Canon 70-200 f4 owners. I NEED HELP!!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/23/2004 07:39:32 AM · #1

I just received a used canon 70-200 f4 in the mail from Ebay last night. Couldn't wait to test it, but got home too late for any good light.

Ran some tests this morning to see how sharp this lens really is since people can't stop raving about it. So I tested it out and took a shot of one of our deck posts from the second floor at roughly 80 mm. The window was opened for all shots. I then took a shot with my crappy old canon 28-80 f3.5-5.6 at 80mm for comparison.

I am very unimpressed. Here are crops of the post at 100%, no post processing, straight from the camera. Shots were taken seconds apart.

First the 28-80 @ 80mm f5.6 1/125 sec, UV filter (handheld)

And now the th 70-200 @ 81mm f5.6 1/125 sec, no filter mounted (TRIPOD MOUNTED!)

I can't believe that the 28-80 shot looks better. Take a close look at the age rings in the post and the cracks along the top. Does this mean that the lens is damaged? Yes, I doubled-checked to make sure that I didn't mix up the shots between the lenses.

I need anyone's and everyone's advice on this, but mostly from people who have some experience with this lens.

Eagerly waiting replies to this thread.

Thanks.

PS - Man am I ever bummed out...

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

09/23/2004 07:45:57 AM · #2

I have the 70-200/2.8, which is very similar glass quality to the f4 I believe. The shot should be TACK sharp.

Two scenarios:

1) Lens is damaged
2) Fault in testing

1/125" is quite slow.. Any chance the tripod was blown or knocked? Although it doesn't look like directional 'swoosh', I have to admit.

Looks like it could be damaged. :-(

Edit: Just wondering if it's because over-exposure is causing blooming? Have you tried using a flash with a very short shutter or in good lighting?

Message edited by author 2004-09-23 07:49:02.

agwright

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/23/2004 07:56:11 AM · #3

My favorite lens .. very sharp as you can see

09/23/2004 07:58:48 AM · #4

Originally posted by PaulMdx:

1/125" is quite slow.. Any chance the tripod was blown or knocked? Although it doesn't look like directional 'swoosh', I have to admit.

Looks like it could be damaged. :-(

Edit: Just wondering if it's because over-exposure is causing blooming? Have you tried using a flash with a very short shutter or in good lighting?

I shot again just now with more light (1/320th) and I have the same blurry results and blooming. Also shot again with -2/3 EV giving 1/400th. Blooming slightly better, but still way too soft.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/23/2004 08:02:26 AM · #5

When I got my f4 it had a backfocusing problem ... I returned it and got another one ... same problem ... ended up sending it to Canon. They agreed it was off and fixed it.

Since then, I still have some focusing errors now and then, especially when the subject is small in the frame (ie ... that post if that's a 100% crop).

I guarantee the lens is 100 times sharper than that, perhaps the auto focusing is just off. Did you try manually focusing?

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

09/23/2004 08:04:58 AM · #6

Definitely sounds like it needs some technical attention from Canon, Denis. Sounds like you may have bought a dud. :(

garlic

Canon EOS-10D

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Canon

09/23/2004 08:21:02 AM · #7

Are you using UV-filter? Bad filters can alter the sharpness pretty much.

I would also see if the filter or the lens-glass is dirty.

Message edited by author 2004-09-23 08:21:16.

09/23/2004 08:29:53 AM · #8

I've also noticed something else.

When switched into AF mode, the manual focus ring on my Canon 50mm f2.5 freewheels (turns without affecting focus) and only becomes engaged when I put the lens into MF mode.

The manual focus ring stays engaged on the 70-200 in AF mode. Shouldn't it just come into play in MF mode, just like the 50mm noted above? There is absolutely no difference in the tension when using the focus ring in either AF or MF mode. That doesn't seem right.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/23/2004 08:32:06 AM · #9

Originally posted by garlic:

Are you using UV-filter? Bad filters can alter the sharpness pretty much.

I would also see if the filter or the lens-glass is dirty.

Like I said in original post, no filter on the 70-200 and glass is clean.

lwkimages

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/23/2004 08:35:59 AM · #10

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

You have full-time manual focus control with this lens - meaning you can make manual adjustments while in auto focus mode.

09/23/2004 08:37:03 AM · #11

Did you check the back glass (where it connects to the camera)?

09/23/2004 08:39:00 AM · #12

Originally posted by hopper:

Did you check the back glass (where it connects to the camera)?

Yup. Looks great

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/23/2004 08:39:31 AM · #13

Originally posted by lenkphotos:

Originally posted by Beagleboy:
I've also noticed something else.

When switched into AF mode, the manual focus ring on my Canon 50mm f2.5 freewheels (turns without affecting focus) and only becomes engaged when I put the lens into MF mode.

The manual focus ring stays engaged on the 70-200 in AF mode. Shouldn't it just come into play in MF mode, just like the 50mm noted above? There is absolutely no difference in the tension when using the focus ring in either AF or MF mode. That doesn't seem right.

You have full-time manual focus control with this lens - meaning you can make manual adjustments while in auto focus mode.

Ok cool, thanks :)

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

09/23/2004 08:40:23 AM · #14

That looks like a focus issue. I assume you've checked that the autofocus is on? Can you improve the results by manually focusing? Also, I assume you've cleaned the glass at both ends of the lens?

-Terry

09/23/2004 08:57:51 AM · #15

Originally posted by ClubJuggle:

BINGO! We have a winner! Tried in manual focus and almost had an orgasm. Much, much, much better!! Auto focus still producing fuzzy image. Here are some test shots done at 200mm.

Here's AF at f5.6, 1/500 sec (aiming for top of post) 100% crop, no processing

And here's MF, same parameters 100% crop, no processing

Looks like I'm going to have to get the AF looked at by Canon.

Thanks Terry. I owe you a beer, or several!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/23/2004 09:01:25 AM · #16

This lens is no longer under warranty. Anybody have an idea how much this can cost to get fixed?

Thanks again.

rich

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

09/23/2004 09:15:59 AM · #17

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

This lens is no longer under warranty. Anybody have an idea how much this can cost to get fixed?

Thanks again.

Can you try going down the "dissatisfied customer" route and return the lens to its original EBay owner and get a refund? I don't know what Ebay's return structure is like but I would try that - you should not have to pay to get it fixed if it was sold to you in that condition and you were not told.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

09/23/2004 09:22:23 AM · #18

This might be a stupid question, but worth a try... There's a switch on the lens for 3m and 1.2m. Those represent the closest distance you can focus. What is yours set to? Make sure the switch isn't set to 3 meters if you're shooting something closer.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/23/2004 09:26:25 AM · #19

so .... Terry gets the beer, huh?

Originally posted by hopper:

Did you try manually focusing?

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

09/23/2004 09:26:48 AM · #20

Originally posted by scalvert:

I'm guessing you probably want it on 3 unless you're actively trying to shoot something closer.

-Terry

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/23/2004 09:31:38 AM · #21

blemt says about USD 154 to repair.

-Terry

rich

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

09/23/2004 09:31:49 AM · #22

Originally posted by scalvert:

That is a good call - that could well be the culprit if he is shooting pretty close to that post.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/23/2004 09:36:24 AM · #23

On auto-focus the camera shouldn't allow a picture to be taken if it can't focus. So if the lens is on 3m it won't focus, and no picture will be taken.

09/23/2004 09:36:49 AM · #24

Originally posted by hopper:

so .... Terry gets the beer, huh?

Originally posted by hopper:
Did you try manually focusing?

Oops! Many beer for hopper too! Hell, beer for everyone...