Blurry Images in Portrait - Canon 70-300 IS I have had this lens on my mind quite some time and have read many reviews which were positive so far. However this soft/blurry image problem in portrait direction make me relucant to buy.Can anyone elaborate further on the problem or advise where i can find a pro review on the problem ? (And possibly recommend an alternative) Blurry Images in Portrait - Canon 70-300 IS I have had this lens on my mind quite some time and have read many reviews which were positive so far. However this soft/blurry image problem in portrait... » Read More Blurry Images in Portrait - Canon 70-300 IS I have had this lens on my mind quite some time and have read many reviews which were positive so far. However this soft/blurry image problem in portrait direction make me relucant to buy.Can anyone elaborate further on the problem or advise where i can find a pro review on the problem ? (And possibly recommend an alternative) « Show Less
1742091
Thanks to the comments here I now know why I was getting blurry photos. My lens gives unacceptable results in portrait mode, but does very well in landscape mode. Therefore it's leaving my collection and getting replaced with a 70-200mm f/4.
1742092
There is new information on the page that I linked to in my previous comment. It looks like Canon now knows which lenses are affected, and they offer free repairs - starting on 7/18. From what they write, it also sounds like newer lenses do no longer have this problem.
1742093
There is a post abou this problem on Canon's support web site - they are working on a fix: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&keycode;=2112&fcategoryid;=216&modelid;=11922
1742094
Thanks for the information Karl Heinz. I've been holding off on the purchase of this lens due to the portrait resolution issue. It's good to see Canon are addressing it.
1742095
The portrait problem is real. I just returned a copy of this lens to Amazon because images were very fuzzy in portrait orientation as 300mm was approached. This happened with IS on or off. It seems to be related to mechanical droop of the front barrel which greatly extends as you zoom out. The lens feels cheaply constructed and there is sloopiness in the front barrel. Canon knew about this defect for 9 months but continued to produce these defective lenses while refusing to acknowledge any problem at all. Now that the problem is widely known and likely cutting into sales of this lens they are finally fessing up to the problem and working on a fix. The portrait problem is real. I just returned a copy of this lens to Amazon because images were very fuzzy in portrait orientation as 300mm was approached. This happened with IS on or off. It seems to be related to mechanical droop of the front barrel which greatly extends as you zoom out. The lens feels cheaply constructed and there is sloopiness in the front barrel. Canon knew about this defect for 9 months but continued to produce these defective lenses while refusing to acknowledge any problem at all. Now that the problem is widely known and likely cutting into sales of this lens they... » Read More The portrait problem is real. I just returned a copy of this lens to Amazon because images were very fuzzy in portrait orientation as 300mm was approached. This happened with IS on or off. It seems to be related to mechanical droop of the front barrel which greatly extends as you zoom out. The lens feels cheaply constructed and there is sloopiness in the front barrel. Canon knew about this defect for 9 months but continued to produce these defective lenses while refusing to acknowledge any problem at all. Now that the problem is widely known and likely cutting into sales of this lens they are finally fessing up to the problem and working on a fix. « Show Less
811132
I have to return my lens. Used twice on a shoot and serious focusing issues both times. I will not pass judgment, as I plan to return to Tamron under their warranty and I bought this upon recommendation from fellow fans of this particular lens. I shoot Canon and this was the first time I purchased outside of their line...
518863
I have this lens, I used it for several months before upgrading to the 75-300 IS USM. If you don't want blurry pictures then you will have to spend the money on better tools. I take a lot of bird pictures and was able to track them using the non IS lens but it was very difficult and unless the pools where the competitions are held are in bright light you won't get sharp pictures. I did try using this one at our dance hall, (poor light for pictures) I eventually had to go to a 50 mm 1.4 that does great in low light. You wanting telephoto though, for the money the 75-300 IS at about $450 was the way that I decided to go and I really like what I get now. I have had my t2i for nearly two and a half years. Hope this helps you a little bit. If you want to see a few of my shots with the IS lens. My flickr page is lightninrod49.
394030
agreed with the sentiments above. I have purchased the tamron 16-300, as well as the nikon 18-300 f6.3 and this lense. The difference with the nikon is noticeable. Not only in picture quality. But also in distance. the 300 on the tamron doesn't reach where the nikon does. granted the nikon 18-300 @300 doesn't match the nikon 55-300 @ 300 either. Also the movement, the tamron is much stiffer than the nikon options. A Great all day lense. Im working into prime lenses, and high quality fixed aperture lenses, but for now I still use this as my main glass.
