Issues with XF100-400: lens or user error?
Hi everyone! I turn to my fellow Fujifilm users to understand my problems with the 100-400.
These two images are a perfect embodiment of my frustrations with this lens: https://imgur.com/a/proposal-blur-CNNRZDu (didn't attach them to the post in case the clients happens to come to this thread eheh)
Both images were taken at F / 5.6, ISO 160, 400mm, one at 1/850 and one at 1/950. I was in Aperture priority. I don't recall the focus setting but I think AF-C. Taken on an X-H2s. I kept the ISO low because it was really bright and I felt like the 1/850-950 ss would be enough, and hoped the low ISO would have enhanced the sharpness.
This was a surprise proposal. It all happened very fast, clients were 15 minutes early, she kept looking behind herself so I was trying to hide on the side of the road. I did have the AF set at 5meters to infinity, so it should not be the bush in front of me bothering me. Maybe I was shaking a little more than normal, but I get those images even when I am not shaking. I hardly ever get a sharp shot out of that lens. I
These are my hypotheses:
Lens softness. I know you're supposed to stop down to F / 8, but is it THAT soft wide open?
It's my shaking and I should give up on shooting at the long end of the 100-400 unless I have at least a monopod. I did have both IBIS and OIS on. But if you look at his shoes, for instance, that seems sharp enough... I mean, you can see the ridges and the details that you don't see on their faces...
It's not so much an issue of softness but AF. AF is not locking where the subject IS.
Any help is appreciated. If it's a lens issue, I'm open to move to the 70-300 or the 150-600. I don't do much birding and wildlife, but I use the long zoom in this kind of job, or at events where I have to stay all the way in the back...