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EF 200-400 softness issue

chandesfundays
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · EF 200-400 softness issue

So, I just acquired a used EF 200-400. While I was ecstatic at first, in actual usage I'm finding it a lot softer than 100-500 with my Canon R5. According to this it shouldn't be the case and it makes me believe something is off with my copy. Visually the lens is in great condition with minor surface marks and flawless looking front and rear elements.

Anyone have any experience shipping a big lens to be looked at by Canon for issues like this? It will be out of pocket (can't get CPS for many reasons at the moment) and I don't want to spend hundreds just to be told by Canon it will take thousands more to fix the problem.

Aug 24, 2024 at 08:23 AM

JORDI350D
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · EF 200-400 softness issue

I had the two lenses at the same time. 200-400 is sharper. There is a firmware update available that will improve it the lens specialy at short distances. I was firstly in same situation but after the update the 200-400 was clear winner and it has more the sthetic of superteles instead of a consumer zoom.

Aug 24, 2024 at 08:53 AM

drobertfranz
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · EF 200-400 softness issue

200-400mm is a remarkably sharp zoom. If it's not as sharp as the 100-500mm something is amiss...

Aug 24, 2024 at 09:31 AM

JORDI350D
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · EF 200-400 softness issue

I respect your opinion but my different tests did not say that. I think the opposite , the consumer zoom is excellent but not at the level of super teles neither the 200-400. I believe that the 200-400 is closer to the super teles (I have 500 mk2 and 400 2.8 is) than to the 100-500 is, even tough the latter one is an extraordinary lens. My main reason to sell the 100-500 was that all the pictures had the same look, I shoot at 7.1 the first picture and the rest of pictures shoot with it but the image qualty was not the reason to sell it, since my unit was really sharp. The second reason was that the best time to shoot animals are the first and last hours of the day and the 7.1 did not help me for these kind of pictures. The 200-400 plays in a different league although it is not a fix lens.

Aug 24, 2024 at 10:16 AM

EB-1
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · EF 200-400 softness issue

chandesfundays wrote:
So, I just acquired a used EF 200-400. While I was ecstatic at first, in actual usage I'm finding it a lot softer than 100-500 with my Canon R5. According to this it shouldn't be the case and it makes me believe something is off with my copy. Visually the lens is in great condition with minor surface marks and flawless looking front and rear elements.

Anyone have any experience shipping a big lens to be looked at by Canon for issues like this? It will be out of pocket (can't get CPS for many reasons at the moment) and...Show more →

I would simply return the lens rather than trying to have it serviced.

The 200-400/4 without the TC is excellent, just a little below the big primes, but better than the EF 100-400 II and RF 100-500 especially off center. The 200-400 was never as good with the internal TC, which would be noticeable with the 45-50MP bodies. The AF was my biggest complaint but that's no longer an issue with RF bodies. Much of the magic is lost if you are planning to mostly use the 200-400/4 in TC mode. I don't use mine anymore, having reverted to the 100-500 and 500/4 II (usually with the 1.4x III) pairing. The 500/4 II takes a TC better.

EBH

Aug 24, 2024 at 10:32 AM

kezeka
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · EF 200-400 softness issue

Something is off if the 100-500 is sharper. I owned a 200-400 for a while and it was at least as sharp as my 300/2.8. Probably in need of a service and realignment of the elements. These super teles tend to get used hard and banged around when in use for sporting events in their previous lives.

Aug 24, 2024 at 11:55 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · EF 200-400 softness issue

I have 200-400 and I always say wow to myself when I look at the images whether at 400/f4 or 560/f5.6 or 560/5.6/apsc. I think its as sharp as my 600f4.

Before concluding ensure -
you are keeping your shutter speed up to a reasonable level (eg 1/1000). Subject motion blur is the biggest culprit.
you have the mode on continuous (not still) focus - the subject moves after focus
you are not shooting from car with the motor running and the lens physically connected to the car (use your body to stabilise)
there is no filter on the lens - don't put $200 filters on a $10,000 lens
your is mode is set correctly
your range x-infinity is set right
you are not shooting mid day and confusing the a/f issues with atmospheric shimmer
try spot focus
try using 1.4x external adapter - it would help diagnose if its the flip in adapter
if you have a dslr - make sure you spend the time to tune micro focus adustment to your body
if you have a rf body,
try another adapter to make sure that its not the adapter tolerance being off
turn on don't shoot without focus - might find a problem

Aug 24, 2024 at 01:56 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · EF 200-400 softness issue

chandesfundays wrote:
So, I just acquired a used EF 200-400. While I was ecstatic at first, in actual usage I'm finding it a lot softer than 100-500 with my Canon R5. According to this it shouldn't be the case and it makes me believe something is off with my copy. Visually the lens is in great condition with minor surface marks and flawless looking front and rear elements.

Anyone have any experience shipping a big lens to be looked at by Canon for issues like this? It will be out of pocket (can't get CPS for many reasons at the moment) and...Show more →

Agreed with others, if it's noticeably softer than the 100-500, something isn't right and return it rather than going down a possible rabbit hole with Canon getting it maybe satisfactorily serviced. Definitely run through the checklist Scott posted just to be sure.

If you can't return it, there isn't an easy solution. You'll have to send it to Canon. Sign up for CPS if you can (though you said it's not feasible) because it should help with shipping costs and provide a discount on repairs (not familiar with the exact details of CPS in the US, assuming you're in the US).

Are you able to post a photo or two, or a link to photos hosted somewhere like Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.? Softness can take a range of forms and can be indicative of specific problems, depending on its characteristics.

Aug 24, 2024 at 03:07 PM

John Daniel
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · EF 200-400 softness issue

Are you shooting the 200-400mm hand held? Or on tripod?

I have the 200-400mm since it’s introduction on the market. I had 500mm and 600mm and for me, it’s the most versatile with sharpness at the top.

JD

Aug 25, 2024 at 06:00 AM

action99
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · EF 200-400 softness issue

I used to have a 200-400 at the same time with a 100-500 and on R5 at 400mm wide open no way that the 100-500 was sharper, with the TC engaged maybe the 100-500 was a tad sharper.

One more thing to check on top of Scott list is if the filter adapter is perfectly in place, and it has a clear filter installed!

Aug 25, 2024 at 06:44 AM

chandesfundays
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · EF 200-400 softness issue

TY to everyone who is replying and trying to help.

OK I finally got a large pattern printed and did some controlled captures - stabilization was turned off and captures were done with a remote trigger.

I have added some sample images here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JAqaY8dDAddy8195RSMvzNI3tfJBqkzg?usp=drive_link

Seems like I was wrong about calling sharpness the issue. The images show at least equal sharpness between the two (to my eyes). Actually what seems to be the problem is low contrast. Any idea what the underlying problem could be?

I bought it used on FB Marketplace, so returning it is not an option unfortunately.

I did do the firmware update, but it doesn't seem to help in this instance.

I checked the filter adapter and it does lock correctly, so I guess that is not an issue either.

I am normally shooting with a monopod + monogimbal.

It maybe could be the ef-rf adapter, there is a little rotational play there, but I don't have another one to test.

Aug 25, 2024 at 03:22 PM

J.K.T.
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · EF 200-400 softness issue

Is your EF-RF adapter Canon or something else? If latter, reflections from the adapter could indeed kill the contrast.

Aug 25, 2024 at 03:51 PM


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