100-400mm IS L series

It depends of course ... trying to get a shot of a cheatah sat on top of your 4x4 through the open sun roof doesn't work with a 400mm prime. I tried My Toki might have worked better that time.

Seriously, 'best' will always be subjective because we all have a different balance of needs. Having tried two long primes I'm of the opinion that for me personally a zoom is far more practical and will get me more shots that I like. If someone else values the highest possible IQ, usually a lower weight, smaller size and cheaper price v's a competing zoom then they will find the prime 'best'.

Well, what a coincidence. I bought this stellar lens yesterday.

Here's what I consider a "poor" example of its performance in only my first day using it.

http://i.pbase.com …2/1/53638940._I​1A5504.JPG

And the horse was not standing still, instead, it was shaking it's head in this picture.
BTW, the horse was over a hundred yards away.

Count me in as another cold, dead finger guy.

Here's another, handheld, 1/50th of a second. Other than the fact that it appears as if one of my legs is shorter than the other resulting in the tilt, I think it's not a bad effort for a first try.

What do you think? I'd like to know:
http://i.pbase.com …53639529._I1A55​01copy.jpg

I love this lens...I'd sell my kids first! Versatile is the key word.

From this...

http://img.photobucket​.com …Unknownbutterfl​y1comp.jpg

through this...

http://img.photobucket​.com …/V6GTO/EvilEagl​e2comp.jpg

to this.

http://img.photobucket​.com …V6GTO/_MG_7380p​s2comp.jpg

Martin.

Here's a birding one. Flicker wouldn't co-operate and turn around.

Works nicely if the crowds cooperate.

V6GTO: WOW! is this from a 100-400 f4 IS? Damn I should start taking mine out for a spin! Heheh!

I've rented the 100-400mm a few times, but I'll only do so when I know it's going to be nice and sunny outside. Even with moderate cloud cover, I found it to be pretty dismal in the lighting department.

An example of whay I'll continue to rent it, though, is this; taken from a moving boat off of Catalina Island earlier this year::

http://onstagephotogra​phy.com/images/hugesea​lion.jpg


Steve

Ive used someone else 100-400 lens a couple of time...just enough to fall in love with it! Im presently saving money to buy it! Its a very polyvalent lens for outdoors.
Heres an example of what i did with it :
http://img236.imagesha​ck.us …grandhron5aoutc​rop8mh.jpg

Not sure "polyvalent" is the right word, but I think I know what you're saying.

Like I said, when the lighting is good, it's a tough lens to beat. When the lighting's less than ideal, I find it usually falters a bit...

Steve

I read thru all the threads. Excellent info. Much appreciated. TY

Folks,..

Please remember this ;

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/announce​ment.php?f=33

Link images in discussion forums as a rule of thumb.

The one place where in my humble opinion the 100-400L IS rules is in doing airshows. It is the one place where it definately beats a prime. And as a general purpose telephoto lens it is not bad either. But as everyone has said it doesn't do so hot in low light.

But nothing is more fun then putting both the 1.4 and 2x extenders on the thing at noon (since that is about the only time there is enough light) and shooting across a fairly large river.

Definitely agree with this lens. Just hold it at 400 and watch the picture shake! I won't even attempt 400 without a monopod.