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Hi all,
Really miffed witht the quality of my pictures from my Canon 300d and 100-400mm IS L lens. I'm not getting the quality I expect from an expensive lens. Admittedly, I don't use tripods or bean bags, as I like walking and grabbing bird shots when I can. I rely on the sun and fast shutter speeds to freeze the subject.
Should I be able to do this and still get pin sharp images with this kit?
Should I think (more!!) about getting rid of it and getting a 300mm f/4 or 400mm f5.6 prime lens??
I'd be grateful if any uses the same kit and can point me in the direction of some sample images. If the quality of shots are great and I HAVE to use a tripod/bean bag, then so be it. But if this lens is never going to get me the quality of shot I'm looking for, then I need to think about another lens. Just really frustrated at coming home after shooting and not getting any results worth being pleased with.
There's a lot of factors that could be at play here. The 100-400, while nothing like as sharp as the EF400 prime, is widely accepted as being a very good piece of glass. Have you tried stickin it on a tripod to see if the lens is capable of producing results you'd be happy with? Try it (both wide open and stopped down to f8/11 where it is at it's sharpest). If you're happy with the results like that then you may need to adjust you shooting style. If not, then do try some prime glass, but also ask yourself if your expectations are really reasonable.
Lee.
Hi Lee,
The 300D & the 100-400mm is a great combo. The lens you are using is excellent, using it handheld can have its drawbacks especially if you are getting the minimum of camera shake whilst using it at a low shutter speed. Kev Lewis who I work with, uses the 100-400mm & I use the 50-500 sigma. Since going to a prime lens (Nikon 600mm) the one thing I learnt is how vital a tripod is, especially if its close detail you are looking at capturing. Before moving onto a prime lens I always hated the thought of using a tripod, but now I have realised how important the use of one is, even now when I am out using the 50-500mm.
Why not look at adding a prime to your kit, keeping the 100-400 gives you an important multi purpose lens, getting rid of it I think you will miss it badly!
Quote: Really miffed with the quality of my pictures from my Canon 300d and 100-400mm IS L lens. I'm not getting the quality I expect from an expensive lens. Admittedly, I don't use tripods or bean bags, as I like walking and grabbing bird shots when I can. I rely on the sun and fast shutter speeds to freeze the subject.
Lee, by using a tripod or a bean bag you can relax a bit & lower the shutter speed, this way you don't have to rely so much on the sun. For birds all you need is some light to give a good catchlight in the eye of the subject. A rigid photographer plus a sturdy camera set with settings of a higher ISO & lower shutter speed can still produce some great results.
I was thinking & stating exactly the same as you this time last year, now all I can say is try & get use to using a tripod or a sturdy lens mount, this will help honest.
I hope the above makes sense!
Vince
PS: Just by looking at your gallery Lee, you have some amazing images for which a lot of photographers would be very proud of.
You definitely need support with this focal length to get a razor-sharp result. The 100-400L has a good reputation - look at some of Terry Longley's wildlife shots on this site. However, the Canon 300mm F4 L is a superb piece of glass, absolutely pin sharp and relatively portable. I've had one for just over 6 months now - some examples:
300mm pic 1
300mm pic 2
300mm pic 3
Steve
Thanks to all for all the useful comments. I'll have a look at the said PF's and make up my mind. Trouble is I don't get much time to experiment and am also on a tight enough budget, so can't afford decent tripods. I have one, but the camera shoots round all over the place and isn't too helpful. Am meeting up with my brother in over a week who has a wimberley sidekick and other good tripod gear, so I'll test it then. If I don't get decent shots off that, you're right. Are my expectations too high for this lens? or am I going to have to spend more money on an already expensive Avian hobby!!! Appreciate all your comments. Will also try a monopod and beanbag first. They seem less expensive :o)
A decent tripod can be yours for 100, try a second hand Manfrotto 190B. Nothing compared to the cost of your lens. What is it that you do not like about the photo's from this lens? Is it sharpness, saturation, contrast?
Having used one I was impressed. Hand held at about 1/200 of were stunning compared to my hand held 100-400 non IS lens.
I think if you tripod mount it you need to turn IS off.
Having looked at some of your photo's you are using shutter speeds as low as 1/80 to photograph birds in flight. From my limited experience that is too low due to your subjects movement. I would be thinking more 1/250 minimum.
the IS must work very well as when I try focal lengths like that without IS I need greater than 1/500 to hand hold.
So for those shots I would advise shooting wide open and cranking up the ISO to have a faster shutter speed. Any good wildlife togs out there care to comment?
Hi Lee, I have posted an image of the Manfrotto 393 mount. Well worth looking at. Very cheap to buy too.
Image Link
For flight shots in less lit areas using an higher ISO is vital especially if you using a low shutter speed, fill in flash can help in certain conditions. Also a steady tripod & mount that as a panning & tilting action can also prove to be of important.
Do you shoot in RAW or jpeg?
Do you do any post processing?
Will changing the process settings on the camera help?
You'll certainly get better results with a tripod, however, the lens is more than capable of delivering excellent results handheld. Wandering around the countryside, it's not always possible to set up a tripod, birds by their very nature, tend to fly off by the time you set all that kit up! 
One of the reasons I bought the lens was for the IS, and as I don't have the latest model, I would have to switch the IS off if using a tripod. As you have already found out, it's a big, heavy lump of kit,and as such, needs a fairly big, heavy tripod to hold it steady. I would say mine is used handheld 95% of the time.
Lets have a look at some of the shots you are complaining about.
Im not a wildlife photographer at all but i Have used an OLD canon 300mm f/2.8L lens (manual focus). For this it was important to use a tripod. The results were nice and sharp, even wide open!
I would recommend a tripod, or at the very least a monopod. Perhaps this will help as it will restrict you less?
You don't say if you are shooting RAW or JPEGS? Obviously RAW will give you a better sharper result of higher quality.
As for the lens, I haven't used one but know of people who have. There are some awsome shots on here from people who use it too.
Also Andy Rouse uses this lens, and it must be OK as he is selling his work in a very competitive market.
Try a tripod or monopod.
Having said all of that there could be a fault with the lens, it isn't unheard of.
Andy
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