SOFTNESS... 24-70

[Viz]

I want to get some feedback regarding what I should expect form the 24-70. I am happy overall, very much so with regards to colour, though I have read PLENTY (read: obsessively - ask girlfriend) of reviews implying that this lens can be quite soft. I don't know what I am measuring the sharpness against. I have tested the lens on a 40D crop and the corners are good enough for my eyes, though have no 5D or 1Ds.. to see the 'real corners' on. It sharpens up nicely in PP, but I want to draw on the experiences of others.

Here are some large centre crops with no sharpening and with a linear raw conversion. Can I please have some feedback or, at least, reinforcement that these are acceptable. Warning big files!

Cheers, Dan PS please ignore flickr hating on adobe 1998
and also please note, these shots are aimed at exposing lens flaws, I am sure it can take very acceptable shots.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patomaki/2124950928/" title="Centre Crop 4 by Vizual Pollution, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2311/2124950928_e747c509fb_o.jpg" width="1214" height="1214" alt="Centre Crop 4" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patomaki/2124942776/" title="F 2.8 70mm by Vizual Pollution, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2199/2124942776_d0b5605eda_o.jpg" width="1480" height="1480" alt="F 2.8 70mm" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patomaki/2124168099/" title="F 8.0 70mm by Vizual Pollution, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2124168099_275550c075_o.jpg" width="1404" height="1404" alt="F 8.0 70mm" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patomaki/2124941682/" title="F 2.8 70mm by Vizual Pollution, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2369/2124941682_4aedbc7e1a_o.jpg" width="1077" height="1077" alt="F 2.8 70mm" /></a>

[Kyle]

Possible to take some photos of a page in a book at around F8?

[Oz_Beachside]

Possible to take some photos of a page in a book at around F8?

What homer said, and perhaps shutter speed over 1/200th second (if focal length say 70mm)

[petal666]

Images will always be soft at high iso.

[Bindii]

Wow... someone needs to mow their lawn.. lol...

and honestly its kinda hard to tell as the images are so large.. but they look sharp enough to me.. I second the request to try and photograph some typing though..

P.S... I have the same lens and find it way sharp enough for my needs...

[Kyle]

P.S... I have the same lens and find it way sharp enough for my needs...

Same! I've never questioned the sharpness of it either

[adam]

Not sharp enough to cut the grass?
Looks quite grainy, try with lower ISO

[Viz]

Thanks all.

I have had a hectic week so the 7 day DOA period is expired, even if I did want to return it. I have noticed that it is a bit soft at 24, and that it makes the sound of two milled bits of metal rubbing at that length kind of 'zzz'. But I think that these are all acceptable as part of the parcel.

I have shot pic of text when I did the grass, and it performs well at 70. I shot this at 1/6th iso 200 F8.0. As soon as you apply any contrast, it really snaps up, I don't really know what else I was expecting.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patomaki/2129409141/" title="Centre Crop 5_F8 6th sec by Vizual Pollution, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/2129409141_7c0ab83442_o.jpg" width="593" height="593" alt="Centre Crop 5_F8 6th sec" /></a>

All consided, I love the lens, colours, contrast and blur are great, and seeing as it is my only canon lens for now, I am quite happy.

As for cutting my lawn, I might need to get some razor sharp primes onto it. My lawn is actually a thriving ecosystem, none of this Kikuyu monoculture, though the pictures misrepresent that.

[gstark]

I shot this at 1/6th iso 200 F8.0.

Handheld?

Mounted on a 'pod? If so, what sort, and how did you trigger the shutter? Remote? MLU?

I would perform a few tests at varying focal lengths - 24, 35, 50, 70 - and a variety of apertures - 2.8, 5.6, 6.3, 8, 9, 11, 16 - for each of those focal lengths.

Mount the camera on a solid tripod, and if you can, shoot tethered or using a remote. If you shoot tethered though, you can change most settings from the computer and thus avoid upsetting the setup, as well as more immediately assess the images.

[Viz]

that was tripod mlu timed, please note that with default curves applied in acr, it is much better. Please, I am pleading with you to reinforce my purchase here... please

I have been assessing some walkabout shots, and it seems that 24mm is soft when focusing very close, I was impressed by a quick portrait i took @ around just under 1m f8, picked up all the soft facial hairs. But again I was a bit disappointed by results for focsing near infinity at 24mm. Though, with some sharpening, it brings it all home, but the word razor does not spring to mind.