100-400 or 70-200 2.8 IS with a 1.4 tele?

I say that the 70-200 2.8 IS and the 1.4 is better all around but my buddy says 100-400...

280mm f4 vs 400mm f5.6 isn't apples-to-apples. If I want reach, the 400mm has it.

Real world, when I head out to shoot in the 300mm range, I grab the 100-400mm over the 70-200mm with the TC. That one consideration that impacts this decision is available light (100-400 needs light).

Completely depends on what you're shooting and how you want to frame it; but for actual reach, the 100-400 is king, between those two.

2x tele then?

Why I ask is cause a friend bought the 100-400 after I said buy the 70-200 as he shoots baseball and indoor hockey , but he had the crappy 70-300 and I think he fell in love with the extra100mm at the store, I know what my 70-200 2.8IS can do and I know the 100-400 is not all that fast so I was going to suggest the 70-200 and a tele for the range.

If it was me I would just buy all of it.

Even the 70-200 MkII + 2x MkIII TC combo couldn't beat the results from the 100-400. YMMV

Indoor hockey and a 100-400mm doesn't sound like a good match, though I've never shot indoor hockey. It might be brighter than basketball.

Snydremark wrote in post #13147585
Even the 70-200 MkII + 2x MkIII TC combo couldn't beat the results from the 100-400. YMMV

Thats why I was thinking the 1.4 tc would be better , but In the end it is all about what he shoots, I am sure he will be dissapointed with the 100-400 in the rink tho..

we will see I guess.

Agreed; but I wouldn't want to try and use a 70-200 + 2x TC for the same reason. Ultimately, you'd want to be shooting with a lens of 2.8 or better and just be close enough to frame the shots properly; BUT, I would probably take the 70-200 + 1.4 and crop before trying to use the ole' dustpump for this particular endeavor.

The 100-400 is f/4.5 to f/5.6 between 100 and 280
The 70-200 f/2.8 + 1.4 would be f/4 through the entire range

That difference could make a significant impact on the rest of your settings and the final result. Since shutter speed is one of your prime settings for action sports, the setup that allows you to keep SS up the easiest would be what I'd go for.