500331
I've had mine for almost a year now. Unlike the previous posters, I haven't had any issues with focus. However, I have recently discovered 3 dead pixels in the CCD each separated pretty far from each other. I shrink most of my pictures for web use so it's not really an issue with me but it's not good when there's more than a couple of dead pixels in your CCD. Otherwise it's been pretty good; I do like it a lot.
190424
Fuji has inconsistent quality control, which I found when I purchased the F10. The first camera took VERY blurry photos, the second 1/3 and the third maybe 1/5 (in default settings). Don't doubt yourself and your picture snapping skills. If you've read the manual and you are still having problems I would recommend an exchange.
1241571
Its a great all around lense. It produces very sharp images. Portrait shots will definatelly come out crisp but keep in kind that its a 70-300 lense, therefore; distance may be an issue when trying to shoot indoors.
8521
K. Bennett,Thanks very much for your info about these two cameras. I started with the model 30, had them for a year, sold them and got two 40D's, then last March I sold those and bought two 7D's. I had thought about getting a 5D, but a friend who just bought it said there are a lot of problems with the focusing, he said he gets around 20% out of focus, a number I find unacceptable. He advised me to skip the 5D and go to the Mark IV, and I was not sure if the better and sharper images, especially at high ISOs would be worth the extra $3000 a Mark IV would cost. What I might do is rent a Mark IV body for a weekend and see how I like it.Thanks for taking the time to post your comments. K. Bennett,Thanks very much for your info about these two cameras. I started with the model 30, had them for a year, sold them and got two 40D's, then last March I sold those and bought two 7D's. I had thought about getting a 5D, but a friend who just bought it said there are a lot of problems with the focusing, he said he gets around 20% out of focus, a number I find unacceptable. He advised me to skip the 5D and go to the Mark IV, and I was not sure if the better and sharper images, especially at high ISOs would be worth the extra $3000 a Mark IV would cost. What I might do is rent... » Read More K. Bennett,Thanks very much for your info about these two cameras. I started with the model 30, had them for a year, sold them and got two 40D's, then last March I sold those and bought two 7D's. I had thought about getting a 5D, but a friend who just bought it said there are a lot of problems with the focusing, he said he gets around 20% out of focus, a number I find unacceptable. He advised me to skip the 5D and go to the Mark IV, and I was not sure if the better and sharper images, especially at high ISOs would be worth the extra $3000 a Mark IV would cost. What I might do is rent a Mark IV body for a weekend and see how I like it.Thanks for taking the time to post your comments. « Show Less
2203912
My difficulty with using this type of lens is the fine focus adjustment. It was not possible to do on my Canon 60D. Is there any way to adjust the lens?
1561300
So now I am wondering just what I am missing with regards to buying this lens for use on a DSLR like the Canon EOS 5D versus the much more expensive "EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM for EOS SLR"???
