Do I have a dud 70-200 F4 IS?

pastyman

pastyman

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Darrin
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OK, I bought a used 70-200 f4 is yesterday, and had to sell my 2.8 MK2 which has killed me to do.

took the lens out this afternoon for a test. Attached this one here, untouched or sharpened, but there seems to be nothing if focus.
What do you guys think, exif intact, shutter speed is high enough, IS on mode 1, ISO 100, there should be something in focus....focus point was on the orange engine cover...


70-200 f4 is test by cornishwelding, on Flickr
 
Tripod on hand held, what settings (shutter, aperture). Any filters fitted?
Try with Iso 200?
 
Doesn't look good. Have you tried with IS turned off? And as mentioned any filters?
 
No filters, no, hand held yes, hood attached.....exif intact so you can poke around.
It almost has a milky kinda smeary look. The only other option is to turn IS off and try that, maybe my hands are steadier than I thought...
 
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I'd try F4, 5.6 and F8 at 1/250 IS off on a tripod at about a 10m focus distance on a static subject. If its rubbish at those settings can you take/send it back?
 
MatBin said:
I'd try F4, 5.6 and F8 at 1/250 IS off on a tripod at about a 10m focus distance on a static subject. If its rubbish at those settings can you take/send it back?
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Will have 6 months guarantee, funny thing is, it's just come back from Canon after having the AF motor changed, which is why I bought it, thought it must be right if it's just been repaired....
 
pastyman said:
Will have 6 months guarantee, funny thing is, it's just come back from Canon after having the AF motor changed, which is why I bought it, thought it must be right if it's just been repaired....
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Hi,

I just had to return my 300mm lens to them with a similar problem after calibration by Canon.

It was the IS connections ;)

Mike.
 
pastyman said:
Will have 6 months guarantee, funny thing is, it's just come back from Canon after having the AF motor changed, which is why I bought it, thought it must be right if it's just been repaired....
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Hi,

I just had to return my 300mm lens to them with a similar problem after calibration by Canon.

It was the IS connections ;)

Mike.

PS: some of my images look remarkably similar to yours - it's all sorted now :)
 
mikeyb said:
Hi,

I just had to return my 300mm lens to them with a similar problem after calibration by Canon.

It was the IS connections ;)

Mike.

PS: some of my images look remarkably similar to yours - it's all sorted now :)
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That's interesting, thank you, I'll try without IS, and if it's sharp without IS, It will go on holiday again...
 
pastyman said:
That's interesting, thank you, I'll try without IS, and if it's sharp without IS, It will go on holiday again...
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Hi,

Worth phoning them as they organised UPS to come collect at their expense and re-deliver for free too :-)

Mike.
 
It was bought from a local shop, they had it repaired as it had a problem. I'll have a word with them......
 
I don't know how much you paid for the 70-200F4 IS but wex are offering 10% off right now and then Canon are giving £85 cashback taking a new one down to around £775.
 
Looking at the biggest size available on Flickr, there's quite a bit of camera shake visible, especially on the horizontal plane (which is surprising at 1/1000th s shutter speed, especially with IS.) Try on a tripod and see if you get better results like that. IMO, an L lens should perform better than that (if it is a lens rather than user problem) wide open.
 
Is every picture like that? If so it is clearly defective, if some pictures are fine and some like that then you need to do some controlled experiments to check AF and IS is working consistently as this picture could be bad technique a duff lens or a combination of the two!
 
Had the same results on the 5D3, DOF should be around 9 mtrs on the 70D, even wide open, and at 1000/sec, there should be something in focus:cool:

I took a few with the 135 at F2, hand held, and they were razor sharp, all be it with quite a narrow DOF..
 
Nod said:
Looking at the biggest size available on Flickr, there's quite a bit of camera shake visible, especially on the horizontal plane (which is surprising at 1/1000th s shutter speed, especially with IS.) Try on a tripod and see if you get better results like that. IMO, an L lens should perform better than that (if it is a lens rather than user problem) wide open.
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If the sun decides to play today, I'll try some IS tests, as I'm thinking that may be the culprit here, took some handheld with the 135 F2 with no problem.
 
Looking at that large version on flickr, down both sides it looks like there some distortion going on - light you get on wideangles around the corners when you shoot wide open.
 
Nod said:
Looking at the biggest size available on Flickr, there's quite a bit of camera shake visible, especially on the horizontal plane (which is surprising at 1/1000th s shutter speed, especially with IS.) Try on a tripod and see if you get better results like that. IMO, an L lens should perform better than that (if it is a lens rather than user problem) wide open.
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I was thinking that, the edges around the outside of the frame look like they have movement blur, but the orange thing in the centre doesn't have any at all.
 
I would not be happy with it mate and I would certainly take it back for a full refund and buy new at least you know it's history and how its been treated.
 
Well it looks like the lens is just crap wide open. Did some more tests today on the 5D3 and 70D, at F4 I can't get a sharp shot with or without IS.

F6.3 is when it gets sharp, and it is indeed sharp then, but that's absolutely no good to me.

So now I have a problem on what to buy from them, if they won't give a refund, just a credit note, interesting times to come:cool:
 
Darrin,

Have you tried manual focus?
Maybe the AF is waaaaay out... :shrug:
 
PitaDaVespa said:
Darrin,

Have you tried manual focus?
Maybe the AF is waaaaay out... :shrug:
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Not tried manual focus no, i micro adjusted from -20 through to +20, and still couldn't get it sharp, if the AF is that far out, then it's no good.
 
Hi,


Legally they can't give you a credit note for faulty goods it has to be a full refund. Check the Sale of Goods Act, if you google the keys points of the act it quite clearly states that a refund is a legal requirement on faulty goods.

If they insist on a credit note then trading standards will be most interested in the shop, I know, I've had to call them in to help for a faulty item we once bought, they even made the shop take down their sign that stated 'no refund for faulty goods'

But be warned if you have already accepted a credit note then its almost impossible to give it back ;-)

Mike.
 
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pastyman said:
I'm hoping to get a refund, than I think I may get the 100-400L, been put off this lens a bit....
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An exceptionally bad sample - yes, but in practice they are very sharp across the frame. I would not run out to get a lens that is actually known for being a little soft just because you had bad luck (was it 100% brand new?)
 
Well let's just hope they do the refund.... What do you guys think about the 70-300 then?
 
pastyman said:
Well let's just hope they do the refund.... What do you guys think about the 70-300 then?
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Good compromise between the 70-200mm and 100-400mm. Sharp wide open, good IS, reasonably lightweight (easily hand holdable).

All in all a very good lens ... mine came in a 7D kit which I bought from Canons refurb outlet, the idea was to sell on the 70-300mm and end up with a very cheap 7D but as is always the way it didn't work out like that and the 70-300mm is a permanent lens in my bag.
 
Hi guys, just a quick one, I assume you're not referring to the 70-300mm f/4-5.6L?

I'm contemplating getting that in place of 70-200mm f/4L IS come my imminent upgrade to FF. Reviews appear to be good so can't see a reason not to.
 
Mike.P said:
I was presuming he was referring to the L ... so I was as well.
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That's alright then. I thought he may have been too, but you mentioned that you got the 70-300 in a kit with the 7D and that threw me, I thought the non-L was more likely to be paired up with the 7D in a kit than the one three times the price!

Glad to hear your experience with the 70-300L has been so positive, if anything it has helped to seal the deal for when I come to my next purchase!:thumbs:
 
I still feel you could try manual focus with IS turned off, just to see if you could get a good quality photo. Use a tripod.
You never know...
 
jivemonkey said:
but you mentioned that you got the 70-300 in a kit with the 7D and that threw me, I thought the non-L was more likely to be paired up with the 7D in a kit than the one three times the price!
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I think that's why it sat on the Canon Ebay outlet for days before I came along and noticed the "L" hidden deep in the description. I paid £1200 for the 7D and lens just over 12 months ago when the camera on it's own was nearly that.
 
Well I got a refund on the lens, took it into the shop and asked them to shoot with it while I went into town. Went back an hour later, and they just agreed, none of them could get a sharp shot from it.

So, my next problem is what to get, another new 70-200 F4 Is, 70-300 or 100-400.
My priority is sharpness, and the ability to use at least the 1.4 extender.

What would you guys buy? want it for a bit of wildlife, the odd airshow and general longish distance candid's....:thumbs:
 
If you want to use the extender, rule out the 70-300mm L. It's a stunning lens, but not extender compatible.
 
Hi Darrin

I have a 70-200L which I use with a 7D.

I have had the odd photo that was not as sharp as I expected but I wonder if it's possible to "catch out" the IS if you shoot very quickly as its getting it's act together. Doesn't sound like this was your problem though.

I was at London Zoo today and shot this



And this is a big crop so you can see how sharp it is :D



I would buy another one in a instant, the only other possibility would be the 70-300L as I do sometimes run out of mm at the long end.

I have a 1.4XII and it's OK with this lens/camera combination but not great. This would be my main reason for going 70-300L

HTH

David
 
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