Got my new Canon L series lens - help!

[peterattheboro]

Well, new to me.

Picked it up for £300 and it's in mint condition.

It's a 70-200mm F/4.0 L USM (Non IS).

Went out last night and the light was pretty poor but every shot was blurry.

Only sharp shots I got was when I was indoors and had the flash on.

Am I doing something wrong?

What are the prefered settings for taking stuff of stationary objects in good light?

 

[peterattheboro]

Lens wobble. Its only pin sharp when you are.

I get some blurry shots but thats me not the lens.

£300 is new price too. Why go 2nd hand?

Everywhere I looked it's £500 new.

Guess I just need to practice as it's a different lens to what i'm used to + it's more heavy.

That or increase the shutter speed

To be honest I did hear it wasn't very good in bad light but I didn't think it would be that bad.

 

[peterattheboro]

What settings were you using? Did you have a tripod? Obviously with low light situations the shutter will need to be open for longer and this can cause blurry pictures if no tripod is being used.

Post up some pics/let us know the settings being used and I'm sure people will be able to point you in the right direction, as after all, it is a learning exercise for all of us.

Haven't got them at the mo as i'm at work.

I am going to go over to Tees Barrage at lunchtime and see if I can get some good pics of the canoes going through the rapids.

Will report back!

Ohh and no i had no tripod hence why it's blurry

 

[peterattheboro]

Its really not that bad in 'bad' light you just have to tweak things a little. I assumed (wrongly?) that you were using Auto/P mode? So the setting used if on Tv/Av/M will reveal a lot as the other guys say.

Was using manual aswell as P/ Full Auto.

The shutter speed was set to maybe a second or 2 max which is why it's blurry and the fact that i was using it in hand.

I've seen some pics on here with 30 seconds set which lets in more light and gets a perfect image.

Guess i'm investing in a tripod!

 

[peterattheboro]

Hello!

Been out today properly with the new lens. I must say, it is absolutley fantastic!

Well worth the money and I can see me keeping it for many years to come!

I'm about to post some pics in a new thread so check that one out!