Canon 100-400 days numbered???

Geez I hope that with the release of Tamron's new lens the 100-400 isn't going RIP anytime soon.

I've been going through the hundreds of pic's in the 100-400 lens samples link here and those pictures are fantastic.

And, my 100-400 just arrived today! of course it's 3 outside and dark so I can't play. I had placed my order with B&H before I saw all the buzz about this new kid on the block. But I'm shooting with a crop body and am looking forward to getting out there with my new lens.

When the ducks come back, I'll post my duck.

Looking forward to the duck shots!

It's a great lens - its staying power speaks for itself! It's not going to suddenly become useless just because another lens showed up.

Go out and make some beautiful photos. Life's short. Enjoy it and forget about the next great thing while you enjoy your current treasures.

jmann12180 wrote in post #16625043
.. of course it's 3 outside and dark so I can't play.

Is there any law against taking pictures indoors?

You've got a wonderful lens; it's going to be a tough choice on whether to give mine up to cover the cost of the Tamron.

Heya,

The only lens suitable for the EOS system that will replace the 100-400mm Canon will be the MK II version.

Very best,

The Tamron is the flavor of the month. Same thing happened with the Bigmos (I have one) and although a very nice lens the Canon held its own. The Tamron has shown promise but it will not replace the Canon any time soon.

I have a Canon 100-400. It's the second one I've owned, and I also use another one at my job. I sold my first one because I needed the money for some landscape gear, but I bought another this past November during the Canon refurbished lens sale. And this last copy is (or was) a noticeably sharper copy than the other two, although I've had good results from those too.

However, after only a month, the lens failed -- it would show the ER01 code at any aperture except wide open. After calling Canon and doing some troubleshooting, it was determined that the lens needed to go in for repair. It came back with the problem corrected, only now it's horribly soft wide open, and doesn't produce a "usable" image unless it's stopped down to f11. After speaking with Canon again, it's now on it's way back for inspection/testing and hopefully... repair.

In the meantime, I decided to pre-order a Tamron 150-600, and it arrived today. I took it out for a short time in the snowy weather today and took some songbird photos. I have a blind in my yard (geek!), and photographed in the same manner/surroundings that I use my 100-400. I didn't have a lot of light, and I set the ISO at 3200 (6D) and just tried the lens out. And the results were surprisingly good. The AF seems to function at least as well as the 100-400, the extra reach is great, the IS (VR) works very well, and the lens - although a bit heavier and longer than the 100-400 - was pretty manageable to use. I was able to get some decent images between 500-600mm -- the best were at f8, but the lens performed pretty well wide open too. I struggled a little with the zoom ring - I found it a little stiff. That will improve with practice.

I noticed in post that the Tamron images were a little "duller" (less contrast/color)than my 100-400, which was easy to overcome with some adjustments. Overall I'm very pleased with my first batch of images, and I'm looking forward to doing some more shooting this weekend.

As for my 100-400, I sure hope it comes back the way it was originally. I can see having both the Tamron and the Canon. We'll see...

Illume wrote in post #16625518
I have a Canon 100-400. It's the second one I've owned, and I also use another one at my job. I sold my first one because I needed the money for some landscape gear, but I bought another this past November during the Canon refurbished lens sale. And this last copy is (or was) a noticeably sharper copy than the other two, although I've had good results from those too.

However, after only a month, the lens failed -- it would show the ER01 code at any aperture except wide open. After calling Canon and doing some troubleshooting, it was determined that the lens needed to go in for repair. It came back with the problem corrected, only now it's horribly soft wide open, and doesn't produce a "usable" image unless it's stopped down to f11. After speaking with Canon again, it's now on it's way back for inspection/testing and hopefully... repair.

In the meantime, I decided to pre-order a Tamron 150-600, and it arrived today. I took it out for a short time in the snowy weather today and took some songbird photos. I have a blind in my yard (geek!), and photographed in the same manner/surroundings that I use my 100-400. I didn't have a lot of light, and I set the ISO at 3200 (6D) and just tried the lens out. And the results were surprisingly good. The AF seems to function at least as well as the 100-400, the extra reach is great, the IS (VR) works very well, and the lens - although a bit heavier and longer than the 100-400 - was pretty manageable to use. I was able to get some decent images between 500-600mm -- the best were at f8, but the lens performed pretty well wide open too. I struggled a little with the zoom ring - I found it a little stiff. That will improve with practice.

I noticed in post that the Tamron images were a little "duller" (less contrast/color)than my 100-400, which was easy to overcome with some adjustments. Overall I'm very pleased with my first batch of images, and I'm looking forward to doing some more shooting this weekend.

As for my 100-400, I sure hope it comes back the way it was originally. I can see having both the Tamron and the Canon. We'll see...

Someone offers me 1K for my 100-400L...which is enough for almost a new Tamron.. I'll see

i can see the value of the lens going down...but it will still be a good lens, just cheaper...

100/400 is my favorite lens - have owned it over ten years ... shot with film/slides at first, and then on to a D10, then a 30D, and now a 5dm3 ... never gives me trouble and shoots sharp as a tack ... would never give it up for another lens ... might add on to it, but it will stick on my camera until it flies up into the big camera bag in the sky! Best lens I ever bought.

That old "dust pump" design is a classic. One of the great values of the Canon L series. Don't go on a wildlife shooting trip without one.

All of these rave reviews don't really answer the question though. Between the new Tamron, Sigma's rumored foray into longer primes, the dust-pumps' aging tech and still-high price.. i'd say the version 1's days are numbered. Canon will be forced to update it (no matter how long update rumors have been going on), sooner rather than later. It's advantages are growing smaller and smaller.

No, newer lenses don't make the 100-400 any worse than it is, but.. they will make the decision between it and others, MUCH harder.

Well, it might answer it in a round about way ... with lots of happy folks out there with it, and keeping it. Maybe it makes less sense to bring out something new that will not have an impact on the 100/400 "ravers" ... If everyone, or even some were complaining, would make sense - but with many considering it the go-to lens in the bag for wildlife, shorts the market significantly

I know for certain (ten+ years old) - I'll keep mine until it dies, then get it repaired and try it again. It's never once been in for adjustment, cleaning, nothing - still creates great images. I never buy a lens 'just because it's available' ... I buy one because I need it ... best thing I ever did was buy a Canon 1.4x 3 and stick it between the 100/400 and a 5DM3 ... sweet!