Real life test 100-400L 5.6 vs 8.0 big picture

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

When I first did my test a year ago my copy of the 100-400L was softer wide open than on f8.0 that's why I then decided to buy the Sigma 80-400 which I still love by the way.
I now have sold the 80-400 and bought the 100-400L (couldn't resist the white glass after all).
And to my surprise this happens..........

download the link at www.doorhof.nl/test/vergelijk.jpg (http://www.doorhof.nl/test/vergelijk.jpg)

Do I have a special copy :D
Or are all 100-400L's equaly on 5.6 and 8.0 :D

I decided on a real life example and not a resolution chart because I don't shoot resolution charts but I do shoot this ALOT, same settings all arround, I treated the shots as I normally do and cropped after that, but BOTH have exact the same settings.

[Keiffer]

Dang, your killing me. I was set to get the 80-400 especially with the os, Than I see you sold yours it just makes me think it obviously wasn't good enough to compare to the canon. So really why did you get rid of the 80-400? And the F8 still looks sharper to me on your above post.

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

I can't see a difference between f8.0 en f5.6 to be honest.
Only on the feathers on the bottom but the focus point was on the eyes so that's normal the DOF on the f8.0 is wider so there is more on focus.
Look at the beek and eyes and I can't see a difference.

The reason I sold the 80-400 OS :D
Well to be real honest.......
I could not stand not to have at least one L lens in the white color.
But I arrived there on a strange way.
I could buy a 400 L f4.0 cheap and because alot of my work is on 400mm I decided to sell my 80-400OS and buy that one, only to find out that it was allready sold when I sold my lens.

I decided not to buy the 80-400OS again but try the 100-400L this time, the price difference was bigger than when I bought it new but I did not want to loose money on the same lens. (buying a new 80-400).

When I tested a year ago the 100-400L was definitly alot softer on f5.6 than on f8.0 did not need a comparison shot, this test surprised the hell out of me to be honest, that's why I posted it.
I hear alot of people complain that the 100-400L is soft wide open at 400 and I hear a lot of people praise it because it's sharp wide open op 400 :D

My first experience was negative thus I bought the 80-400 which I still HIGHLY recommend, but my new 100-400L will stay in my kit bag for a long time probarbly untill I can get another prime for little :D.

[Keiffer]

Ok I see what your talking about and yes your right the eyes I can't see much if any difference. With the beak a very small and I do mean small difference. It's where the feathers are midway down, on 5.6 they look just like blended white, on f.8 the feathers are more defined. Maybe it was just the lighting or some other factor.

[Keiffer]

oh, by the way, Any pics with the 80-400? can you either email me them or just post them. Thanks.
My email is Keiffer953@AOL.Com

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

On f8 the feathers should be more defined because the DOF is larger :D.

On my website there are alot of shots with the 80-400 www.doorhof.nl and choose the normal portfolio.

[robertwgross]

I don't think it is such a good idea to violate forum rules with an image this large!

---Bob Gross---

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Sorry, I did not know there was a rule, sorry.
I will make it a link to my site.

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

made it a link, better now ?

[RichardtheSane]

Didn't see it before, but I like the link :)

And, your images confirm pretty much what I see with my 100-400L - the sharpness wide open is really good. I used to stop down to F8 to get improved sharpness, but then I realised, I don't need to!

Nice one on getting a better cpy than last time (I remember your original 100-400L / 80-400 OS dilemma, back then I was suprised you were not happy wuth the 100-400 :) )

[Keiffer]

On my website there are alot of shots with the 80-400 www.doorhof.nl and choose the normal portfolio.

I got lost and couldn't find them, I don't read German and couldn't find anything close to "normal" in Portfolios. :-(

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

We speak Dutch not German :D.

www.htforum.nl/fotofrank (http://www.htforum.nl/fotofrank) and www.doorhof.nl/sport (http://www.doorhof.nl/sport) there you can find alot of shots with the 80-400OS actually almost ALL animal and sport shots are with the 80-400OS.