Would love to share the sweet spot detail, however, since its not mine to publish I suggest you visit http://www.dpreview.com/. Note that my comment is not intended as any paid promo for them, nor do I have any vested interest … simply put, in my opinion these guys have the most thorough reviews of DSLR Cameras & Lenses which cover the majority of products. If your lens is not found on their product review listing, they’ll provide jump links where other resources might. Although other sites don’t go the distance. Check this link out and share your opinion.

Care to share your found sweet-spots on both your lenses?

As a owner of two Canon L telephoto lenses, 70-200, f2.8 and a 100-400, f4.5, I have been waiting for such an article with suggestions. I greatly appreciate all your recommendations, especially for Macro photos, which I have been playing around with now with great results. While I don’t presently own an extension / teleconverter as yet, I am now compelled to purchase one … most likely the 1.4x to take advantage of the added benefit.

As an additional note to readers, the one thing that I have been discovering quickly with my Canon lenses (L and others), is they each have their sweet spot for focal sharpness. Which is to say, where the lens at various focal distances and f-stops yield the absolute best result. Having learned this powerful fact, I tend not to use the auto mode and gravitate towards the sweet spot of each lens. Unfortunately, the manufacturers don’t readily share this performance information and one have to dig for it reading on-line resources. Now that I have, my telephotos have improved remarkably.

Even top of the line remotes are quite inexpensive these days. Use it for other things too, walk back to that group photo that you want to be in, don’t run (everyone can tell). Good Shooting – IsisPix

Most tripods won’t let you point the camera straight up for a “directly overhead” shot. Try mounting your camera backwards on the tripod. It takes a little getting used to because all of the controls are now reversed, but it works like a charm – at least it does on my Manfroto gear head. And, if you are really serious about this type of photography, a gear head or a gimble head works the very best. Secondly, choose the fastest shutter speed that conditions will allow. To a certain extent, everything is either moving or vibrating, and a fast shutter can’t hurt. Just don’t compromise your other settings to achieve a faster exposure, if you can’t see what you have just captured, it makes little difference if the subject is moving or not. Good shooting!

Thanks for the tips and greets from Africa. I’m using a Eos 7d with an ef 100-400Lis. Not often do I have a kenko pro dg 300 1.4x teleconverter between them. I must say that I rely on the IS with this lens. Light is so bright here unless your shooting early early morning of late late afternoon here on the equator. Should I use my tri/monopod more when looking through my flickr stream?

I Just realized that i’ve not used my 7d yet for a moon shot so I don’t know yet how it performs for that. The moon is now gone, would have shared the shot here.

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/gipukan/popular-interesting/

Thanks, Rob