a marble statue to pose. Underneath the snow however were marble steps and as I was leaning in to do a close up headshot I slipped on the wet marble and to break my fall I instinctively broke my fall with my brand new lens... I landed on the front of the lens hood and my heart immediately plummeled, I thought my lens was shattered. I am not the biggest guy but still but still about 80 kg and 180cm so you can imagine the strenght of impact. Anyway, the hood didn´t even break. Nothing happened except I have a small scratch on the hood. THE PLASTIC HOOD broke my fall easily.
Anyway, never been good at storytelling but you get the idea, this is a very well built lens. |
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