Buy the 100-400or wait?

[McManus]

So, I recently made the decision to go ahead and buy the 100-400 because I want to start doing some birding photography and also some more general wildlife stuff down the line.

After researching the issue, it seems to be an excellent lens. My only concern is that I came across some speculation that Canon may revamp the lens soon and issue a new model with improved IS and AF abilities.

Should I hold off on purchasing it until after the PMA or is that just silly. Obviously the lens will still be great even if a newer model comes out, and the double rebate plan is only in effect through February 19, before the PMAs, so I am definitely leaning towards purchasing it now, but I just wanted to see if maybe I was not thinking it through completely and it would be wiser to wait.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[ed rader]

So, I recently made the decision to go ahead and buy the 100-400 because I want to start doing some birding photography and also some more general wildlife stuff down the line.

After researching the issue, it seems to be an excellent lens. My only concern is that I came across some speculation that Canon may revamp the lens soon and issue a new model with improved IS and AF abilities.

Should I hold off on purchasing it until after the PMA or is that just silly. Obviously the lens will still be great even if a newer model comes out, and the double rebate plan is only in effect through February 19, before the PMAs, so I am definitely leaning towards purchasing it now, but I just wanted to see if maybe I was not thinking it through completely and it would be wiser to wait.

Any thoughts? Thanks.


i wouldn't wait. ask the guys who are waiting for the tokie 16-50 about waiting :D !

ed rader

[Mr. Clean]

I would get it. I just got mine recently and it's AF abilities are pretty damn good. Even if they did come out with the next gen IS in it I don't think it would matter, you still need to have a reasonable shutter speed. Great all around lens though, even does portraits damn well!

[ilovemycamera]

You are asking people on this forum if you should wait on a lens or not?

Come on... they LOVE to spend your money!

Of course they'll tell you to go ahead and buy it.

[red hot sheep]

I don't think Canon will update it. The AF is great and IS fantastic. I can hand hold at 1/40 at 400mm and get sharp results. That's 4 stops above the rule of thumb. I don't see how they could make it much better.

Go for it!

[ilovemycamera]

I don't think Canon will update it. The AF is great and IS fantastic. I can hand hold at 1/40 at 400mm and get sharp results. That's 4 stops above the rule of thumb. I don't see how they could make it much better.

Go for it!


red hot sheep, do you think they would update the 70-200 2.8L IS any time soon? I just bought one and am beginning to wonder if i should have waited. I see where the lens has been out for over five years... any advice? Thanks, Fara

[mxwphoto]

If anything does happen, it's going to be around the PMA. But people have been saying that the 100-400 will update for ages (literally years). And as for the 70-200 2.8L IS, if the 100-400 and 400 5.6 don't get updates, then one can expect the current version of 70-200 to stick around for a few more years at least.

[Mr. Clean]

Even if they did update it, you could sell the one you have for 90% of retail anyways...

[ilovemycamera]

If anything does happen, it's going to be in March. But people have been saying that the 100-400 will update for ages (literally years). And as for the 70-200 2.8L IS, if the 100-400 and 400 5.6 don't get updates, then one can expect the current version of 70-200 to stick around for a few more years at least.


I appreciate that... i have such a hard time making my mind up, and when i do, it's almost like i beat myself up so much that i can't enjoy my new purchase... worrying if they'll come out with a new and improved one real soon, worrying if i should've waited a few more months or so, worrying if BLAH BLAH BLAH.

I guess i need to ease up and just use the damn lens!

[SoaringUSAEagle]

With the price of the psjan code being at 1299 with a rebate, I would not hesitate. GET IT!!!

[ilovemycamera]

With the price of the psjan code being at 1299 with a rebate, I would not hesitate. GET IT!!!


You think get the 100-400 in addition to the 70-200 i've got? Man, it's tempting. I was thinking of maybe buying the 2x tele for the 70-200 and being done with it... what's your opinion?

thanks,fara

[mxwphoto]

You think get the 100-400 in addition to the 70-200 i've got? Man, it's tempting. I was thinking of maybe buying the 2x tele for the 70-200 and being done with it... what's your opinion?

thanks,fara

Why not get all 3? 100-400, 70-200 2.8 IS, & 1.4x TC for that extra reach. :)

[ilovemycamera]

Why not get all 3? 100-400, 70-200 2.8 IS, & 1.4x TC for that extra reach. :)


Prolly bc i'd have to rob a bank to get the cash to make the purchase!!!


I'd love to have them. You think the 1.4x instead of the 2x?

Honestly?

Let me know what you think... i'm hoping to order tonight.

