First try with Canon 400mm F/5.6

[JLBS]

Hello,

Received in last friday the Canon 400mm L F/5.6 USM, and only tomorrow have the occasion to try it. Try to use it handheld, so no big expectations...

What can I improve? (yeah, next time I'll use my Slik tripod or the monopod )

I think Exif is intact and I choose the best of 77 photos with Canon 50D. The photos only have resize on CS3 and one or another a tweak on levels.











Thanks in advance for your time

Kindest regards

[scrumpy]

I detect a little camera shake, so you need to up the exposure time somewhat. A little sharpening would also help. Apart from that, you obviously have a nice location and the potential to get some great results - good luck.

[et078]

You have some nice birds in your neighborhood...
As far as the image, I see that you used ISO-1000. This is generally too high for Canon 50D cameras. I used to have a 40D, and I know that the images started to be grainy around ISO-800. I think for optimal results, you should try ISO-400. To compensate for lower ISO, you can also open your aperture wider, in fact, my 400mm lens is very sharp at f/5.6. Try that as well. As far as the shutter speed, your goal should be around 1/1000 seconds or faster. If your hands are steady, you can take sharper images using lower shutter speed, but with 1/400 seconds, you are approaching the limit of this lens.
Good luck and most of all, have fun... This is an excellent lens for birds.

[JLBS]

Many thanks both for your replies and comments. Also good tips that I will try and post the respective results in here.

Once again thank you both.

Kindest regards

[Ken Nielsen]

I have the 400 also and am very happy with it. Sure costs a lot less than the 500mm f/4 and still delivers a beautiful image if you have enough light to keep the shutter speed high enough. I invested in a Gitzo with Wimberley II for steadiness and think that that was a good investment to 'steady up' this very nice lens. I also use a 1.4 TC and am trying a 1.4 TC III over the weekend and will report back. This lens works quite well with the 1.4 TC but you need to remember you are losing a full stop while keeping the lens wide open that brings you down to f/8. In bright sun you are okay with this arrangement.

[LuLuTheMonk]

Don't you lose AF with the 1.4 TC on the 400 f/5.6 on a crop body?

[JLBS]

Thank you Ken and Lulu for the replies....

I need to pratice more with it, but strongs rain in here stopped me to go outside for that purpose....Hope that tomorrow I can do some more photos with it.

I've purchased a Tamron TC 1.4x and as far as I know, the AF will be lost. But untill know, didn't receive it.

Hope to put here some mopre pics it the 400mm... So far I'm loving it. Even if my photos are blurry ....



Kindest regards

[adwuk]

Nothing blurry about that one - it's great! I have one of these lenses and I love it.

[Ken Nielsen]

Originally Posted by LuLuTheMonk

Don't you lose AF with the 1.4 TC on the 400 f/5.6 on a crop body?

Yes, you lose AF. I've had very good results following birds in flight with manual focus and hand-held. In fact - for this kind of shooting I like manual focus most of the time because it puts my on the line to getting my own photos so the extra pressure and demand has me all the more watchful over when it is and when it is not in focus. The moment I see everything the clearest, even the glint in the bird's eye, I trip the shutter.

http://www.studio10webgraphics.com/I...sprey_2687.jpg

http://www.studio10webgraphics.com/I...lying_3503.jpg

[scrumpy]

Love your last shot

[JLBS]

Thanks a lot Adwuk,Ken and Davidy "scrumpy" . I think for me this will be a lens of constant learning. I have to learn more and also shot more with it, and share the results with community: as per this post, I've a lot to learn but for sure I will get there. Tomorrow, I expect that weather will be nice and try to do a few shots and share with you guys.

Thanks a lot, first of all for the time and patience.

Kind regards

[Levina de Ruijter]

The last shot looks great: sharp and in focus and clean. Lovely. Congrats on your new lens!

[JuliusUpNorth]

Your last shot is great. Remember that all super-long lenses have a learning curve, so don't get discouraged!

Julius

[Invertalon]

I really wish they would make Mark II of this lens, adding IS. Such potential, but given it is 400mm without IS at f/5.6 makes for a "Only useful when bright out" lens... Sadly