400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

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Archive 2009 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Will Patterson
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p.1 #1 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

** edit 11/17/09 ** - Sent lens to Midstate last week, it is currently apart on their bench and they are looking for loose elements. Will call me back tomorrow with an estimate.

** edit 11/22/09 ** - Discovered my problem - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giQLK0CVkX4

** edit 12/07/09 ** - Received the lens back from Midstate again, Mark found and fixed the problem :-) Updated focus pics tonight..

I'm semi-regretting getting this lens, it's a Mark 1, works perfectly, minor cosmetic issues, but after I did some shots in the field I took it home and it doesn't appear to be sharp. I spoke with MidState Camera repair and they said they'd look at it, should I send it in? It seems as though there is a haze on the photos. The optics are clean, they look fantastic for a lens that's over a decade old.

All shot with the center point focus, ones of the tape measure and paper are done with MF.

Two of the duck (one a 100% crop), then a 100% crop of a van.

2012 © Will Patterson

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N 400 mm f/2.8 1/800 sec 640 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © Will Patterson

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N 400 mm f/2.8 1/3200 sec 200 ISO 0.0 EV

Edited on Dec 07, 2009 at 02:37 PM · View previous versions

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:02 PM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #2 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

The measuring tape test..

2012 © Will Patterson

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N 400 mm f/2.8 1/20 sec 400 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © Will Patterson

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N 400 mm f/2.8 1/20 sec 400 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:03 PM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #3 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

and a flyer taped up..

2012 © Will Patterson

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N 400 mm f/2.8 1/100 sec 100 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © Will Patterson

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N 400 mm f/2.8 1/100 sec 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Chris Wynne
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p.1 #4 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:27 PM

M Vers
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p.1 #5 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Wow, that's pretty poor performance from a lens of this caliber. Did you have a deal with the seller before you bought it...i.e. return policy?

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:30 PM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #6 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

M Vers wrote:
Wow, that's pretty poor performance from a lens of this caliber. Did you have a deal with the seller before you bought it...i.e. return policy?

Nope.. not gonna even worry about that. I'm just making sure I'm right in saying I should send it in, possibly to midstate camera repair. I can't find that list I saw on here lately of camera repair centers that work on Canon SLR equipment.

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:33 PM

M Vers
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p.1 #7 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Well, the problem is definitely there--you're not seeing things. Hope everything works out.

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:36 PM

philbinley
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p.1 #8 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Send that puppy in !!!

Bill

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:38 PM

joezasada
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p.1 #9 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

assuming you are set to centre focus point, one-shot AF, with AF expansion off...

I'de say indeed you need to have that beastie calibrated...

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:44 PM

PetKal
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p.1 #10 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

That's too bad....what you seem to be getting is a $500 Vivitar or Opteka telephoto image quality, perhaps not even that.
What's the situation when you stop her down ?

Nov 10, 2009 at 11:45 PM

meechahel
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p.1 #11 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Will, if this is the same lens that I had, I suggest getting it looked at. The 100% crops from my photos were much sharper (for the most part).

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:08 AM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #12 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

meechahel wrote:
Will, if this is the same lens that I had, I suggest getting it looked at. The 100% crops from my photos were much sharper (for the most part).

Yea it's the same lens

And I've tried a variety of shots, but even on the lame 1D2n's rear LCD I can tell none are sharp no matter what I do.

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:15 AM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #13 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

So I need to send it in somewhere. Can someone recommend a particular repair center? I've spoken on the phone with someone at midstate camera in Rhode Island who said he would look at it, but it sounded like a very small operation (he and his brother ARE mid-state camera repair).

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:17 AM

Daniel Bates
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p.1 #14 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Midstate was very highly recommended by everyone I polled when I needed to send a 300/2.8 in for service. They were very professional about the job, as well, and they have had my business ever since.

Here are the aggregate SportsShooter results if you care to peruse their opinions.

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:29 AM

Andrew J
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p.1 #15 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Midstate cleaned and calibrated mine. It wasn't that bad.
In sunlight I believe you'll see a haze on the elemets and they'll remove that.

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:37 AM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #16 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Thanks Daniel and Andrew. Looks like I'll box it up and ship it out to them tomorrow.

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:44 AM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #17 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Here are some more, all 100% crops at different f stops. All are completely unedited straight out of the camera. Gets a tad bit sharper at about f/10 but then goes back downhill from there.

2012 © Will Patterson

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N 400 mm f/10.0 1/25 sec 400 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:46 AM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #18 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N 400 mm f/32.0 1/3 sec 400 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:47 AM

Daniel Bates
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p.1 #19 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Like everyone said previously, that's not what right looks like.

Hopefully you'll get it back soon, as sharp as a 400/2.8L should be!

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:49 AM

Scott Sewell
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p.1 #20 · 400 2.8 Mk 1 - NOT sharp - FIXED!!

Will, no offense, but I'm gonna go out on a limb here and question your testing procedure. Your shutter speeds on many of these are super slow for such a long lens. Even if you were on a tripod...1/10, 1/25, 1/60...man, those are some slow shutter speeds.

Anyway, I had a Mk1 and it was a sharp lens. I sent mine into CRIS Camera in Arizona before I sold it and they gave it a clean bill of health. Great to deal with and very prompt service.

Good luck.

Nov 11, 2009 at 01:05 AM

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