[ayotnoms]

I'd get it now while you can get a new one without the "improvements".

If the past track record hold, any new version will be accompanied by a sharp price increase.

...think of the improved IS as improved Income Separation for you and Income Surge for Canon
:)

[tekkie]

I am in the same boat, I have been resisting for weeks to order this lens

[Mr. Clean]

Prolly bc i'd have to rob a bank to get the cash to make the purchase!!!


I'd love to have them. You think the 1.4x instead of the 2x?

Honestly?

Let me know what you think... i'm hoping to order tonight.
my 100-400 is fine with a 1.4. I sold my 2x as I'm in the "2X-tc's-degrade-IQ-too-much" camp. I used it on my Sigma 70-200 and it was pretty good. Useable, but not great. You'll get more bang for the buck out of a 1.4 I think.

[mxwphoto]

Prolly bc i'd have to rob a bank to get the cash to make the purchase!!!


I'd love to have them. You think the 1.4x instead of the 2x?

Honestly?

Let me know what you think... i'm hoping to order tonight.

1.4x for the 100-400 if you need the extra reach assuming that you are getting all 3. 2x on the 100-400 makes the IS not very effective and increases the degradation a bit much for me.

[darktiger]

I would buy it now. You will be able to enjoy it sooner..

[mxwphoto]

And a word from personal observation: if you want to wait for new lenses, just know that prices will always be inflated when they first come out. Market will adjust itself in time, but that often takes a while, around 4-6 months. So unless if you want to spend the premium on the purchase, your wait will be a lot longer than you first anticipated.

[Mr. Clean]

And a word from personal observation: if you want to wait for new lenses, just know that prices will always be inflated when they first come out. Market will adjust itself in time, but that often takes a while, around 4-6 months. So unless if you want to spend the premium on the purchase, your wait will be a lot longer than you first anticipated.
Good point.... 17-55IS, 70-200 F4 IS...etc. etc.

[StealthLude]

I also have a 70-200, and was looking at the 100-400 for quite some time..

Since I already had the 70-200, I decided to go with a 300mm f/4 IS L Prime lens and a 1.4x TC over the 100-400 lens.

[mxwphoto]

I also have a 70-200, and was looking at the 100-400 for quite some time..

Since I already had the 70-200, I decided to go with a 300mm f/4 IS L Prime lens and a 1.4x TC over the 100-400 lens.

Good point. Forgot to mention that. :P Also a quite possible alternative... now if they'd just slap an IS on the 400mm 5.6 prime...

[StealthLude]

Good point. Forgot to mention that. :P Also a quite possible alternative... now if they'd just slap an IS on the 400mm 5.6 prime...


No need, just buy a 1.4x TC, slap it on the 300mm f/4 L IS and you got a 420mm f/5/6 L IS lens...

The image quality is there, and also very impressive. I was so impressed with the IQ of the 300 prime and 300 prime + 1.4x TC i picked it over the 100-400 based on IQ and AF speed.

While the 400mm 5.6 will be faster in AF than the 300mm f/4 with TC... the 300 + TC isnt a slouch.

I paid $150 for my Kenko TC... for that money, I got two lenses out of my one.

[mxwphoto]

No need, just buy a 1.4x TC, slap it on the 300mm f/4 L IS and you got a 420mm f/5/6 L IS lens...

But you see, if you had a 400mm IS, then you could slap on the 1.4x TC and get a pretty darn sharp 560 IS lens at 1/6th the price of a 600mm!

[StealthLude]

But you see, if you had a 400mm IS, then you could slap on the 1.4x TC and get a pretty darn sharp 560 IS lens at 1/6th the price of a 600mm!


Yes that true... kinda... but check out the 300mm 2.8 combo instead.

But Ive used lenses like the 300mm 2.8L IS and the 400 2.8L IS lenses.. (rentals) and belive me when I tell you.. You cant compare lenses like that.

The big boy primes take TCs MUCH better than the smaller guys. There is a reason those lenses cost $4000-$6000 each. Otherwise every pro shooting football would be using my 300mm f/4 lens...

I still plan on buying a Canon 300mm 2.8L IS + a Canon EF 1.4x and 2x TC to get 600mm f/5.6 of reach.

Ive seen it used for surfing, birding, motorsports, sports, you name it. Even with a TC the IQ looks more than amazing, and on print would be spectacular. Not to mention the AF speed... WOW, fast and very useful.

I cant/dont want to afford all that stuff right now, so I plan on sticking it out with what I got. But there is NO substitute for the big boy toys canon makes.

