Re: Canon 17 - 40mm F/4 L lens - Help PLEASE



Donald Gray wrote:
>
> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 21:13:32 -0500, Bill <bill@xxx> wrote:
>
> >Donald Gray wrote:
<snip earlier>

> They were JPGs! Fine setting
>
> To clarify points that I should have made clear:
>
> The fence and paper tests were on manual focus to remove 'back
> focussing' out of the equation

Ok. The fence shots at 40mm show varying focus, the best of which
easily resolved the millimetre marks on the ruler. Did you re-focus
between successive shots at 40mm? How did you focus the house shot? it
appears to be simply out of focus, as does the street shot. Since you
say you are retired, a personal question arises; presuming you are at
least 60 years old, can you trust your eyesight? Perhaps it might be
better to do what I suggested, manually focus way off, then let the AF
refocus once, then switch to manual focus and don't touch the focus
after that. You should at least get consistent results at varying
apertures, which you haven't got with these images.

A thought: do you have another lens, or can you borrow/rent one? not
necessarily the identical lens, something like a 17-85 zoom IS, which
will give you a good idea whether the 20D itself is aok. Worth checking
out.

> Sturdy tripod used
> Remote cable release used
> the camera reset to manufacturers default settings
> Camera on aperture priority
> Fine jpg setting, not RAW
> All 100% crops saved as JPGs without compression
> All images are un retouched exactly as they came from the camera.
ok.
>
> I have been doing digi photography for 2-3 years but as an ex pro, I
> do feel I can judge lenses, However, I need proof from others that it
> is a load of dog-mess!
>
> Although I got is as a used lens, visually and mechanically it appears
> to be perfect pristine condition. I paid absolute top dollar for it -
> I am now wishing I had not tried to save a bit and got a new one!

Ah, used. You might have to bite the bullet and get Canon to appraise
the lens and give a repair estimate. If the lens is faulty, then armed
with their assessment, you will have more leverage with the seller.
Threaten them with the Sale of Goods Act, or whatever the consumer
protection legislation is in your country, and don't stop with the
counter-jumper. Get the manager, or area manager if it's a chain.
You're probably out the thick end of a grand, so fight.
>
> Even at f/8 & f/22, I can't get any sharpness out of it...
>
> My little 'ol Nikon 5700 does a far better job. see:
> www.websilk.co.uk/digital

Realize that your Nikon applied in-camera sharpening to its images
before you saw them. The Canon does not, at least at factory default
settings. You can select sharpening from the menu, but I prefer to
shoot raw or fine jpg, and sharpen in Photoshop. Without sharpening
applied to the Canon images, they will look soft compared to compact
camera images. With proper sharpening the Canon will yield better
images than from any compact, specially at higher ISO speeds.
>
Colin D.
.

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