I have a Canon 100mm macro lens used on a Canon EOS 40D Camera. The problem I have is that the images produced seem to be not pin sharp, even when using a tripod and the mirror lockup function on the camera. Comparing my pictures taken with the Canon macro to friends using Nikon macro's I am not even in the hunt. I have seen many phootgraphs in magazines taken using the same camera and lens and the results are fantastic. Other lenses used on the same camera produce sharp pictures ie: 100-400mm zoom. This lens has been like this since new ,,, what could be the problem?

Your 100mm lens autofocus not working.it may be due to autofocus flex cable inside the lens damaged. It is replaceable part. You may have to contact service technician. However when you switch to manual mode it should focus & click. Try it.

Actually you are doing really well cause the Tamron specifications for that lens is 1.5m translated into real numbers that's 4.92 feet. If you want some serious macro let me suggest the Canon 100mm F2.5 Macro lens it's not all that bad for price unless you get the IS version then it's out of the park well sort of. Most of my macro work is done on a tripod anyway so the IS is a waist for me.

Here is a review on that lens.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=47

Also is you are using the APS size sensor there is a focal factor of 1.6 so the 100mm lens just grew to 180mm and twice as fast as your Tamron. Cheers

you should be able to use that lens with it. As long as it attaches to the SLR body ok. The thing to be aware of is with better technology in the newer camera you may have AF issues with that particular lens.

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Richard Scott
Technical Support
New Zealand

I believe I have found my problem. I think my image stablizer on my lens is on the brink! I turn it off and got good pictures.

If you are upgrading from a previous "point and shoot" digital camera, the pictures from your digital SLR may seem "soft" by comparison. This is simply a difference in the built-in processing performed by the camera. Most DSLRs output images with less sharpening applied. I believe the philosophy is that the sharpening algorithm causes data loss, so less of it is used on the high-end cameras with the assumption that you can apply more later on your PC.
You can try shooting a picture using the RAW capture mode, then editing it using a program on your PC. By applying sharpening to the RAW image, you will most likely be able to produce a very sharp image.
You can also take a JPEG image with the camera and apply additional sharpening on the PC, but this process is more lossy with regards to the original data.

??? try to clean the lense contacts!!

I think this might be a firmware issue.www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17779#DownloadDetailAct
Here is a link to Canon's website for your 40D there you will find the latest firmware version for your camera. Version 2.0.0 which includes 1.0.8 . In 1.0.8 item #3 in the list of changes it states repairs a phenomenon where reviewed images appear unnatural.

I don't know if I can help you. But I will try a guess. Some cameras focus on 1 point and it is not necessary the center. Maybe if you give your camera a point to focus on then keeping your fingers half cocked on the shutter shift the focus off-center to however you want to compose it, then click.
But if it was working properly before and then stopped working properly, did you lend your camera to someone, drop it or subject it to impact? I don't think anything is really wrong but I could be wrong. Have you checked the AF/MF button. Could someone may have accidentally pressed it?
If you are using the macro lens, did you check the camera's distance limits? I understand that the 7D actually focuses faster than the Canon EOS and Pentax. Canon and Pentax need to hunt that's why they take longer.

By the way are these RAW images? What type of lense are you actually using, check this

EOS-1Ds Mark III EOS-1D Mark III EOS-1D Mark II N
EOS-1Ds Mark II EOS-1D Mark II EOS-1Ds
EOS-1D EOS 5D EOS 40D
EOS 30D EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS 450D EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi/EOS 400D DIGITAL
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