24-70mm not sharp

[BigGuns]

Hi all, would need help from you guys in verifying the sharpness at 24mm 2.8 is normal. I find that below 50mm the photos start to turn less sharp and it looked worst at 2.8.

These photos are taken using a tripod and set at ISO 500 constant.

Thanks alot!

1. 24mm/2.8 at 1/160s


2. 24mm/4.0 at 1/80s


3. 70mm/2.8 at 1/160s

[Russ]

Take some photos of the newspaper at an angle (not perpendicular) so that you can tell whether it is a sharpness problem. Just to rule out if it is back/front focussing.

[IceCarbon]

Heres mine taken at handheld @ 24mm f2.8 iso1600. Hopes it helps in ur comparison.

[Johnnyb]

Don't want to state the obvious but for this to be a valid comparison you need to all do the following:

1) state the s/w you are using (especially if converting from RAW)
2) turn off in-camera sharpening if shooting JPG
3) make sure 100% crops
3) make sure no PP sharpening in DPP/ACR
4) Shoot at ISO100
5) Shoot with mirror lockup

Depending on the body it will have default levels of sharpening automatically applied to the pictures, check what these are and set back to 0. This should be a much better comparison.

My experience of this lens has been interesting. I bought my copy in 2005 and was never very impressed with it on my 20D. I had it written off as a bad copy and didn't really like the results with it. Everyone told me this lens was the best Canon L zoom. Then i bought a 1Ds and what a difference - the pictures are razor sharp now! Plenty of articles about lens/body back/front focus - maybe on the 1Ds the front and back focus match up?

[Klose]

Send it in to Canon for recalibration.

[mk4000]

u bought a new set - warranty or grey set? or 2nd hand?

[BigGuns]

Thanks for the advice. I will post it with different angle.

[BigGuns]

Originally Posted by Russ Take some photos of the newspaper at an angle (not perpendicular) so that you can tell whether it is a sharpness problem. Just to rule out if it is back/front focussing.

I will post new ones with another angle and see.

[BigGuns]

Thanks for the advise.

1) state the s/w you are using (especially if converting from RAW)
I am using Adobe Lightroom. Taken direct in jpeg
2) turn off in-camera sharpening if shooting JPG
The settings is constant throughout for other focal length.
3) make sure 100% crops
It is or close to.
3) make sure no PP sharpening in DPP/ACR
No PP is done.
4) Shoot at ISO100
I think noise will not affect sharpness.
5) Shoot with mirror lockup
How to? Please advise?

[BigGuns]

Originally Posted by mk4000 u bought a new set - warranty or grey set? or 2nd hand?

It's a new set. I think I will send to Canon for calibration.

[Klose]

Originally Posted by BigGuns 5) Shoot with mirror lockup How to? Please advise?

RTM. It's listed under custom functions.

Use a proper lens test chart for testing sharpness. It's more accurate than using newspaper fonts.

[BigGuns]

Originally Posted by Klose RTM. It's listed under custom functions. Use a proper lens test chart for testing sharpness. It's more accurate than using newspaper fonts.

Thanks. But for one look, are there other conditions/factors which will cause it to affect the sharpness other than the lens?

[Klose]

Originally Posted by BigGuns Thanks. But for one look, are there other conditions/factors which will cause it to affect the sharpness other than the lens?

The smallest amount of handshake will affect overall sharpness if your DOF is small - F2.8.

Mount it on a tripod for best results and trigger using a remote or 10 second timer.

[BigGuns]

Originally Posted by Klose The smallest amount of handshake will affect overall sharpness if your DOF is small - F2.8. Mount it on a tripod for best results and trigger using a remote or 10 second timer.

It is mounted on tripod when I took these photos however I didn't use timer as the shutter speed 1/160 is sufficient enough.

[Klose]

Originally Posted by BigGuns It is mounted on tripod when I took these photos however I didn't use timer as the shutter speed 1/160 is sufficient enough.

Nonetheless, there will still be minimal handshake at 1/160.

[danmic]

Originally Posted by BigGuns It's a new set. I think I will send to Canon for calibration.

I had the ame problem with my copy of 24-70 s well. sent to canon and they calibrated for free under warranty

[calebk]

Originally Posted by BigGuns Thanks for the advise. 1) state the s/w you are using (especially if converting from RAW) I am using Adobe Lightroom. Taken direct in jpeg 2) turn off in-camera sharpening if shooting JPG The settings is constant throughout for other focal length. 3) make sure 100% crops It is or close to. 3) make sure no PP sharpening in DPP/ACR No PP is done. 4) Shoot at ISO100 I think noise will not affect sharpness. 5) Shoot with mirror lockup How to? Please advise?

2) Whether or not in-camera sharpening is constant among your shots is not the issue. Your camera may be applying a different degree of sharpening as compared to someone else's camera, and setting that value to 0 would probably be the best in coming up with a neutral test.

4) Noise will affect perceived sharpness. Do take note of that.

[BigGuns]

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate alot. I shall send it to Canon to calibrate since it is still covered with warranty.

[triotary]

good. update us when you get the lens back from canon