1689680
WOW, YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS . . . THANKS FOR HEADS UP ABOUT EXR , (caps lock), i was about to spring for it with the reduced price. I can't afford it at the moment anyway; well, let's say another mistake would be disastrous for me, I've just GOT to figure out how to lighten those shadows on th hx1, Portraits are IMPOSSIBLE when eyes turn black as coals. Sony should be ashamed. The earlier Fuji's did such a great job with color . . . not as SHARP OR QUICK AS X1 THOUGH. BUT I take pics (not real professional, but essential, and dull eyes are, well, really really dull. Kills the pic really.) I MUST SOLVE THIS! Enjoying talking wth you. ANy other scoops would appreciated. WOW, YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS . . . THANKS FOR HEADS UP ABOUT EXR , (caps lock), i was about to spring for it with the reduced price. I can't afford it at the moment anyway; well, let's say another mistake would be disastrous for me, I've just GOT to figure out how to lighten those shadows on th hx1, Portraits are IMPOSSIBLE when eyes turn black as coals. Sony should be ashamed. The earlier Fuji's did such a great job with color . . . not as SHARP OR QUICK AS X1 THOUGH. BUT I take pics (not real professional, but essential, and dull eyes are, well, really really dull. Kills the pic really.)... » Read More WOW, YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS . . . THANKS FOR HEADS UP ABOUT EXR , (caps lock), i was about to spring for it with the reduced price. I can't afford it at the moment anyway; well, let's say another mistake would be disastrous for me, I've just GOT to figure out how to lighten those shadows on th hx1, Portraits are IMPOSSIBLE when eyes turn black as coals. Sony should be ashamed. The earlier Fuji's did such a great job with color . . . not as SHARP OR QUICK AS X1 THOUGH. BUT I take pics (not real professional, but essential, and dull eyes are, well, really really dull. Kills the pic really.) I MUST SOLVE THIS! Enjoying talking wth you. ANy other scoops would appreciated. « Show Less
1703578
I purchased a Canon 60D recently and also purchased a Tamron 70-300 MM along with a Canon 18-135 MM lens. The Canon 18-135 lens is terrific! I took photos of the same subject using a Canon 18-135, the Tamron 70-300, and a Sigma 18-200 mm lens on the 60D camera. At full telephoto for all 3 lens, the Canon 18-135 was sharper than the Sigma and equaled the Tamron when I cropped the image down to the same size as the longer 300mm Tamron. I don't know if these results would hold true for all Canon bodies but it sure works for the 18 megapixel 60D. As an aside, the Tamron 70-300 mm with VC optical stability is a great lens too. I purchased a Canon 60D recently and also purchased a Tamron 70-300 MM along with a Canon 18-135 MM lens. The Canon 18-135 lens is terrific! I took photos of the same subject using a Canon 18-135, the Tamron 70-300, and a Sigma 18-200 mm lens on the 60D camera. At full telephoto for all 3 lens, the Canon 18-135 was sharper than the Sigma and equaled the Tamron when I cropped the image down to the same size as the longer 300mm Tamron. I don't know if these results would hold true for all Canon bodies but it sure works for the 18 megapixel 60D. As an aside, the Tamron 70-300 mm with VC... » Read More I purchased a Canon 60D recently and also purchased a Tamron 70-300 MM along with a Canon 18-135 MM lens. The Canon 18-135 lens is terrific! I took photos of the same subject using a Canon 18-135, the Tamron 70-300, and a Sigma 18-200 mm lens on the 60D camera. At full telephoto for all 3 lens, the Canon 18-135 was sharper than the Sigma and equaled the Tamron when I cropped the image down to the same size as the longer 300mm Tamron. I don't know if these results would hold true for all Canon bodies but it sure works for the 18 megapixel 60D. As an aside, the Tamron 70-300 mm with VC optical stability is a great lens too. « Show Less
1671729
I used this lens on a safari in Tanzania, and was extremely, pleased with the hand held shots I took at 300mm. It is much shorter than a standard 70-300, a bit heavier, but not that much so. the quality on my shots were fantastic. I'm an amateur photographer and I'm very pleased I got this lens. I actually got it because when I wanted to buy a 70-300 IS lens there was none to be had, so I paid more for this lens and very glad I did. Hope this helps.
2044907
I have never experienced this problem with this lens and the lens is next to your ear , when using this lens the speed of focusing was very fast and the quality of photos were excellent. When shooting runway this was a great lens. I am currently shooting with a 17-70mm 2.8 lens giving me more flexibility during weddings, but the 105mm is a nice portrait lens as is the 85mm lens.
1761731
I just received my D800 a couple weeks ago. Almost all my images are out of focus, even with simple portraits. I haven't contacted Nikon yet because I'm attempting to return the camera.
1936616
While the 70-300 is better able to stand up to abuse, and not limited on a polarizing filter, a recent Pop Photo response to a letter implies the 55-300 may be a bit sharper (July or Aug. issue) and says the 55-300 is "a steal."The 55-300 has a metal mount, not plastic. The 200 has a plastic mount.What i HATE is the lens hood that comes with this lens. Extremely fragile.
575221
I agree and have noticed that as well. I bought the older version and have been pleased with it. I have also not read complaints about the newer version. It may be as simple as supply and demand or something we are not aware of. You might check review sites just to make sure the version 2 is well rated and then go for it if it's cheaper. The 20MM has been a great lens, I have received compliments about my photo's and 9 times out of 10, it's taken with the 20mm.