[CANONROB]

Hi

Before I change my user name, can anyone help with the focusing on the 75-300 IS USM lens, I have always been a Nikon fan, but after reading about the 10D I thought its time for a change.

With my old camera and ED glass lens my pictures were sharp, bright, and the focus was spot on, you may well ask well why change then !! it is that I wanted to go SLR and pick the lens that I need, so last week I said goobye to my old faithfull Nikon 5700 with Tele. con. and now have the above.

I have tried everything to get this IS lens to focus properly, with very patchy results, also no pics are sharp, I have tried manual focus, with and without IS, I have tried all combinations of ISO, on and of the tripod, I am running out of ideas, and I am sure it must be pilot error, I think that i must be missing some thing, It is a great camera, but I am begining to think that the lens is not that great, I don't expect it to be the best, but i would have thought that it would focus.

CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP AND TELL ME WHERE I AM GOING WRONG, VERY TEMPTED TO GET THE NIKON D70 WITH 100-400VR (IT MUST BE ME) !!!!!!!

[desgreene]

Hi,
I use a 10D with the non IS 75-300. Obviously this lens is not up there with the best, but it is still excellent value for money and gives me good results (I've had the lens for quite a few years as I used it with my EOS500 before the 10D). It sounds like you may have a problem with the camera or lens.

Des.

[stevo]

Hi NikonRob

You didn`t say what focussing mode you have the camera set to(one shot,AI Focus AF or AI servo AF.)I say this because personally I`ve found that One shot AF works the best for me anyway.

Regards Steve.

[desgreene]

Hi Rob,
I've attached an image from my 75-300 for you to compare. It is from approx 4 feet, 300mm f5.6 1/350th and ISO 100. Text is normal magazine size, approx 1mm. On a tripod but not with remote release.

Obviously resizing the image for the web further reduces definition, but a least it is something to compare with your own results.

I suppose cost does come into the equation. I've seen the non IS for a little over £130 which is a gift if you haven't got £1000 to blow on the 100-400 IS. I understand from your earlier PM that the 75-300 IS is a good deal more expensive so your expectations may be somewhat higher!

Des.

[CANONROB]

Originally Posted by desgreene

Hi Rob,
I've attached an image from my 75-300 for you to compare. It is from approx 4 feet, 300mm f5.6 1/350th and ISO 100. Text is normal magazine size, approx 1mm. On a tripod but not with remote release.

Obviously resizing the image for the web further reduces definition, but a least it is something to compare with your own results.

I suppose cost does come into the equation. I've seen the non IS for a little over £130 which is a gift if you haven't got £1000 to blow on the 100-400 IS. I understand from your earlier PM that the 75-300 IS is a good deal more expensive so your expectations may be somewhat higher!

Des.

Hi

Thanks for the info, I will try the mag. test on AF, the fellow earlier said have i tried one shot, ( I think I'd like to give it all six shots ) !!

[joee1949]

I have the Canon D60, which is also 6.2 or 3 mp your model basically less a few improvements they made.

Compare shots in my gallery I took with different lenses.

Pearly_Shells has the 10D with an 100-400mm L IS, which I also just bought.
I haven't really got the hang of it yet but look at her shots, then you know what this camera can do with a really good zoom lens.

I had the 75-300 non IS and wasn't really happy either, not bad for the money but especially at the long end (300mm) too soft, try a shot with 200mm, much better.

Take a look at my best photo from the black-shouldered kite, the better one is taken with the 300mm f4 L non IS, said to be one of the sharpest lenses around. This pic is quite heavily cropped!!! Also look at "Peregrine with kill" in my gallery, this is taken with the 300mm with 2x extender, no tripod!!

for further information on Canon lenses (and others) go here:

http://www.photozone.de/bindex2.html

Also, with 300mm you have an effective focal length of 480mm, that requires a steady hand, at least 1/500 sec or a tripod, best all three of them.

[CANONROB]

Thankyou for your advice!

I went out this morning to a spot where I know there are allways linnetts and Goldfinches.

No tripod, that is why I bought the IS lens, I took about 40 shots and the picture below is the best that I could come up with, I did not get one sharp picture .

The picture has been heavily got at in Photo shop, looks like I should invest another small fortune and get myself the 300 f4 IF Prime, and when her indoors isn't looking a 1/4 con.

Any advise welcomed, ( I must stress that I am an beginer ish !!

[christineredgate]

Hi,Rob,Iv,e been using a Canon 300D for the last few weeks,and I find that to take a reasonable pic,one does need to be within a certain shooting distance.I fooled myself into thinking that this camera would take the place of Digiscoping,and that was what I was comparing all my images by,I was advised to use the P mode,and to focus,then half press the shutter,until the little red light appears,the main problem I find is that sometimes the lens just will not focus if the birds are moving around or if there are twigs and branches.But if I am reasonably near to the object I can manage a reasonable image.

