Canon 100-400 L IS owners

[SmartWombat]

I'm not entirely happy with mine, and wondered if any other canon users out there have this lens, and could share comparable images?

Is the colour fringing I see real, or my trinitron monitor?
Can you reproduce the star flare on sunlight highlights or headlamps?

Even at the price of a Canon "L" lens, am I expecting too much?
Particularly at f20 - I was trying to reproduce problem I had at le Mans with the Sigma 80-400 and found the Canon 100-400 no better.

[Peter_AUS]

PaulNJ (Wildlife Moderator) has this lens so maybe he could chime in and advise you.

[paulnj]

I have a bit of trouble getting sharp images on fast moving subjects at time, but the clarity of mine is quite nice. I have never noticed color fringing, but then again...... I don't get all wrapped up in the BS stats behind gear anyway

If you truely don't like that lens, the 400F5.6L is a far better lens!!!!!

[JSPhoto]

SmartWombat,

Do you have a filter on the lens? If so what filter?

JS

[SmartWombat]

No filter.

I've heard the debate about protecting the lens.
But even with a Hoya SMC Pro1 filter I get reflections.
So unless the conditions are really bad (like the 10-22 clamped on top of my car at 90mph) I now don't use a filter.

I don't think the Canon circular polarising filter caused image degradation though, it's more likely ME at slower shutter speeds not quite panning correctly
That's another issue with images from the British GT final race.
Not a problem with these, I think.

[SmartWombat]

Not so much wrapped up in the gear, but wanting to make it easier to geth the pictures.
Without accreditation I need 400mm from the stands.
Press are using 70-200 slmost exclusively form trackside.
So their f2.8 is working several stops down whereas I'm working nearly wide open.

Hence my question.

The 100-400 is better than the Sigma 80-400 in several areas.
The AF is far faster and quieter than the Sigma.
The IS is rock solid, the Sigma drifts if the lens is braced on the railings..

But I could well be expecting more than it's capable of, despite the "L" badge.

[JSPhoto]

No filter.

I've heard the debate about protecting the lens.
But even with a Hoya SMC Pro1 filter I get reflections.
So unless the conditions are really bad (like the 10-22 clamped on top of my car at 90mph) I now don't use a filter.

I don't think the Canon circular polarising filter caused image degradation though, it's more likely ME at slower shutter speeds not quite panning correctly
That's another issue with images from the British GT final race.
Not a problem with these, I think.

Hi SmartWombat,

Before I switch to the Hoya UV (0) I had all kinds of odd color fluctuations. Since I changed to the UV (0) filter I get no color change. The filter is $43 here in the US.

Colors won't be off due to panning, they may streak or be fuzzy.. I have never had reflections either, even shooting towards bright lights or the sun, all of which leads me to beleive it's the kind of filter being used. I have the Hoya UV (0) on both the 70-200 and 28-300 at all times.

JS

[paulnj]

I think it's a combo of maybe the filter and you exspecting too much. I have used the 400F5.6L a few times and it is a sharper lens without a doubt.

I honestly don't see the fringing in your images though ;)

[Peter_AUS]

Have a look at the helmet of the driver Paul, you can see the fringing on the curve of the helmet on his left side, our right side when looking at the image.

Also on the yellow race car up near where the screen tand the Bonnet meet, but that is more probably DOF than anything.

I think sometimes we as photographers expect just a bit much from what we use, comparing to the Pro's with the big buck cameras etc and the after touching up of the photos that goes on too with the Big Buck Photos. Know what I mean.

[Trevor Ash]

I'm having a hard time making out the color fringing due to the amount of compression in the images.

I wanted to see it well too because I wanted to suggest that perhaps your camera is part of the pronlem on occasion. The 10D/20D series aren't exactly known to be perfect when it comes to color fringing. Particularily bad with blues/purples. I don't know what camera you're using...if it's some other Canon model it might have similar problems (1D series, etc.)...but I woudln't know about those.

[JSPhoto]

He's using a 20D, and I think he has two problems #1 the focus issues, typical of the 20D series, second his color fringe problem is simple, it's not the camera but the filter, switch to the Hoya UV (0) and that takes care of it... mute point though until he sends it in for the focus issues.

The 1D series doesn't have this issue unless the AF is failing, such as mine did. Now repaired I no longer have these problems.

JS

[JSPhoto]

Have a look at the helmet of the driver Paul, you can see the fringing on the curve of the helmet on his left side, our right side when looking at the image.

Also on the yellow race car up near where the screen tand the Bonnet meet, but that is more probably DOF than anything.

I think sometimes we as photographers expect just a bit much from what we use, comparing to the Pro's with the big buck cameras etc and the after touching up of the photos that goes on too with the Big Buck Photos. Know what I mean.

What you are seeing is a focus issue with the 20D, again, it can be fixed by sending it in and having Canon adjust it. I would however also send the lens too, the one used the most and have the two calibrated to work together better... probably your 100-400 Paul.

JS

[SmartWombat]

second his color fringe problem is simple, it's not the camera but the filter, switch to the Hoya UV (0) and that takes care of it

Well, I did say there was no filter on the lens for these shots.

Before the Christmas holiday I think I'll have to make an appointment to have everything looked at. 20D, 24-70, 70-200, and 100-400.
Perhaps even step back to the MInolta A1 (the A2 is worse!) for this year's German Xmas markets trip.

[JSPhoto]

Well, I did say there was no filter on the lens for these shots.

Before the Christmas holiday I think I'll have to make an appointment to have everything looked at. 20D, 24-70, 70-200, and 100-400.
Perhaps even step back to the MInolta A1 (the A2 is worse!) for this year's German Xmas markets trip.

Yeah, I forgot you took off the filter. I really do think most of the problem though is the focus issue, very common in the 20D series. I really don't go anywhere without a filter on the lens though, just too many chances for something to hit the glass and ruin it. I have never had any flaring or reflection from the filter I use, although the 100-400 may be different than the 28-300, who knows .

JS

[SmartWombat]

I used the Canon circular polariser at Silverstone, and got reflections from it