100-400L on my T3I

I recently was demoing the 100-400 L on my t3i as I am looking for a good long zoom lens. The auto focus on my body took a painful amount of time where I found I was missing my shots constantly. Would this lens focus faster with a different body? The 70-300L seemed a little quicker and lighter but the reach was obviously not the same. Any recomendations?

My current lens are 10-22, 18-135, 50 1.4 and 28 1.8, the 18-135 just doesn't cut it when trying to shoot sporting events, plus I live on the Hudson River with a great view of Manhattan and when the weather is right I can get great pics. Any lens will do for those pics as I just set up a tripod and click away!!

upgrade to 7D, all problem solved....

Painfully slow? I think there is a problem somewhere. I also use the 18-135 and 100-400L on my T1i and 60D. I don't notice any difference in focus speed. My 100-400L is very snappy in good light. Granted, I've never used a super lens like any of the 70-200 IS versions. I don't have any problems shooting baseball or other day-time field sports with my 100-400L.

jasperk99 wrote in post #14751512
I recently was demoing the 100-400 L on my t3i as I am looking for a good long zoom lens. The auto focus on my body took a painful amount of time where I found I was missing my shots constantly. Would this lens focus faster with a different body? The 70-300L seemed a little quicker and lighter but the reach was obviously not the same. Any recomendations?

My current lens are 10-22, 18-135, 50 1.4 and 28 1.8, the 18-135 just doesn't cut it when trying to shoot sporting events, plus I live on the Hudson River with a great view of Manhattan and when the weather is right I can get great pics. Any lens will do for those pics as I just set up a tripod and click away!!

I use the 100-400 for sports and action shots on an XSi (450D) and have experienced no problems, I get great pics. Maybe something is wrong with the demo. ( I don't use a tripod)

I used my 100-400 to shoot drag racing, never any speed issues with AF. It could be your setting on the AF limit switch.

How is the AF st up on your camera? I've found just by using the center focus point that the camera focuses at at least twice the speed.

its normal
the 100-400 is not a fast lens
you can use manual focus before the AF
to speed up the focus time
yes the 70-300 L much faster than the 100-400
even with kenko pro extender on the T3i
but i hate to use extenders
and like what you said the 100-400 gives you more reach than this lens

I use the 70-200 2.8LII with the 2xIII ( when I need 400mm ) on a T3i and AF is adequate. Not lighting fast but not slow by any means.

Unlike moltengold I don't find the 100-400 slow. I've rented a 500 mm prime for MotoGP and my experience is theres little to choose between them.

Are you using the centre point or other, less sensitive AF points?

Are you using a CP or UV filter on it.

Ive found removing all filters & just being careful & having the Lens Hood attached at all times pays dividends, focus is quicker..but its still not a 300, f2.8.....

Al

Ando27 wrote in post #14753965
Are you using a CP or UV filter on it.

Ive found removing all filters & just being careful & having the Lens Hood attached at all times pays dividends, focus is quicker..but its still not a 300, f2.8.....

Al

No filters

Lowner wrote in post #14752693
Unlike moltengold I don't find the 100-400 slow. I've rented a 500 mm prime for MotoGP and my experience is theres little to choose between them.

Are you using the centre point or other, less sensitive AF points?

I was using the center point focus and it was taking a good 2-3 seconds to focus in a bright area

Dean_Fuller wrote in post #14752559
I use the 70-200 2.8LII with the 2xIII ( when I need 400mm ) on a T3i and AF is adequate. Not lighting fast but not slow by any means.

I definitely noticed the difference between the 70-300 L and 100-400L in the time it took to gain focus;

What were you shooting? I have shot soccer successfully with the same combo.

I no longer have the lens in my possession, so I can't test anything else, I thought at the time it was my body, but it will be worth demoing again from somewhere else to see if it was the lens;