[desgreene]

Originally Posted by NIKONROB

Thankyou for your advice!

I went out this morning to a spot where I know there are allways linnetts and Goldfinches.

No tripod, that is why I bought the IS lens, I took about 40 shots and the picture below is the best that I could come up with, I did not get one sharp picture .

The picture has been heavily got at in Photo shop, looks like I should invest another small fortune and get myself the 300 f4 IF Prime, and when her indoors isn't looking a 1/4 con.

Any advise welcomed, ( I must stress that I am an beginer ish !!

Hi Rob,
the image looks rather pixelated around the edge of the bird. How heavily have you cropped the image from the original?

Des.

[CANONROB]

Originally Posted by christineredgate

Hi,Rob,Iv,e been using a Canon 300D for the last few weeks,and I find that to take a reasonable pic,one does need to be within a certain shooting distance.I fooled myself into thinking that this camera would take the place of Digiscoping,and that was what I was comparing all my images by,I was advised to use the P mode,and to focus,then half press the shutter,until the little red light appears,the main problem I find is that sometimes the lens just will not focus if the birds are moving around or if there are twigs and branches.But if I am reasonably near to the object I can manage a reasonable image.

Thanks fo that, I tried your settings and many more, shot another 60, placed on tripod, got to within 12 feet, and to me the results of the best of the bunch are still poor, ( Maybee I expect to much ) I am of to Jessops in the morning to try the 100-400 IS L I hope it is worse becauce of the price, but I suspect there may be a vast improvement.

All I have done with both Pics. is a crop, nothing else.

Rob

[CANONROB]

Hi Des

What do you think ?

[desgreene]

Originally Posted by NIKONROB

Hi Des

What do you think ?

I reckon that considering you've not done any other processing (unsharp mask etc) that these look pretty good. I think you are right in expecting the 100-400IS will be even better and the extra reach at 400mm obviously makes it more useful in the field.

Des.

[CANONROB]

Originally Posted by desgreene

I reckon that considering you've not done any other processing (unsharp mask etc) that these look pretty good. I think you are right in expecting the 100-400IS will be even better and the extra reach at 400mm obviously makes it more useful in the field.

Des.

Have you seen that guys photos geedub taken with the 170-500 Sigma APO, he must be very good, and the lens must be good to.

[desgreene]

Just taken a look. That Kingfisher is excellent, and the female Blackbird.

Des.

[Merop]

Hi Rob

I use a 10D with various Sigma lenses and consider the results to be good. Have you tried another lense just incase it's duff - you never know.

[CANONROB]

Originally Posted by Merop

Hi Rob

I use a 10D with various Sigma lenses and consider the results to be good. Have you tried another lense just incase it's duff - you never know.

Hi
I infact got a Sigma 170-500 yesterday of of a nice person on birdforum, and after speeking to a person at a RSPB reserve fair yesterday who sells prints of birds and landscapes, and is using a canon 10d and Sigma 170-500 + canon IS 70-300, he gave me a lot of tips on both the Sigma and the Canon settings ect. and as he runs a photographic club, and his photos were stunning, I thought that myself not beeing great at it, I had better listen to him, (now lets not for get I know, not a lot).
He told me that the problem that I had with the canon 70-300 lens pictures not being sharp was a common problem in his club, and the advise he has given to every one is----------------- to use the camera on Ap. priority, and to use min. f 8 to f 13 on tripod with remote, for small birds ISO 400 and sometimes up to 800, but for his landscapes lower ISO.
Who am I to argue, all I know is, his work to me is A1, and he is a very nice guy.
I tried it, and Bingo my photos are now much clearer and sharper, so maybe I should not have sent the Canon lens back, but I do like this Sigma, and am now saving to get the 100-400 IS canon.
I am sure that there are a lot of good photographers out there that might not agree with his advise to me, but I can ony say that I am a good listener, and ny further advice would be great.

Rob

[CANONROB]

This is one of the pics I took today with the Sigma 170-500, I think that it is sharper and clearer. This little fellow likes posing for me.
IS 400
1/60th shutter speed
f 13 - 350 mm
Tripod and remote
Cropped a lot on photoshop

[Merop]

I always set for the optimum aperture if the quality of the photo is important and speed if the content must be captured as a fleeting moment.

It is worth running a set of tests at different F stops and focal lengths to see which produces the absolute best image and take a note of the settings. You will get to know your equipment and its capabilities and hopefully maximize the kit and you never know have an extra special photo.