[mxwphoto]

But there is NO substitute for the big boy toys canon makes.

Very true! If I won the lottery I'd probably get the 400 2.8, but for the time being, a less costly alternative will have to suffice. :(

[StealthLude]

Very true! If I won the lottery I'd probably get the 400 2.8, but for the time being, a less costly alternative will have to suffice. :(


Ya I know what you mean, im in the same boat.

I just look at it this way... the size of the cheaper ones also make it an advantage to some degree...

My 300 f/4 is only one stop slower than the 300mm 2.8... but the size is one thing..

The 300mm 2.8 does have other things going for it beside for its max apature @ 2.8... Its AF speed is pretty much fastest in the world when used with a 1 series camera... The AF system is freakin advanced with all its focus limmiters and other stuff. But its big... and heavy, and expencive. Sharp as heck too.

I think if you are being paid to shoot, its a must have.

But for someone like myself, going to the zoo, just trying to have some fun... It would just be cool to own one, not that I "need" it.


Going way back in answer the OPs question... Buy the 100-400 or wait....

I rented the 100-400 lens for some wild life use, walk around... It was a sweet lens! Gets the job done thats for sure. Sharp for a Zoom lens... The IS helps alot... Only thing I didnt like about the lens was the push pull design.... and sometimes it wasnt as sharp as I would have wanted, but the fact its a zoom and super versatile made up for that....

If you want it, and need that focal length, go and buy it. Its a great lens. I dont see what you would be waiting for... Even if Canon did come out with a new version of the 100-400 is going to be more expencive... Atleast by 500-600 bucks, if not more.

[McManus]

Thanks for all the input. I think I am going to go pick it up this weekend. Funny how waiting even until then seems like a long time :)

[Woolburr]

There may or may not be a replacement to the 100-400 in the works. The current version is a very good lens. If you are really interested in it...go ahead and get a copy...if a new one comes along later, you can always upgrade...remember, L glass doesn't lose value like some things do.

[alexf]

I have the 400mm 5.6, 70-200 is 2.8 and the 1.4x. I think its all a great combo.

The 400mm 5.6 doesnt need IS, I hand hold all day long while birding with no problem at all. The 70-200 is a little heavier but I wouldn't use that for panning birds anyway, thats what the 400 was built for. The 1.4x is good with both but prefer the 400mm on its own.

[red hot sheep]

Personally, I find IS invaluble with my 100-400. I haven't yet shot it where I was getting shutter speeds above 1/200 (typical British weather), and most of the time have been getting around 1/80 second (wide open at ISO 1600). So I find IS very useful. However, if you find yourself often shooting in sunny conditions, then consider the 400mm, but I would still take the versatility of the zoom.

[ilovemycamera]

1.4x for the 100-400 if you need the extra reach assuming that you are getting all 3. 2x on the 100-400 makes the IS not very effective and increases the degradation a bit much for me.


Thanks for that advice... it will be a while, i guess, before i am able to order the 100-400, and i am a little hesitant about the push/pull design... i heard it really sucks dust.

So, in your opinion, should i roll with the 1.4x or the 2x for my 70-200 2.8L IS? I take a lot of pictures at the horse races and other random things around town... could see myself getting interested in bird photography soon (MAYBE), so what would you suggest? Any experience with the two on that lens?

[alexf]

I have researched the same question and from what I have read (especially if you are considering birds in the future) the 1.4x is a good extension with minimal quality drop, the 2x is alot more noticeable.
The 1.4 on my 70-200 and 400mm is almost as sharp, I doubt it would be the same story with the 2x on smaller subjects. I would advise you to at least try the 400mm prime before you decide, no dust and very sharp, it's the best lens I have, very light and lightening fast focus.

[ilovemycamera]

I have researched the same question and from what I have read (especially if you are considering birds in the future) the 1.4x is a good extension with minimal quality drop, the 2x is alot more noticeable.
The 1.4 on my 70-200 and 400mm is almost as sharp, I doubt it would be the same story with the 2x on smaller subjects. I would advise you to at least try the 400mm prime before you decide, no dust and very sharp, it's the best lens I have, very light and lightening fast focus.

Thanks for the advice/
I don't know... i just love the versatility of a zoom...

Maybe i will get the 1.4x for my 70-200...

If only i could hit the lottery!

[alexf]

Yeah! I still buy the tickets weekly;)

[ilovemycamera]

Yeah! I still buy the tickets weekly;)

Me too... and one of these days i'm gonna look back at the years and years worth of tickets, and realize i could've bought some hellacious lenses........ but there's always that hope:rolleyes: