EF 24-105 F4 problems wide open

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Andrew
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Hi

Always loved this lens to death, but in the last couple of weeks I've shot twice inside, wide open and been surprised with the lack of quality in the middle of the frame. At first I thought it was me (as you always do - "god I'm a hopeless photographer, all these images are really soft"). My indoor shots at a cristening in a well lit church all came out soft with very little definition in peoples faces as a result.

I then took the lens to the commonwealth games swimming and shot a few of the blocks and swimmers from the stands, admittedly a way away. These were really really soft so I couldn't crop at all. I was was confused AF because I was shooting @ >1/100s with IS, so camera shake would not be an issue...... so I did a few tests pointing the camera at the signs on the oposite side of the pool at F4 then second one at F7.1 - I imediatly found my issue.

I was shocked at the difference in quality - both of these are 100% crops centre of frame.

EOS R5... @

1/125 F4 ISO 1000

1_125 F4 ISO 1000.jpg

1/80 F7.1 ISO 1600

5G4A1376.jpg


Shocking quality wide open. I've never noticed this before.

I recently had the aperture flex cable repaired. It involved reseating the excentric screws which control the aperture (all very technical) and if the screws aren't replaced correctly then it can cause problems.

I only mention it because I've never seen this issue before and only used the lens at smaller apertues normally as I don't shoot inside. Could this cause such an issue?

Thanks

Andy
 
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No suggestions, sorry, but it doesn't look terrific at 7.1 either. Better, but still soft.

How about checking whether the softenss is concentrated in the centre of the frame or not. Hope you find a solution.
 
Was it ok before the repair, you no doubt have plenty of examples to compare.
 
Yes I probably do and will have a look this weekend now that A.) the commonwealths are over and I’m on holiday for 2 weeks.

Don’t have access to my full lightroom library but I can remotely access some photos to check.
 
welshwizard645 said:
No suggestions, sorry, but it doesn't look terrific at 7.1 either. Better, but still soft.

How about checking whether the softenss is concentrated in the centre of the frame or not. Hope you find a solution.
Click to expand...

That’s - these were centre crops

I’ll have a look again.

Been crazy busy with work, commonwealth games visits and traveling this last week
 
These 50mp bodies and alike require only best glass. Try sigma art primes in that range.

24-105 is barely adequate for 20mp bodies and even that is pushing it a lot
 
Long shot. But it happened to me. Somehow I’d switched to manual focus.. I was using a DSLR so optical viewfinder. Didn’t realise until import to computer.
 
LongLensPhotography said:
These 50mp bodies and alike require only best glass. Try sigma art primes in that range.

24-105 is barely adequate for 20mp bodies and even that is pushing it a lot
Click to expand...

Thanks and I get what you are saying but I’ve taken lovely photos on the camera with my other EF lenses - 16-35 f2.8L mk2, 70-200 f4 mk1, 300m f4L no issues with centre quality like this.
 
That's terrible. I'd send it back to the repairers to get them to do it again and QC before they return to you.
 
A_S said:
16-35 f2.8L mk2, 70-200 f4 mk1, 300m f4L no issues with centre quality like this.
Click to expand...
These are better lenses but on a second thought you should not have such softness in the centre. I would rather expect midframe and corners to look a bit more like this which is still not where you want to be

It has to be focusing issue, or failing that a failing lens. Stick it on tripod, focus by hand in live view and inspect at key settings then take it from there.

P.S. You don't have a cheap of fake UV filter on it by any chance, do you?
 
I have the Mkii version of this lens though used to have the Mki, Mine does not have this problem but I was once shown one that did. It turned out it was in an early faulty batch. At that time these were listed on Canon's website but no longer. The friend that had this problem had it replace by canon free of charge. Did you buy it new?

Dave
 
It was bought new from digitalrev back in 2006 so not sure if it would be one of the faulty ones but like I say never had an issue before.

I did these test shots a couple of days ago on a tripod, IS off, same focus point (though not manually focused).

First 105mm @ f4 and second at f8. Subjext could have been better I guess but clearly a lack of sharpness vs f8. More pronounced than I would expect. Crop was just off centre about 1/3 to the left of frame

0F1AB18C-DACF-41A8-B484-44A8CB09CFA6.jpeg923FC513-D5E3-4831-92E3-E30E4BB8155D.jpeg
 
Someone has to ask the dumb question - has it been dropped/bashed against a door post/whatever?

The filter question also needs to be resolved.
 
John_L said:
Someone has to ask the dumb question - has it been dropped/bashed against a door post/whatever?

The filter question also needs to be resolved.
Click to expand...

My thoughts too. My OH's copy was superb and I would suggest the lens gets serviced.
 
I am convinced you have a faulty lens as 2006 was about the time I recall hearing about this problem with one batch. Certainly you would expect better. Though I rarely use it at f4, I have just searched on LR and found several shots at f4 and they are very sharp. I have used this lens for about 70% of my photography over the years.

Dave
 
Also did you compare with photos taken before the aperture cable repair?
Would have thought this lack of quality would have been noticed pretty much every time you used the lens>
 
1.) I can’t yet compare to photos taken before because I am in the south of France and don’t have access to my library

2.) all photos taken before will be with a 7D mk1 or 20D as I only found the aperture flex cable fault when I tested at f4 when I bought my R5 in April 21 so that doesn’t make them directly comparable

3.) no filters on at all. Never used a UV. Occasionally a CPL but not in any of these

4.) it was dropped from about 50cm in June AFTER I had the flex cable fixed - so that IS a possibility but all my other lenses have had worse falls and not had issues. So I’d be surprised but it is an option

5.) I will probably get it serviced. Just bought a 100-500 and that puts me in a canon CPS range where I can get 10% off a service and a replacement lens during the service. Just got to work out how I arrange once home
 
To be absolutely honest, it doesn't even look especially sharp at f8 in the top set, so I'd definitely want to get it looked at again if it's been known sharp previously.
 
I could never get my copy of the EF 24-105 to focus consistently on a 5D3. I spent hours and hours trying to calibrate it in camera. I could never get it to focus accurately at both long and short distances and different focal lengths. I sold it and went mirrorless. I don't miss calibrating lenses at all.
 
lodious said:
I could never get my copy of the EF 24-105 to focus consistently on a 5D3. I spent hours and hours trying to calibrate it in camera. I could never get it to focus accurately at both long and short distances and different focal lengths. I sold it and went mirrorless. I don't miss calibrating lenses at all.
Click to expand...
Again you must have had a faulty lens or camera. The fact that you were unable to calibrate it suggests that it was faulty. The 24-105 is a superb lens which I used on a 5D2 before trading it in for a 5D4 with the Mkii version of the lens. There are plenty of independent test to show the performance of this lens. It was the lens which was on my Canon cameras most of the time. In fact I had an earlier 20D converted to infrared and also used it on that as the infrared performance of the lens is also very good.

Dave
 
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