Canon EF 400mm f/4L IS DO II USM

The 100-400 is exceptional, so much so in fact, that I repurchased it a few weeks ago after selling it off to get this DO II that won't happen again. These days though, I'm using the DO II + 1.4xIII pretty much all of the time on my 80D, while the 100-400 serves as my "wide angle" zoom on the 5D4

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #18309264
Love Mockingbirds. They are my favorite visitors out back, even fly right up close to me and land. None of the other birds will.

I noticed that too! They're very inquisitive, and fiercely territorial, so are less shy about approaching. It's a nice reprieve to have some easier subjects to photograph after chasing elusive species all over the place! The Mockingbirds, and the Black Capped Chickadees, are the easiest. Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Downy woodpeckers are medium difficulty when attempting to get close to. Red Bellied Woodpeckers and hawks are aggrivatingly difficult! King Fishers are next level clever, haven't solved that riddle yet.

In general, the larger the bird the more skittish they are about people, especially a person pointing a large tube at them! The big exception to this is the Northern Mockingbird, who is very curious and will both tolerate a slow approach and let you get quite close, or come up to you. As for the Chickadees, I have stood there with some millet seed in my hand and had them come down and eat it, they will get quite close to you. The most tolerant of all, in my experience, are the Kinglets, both Golden-Crowned and Ruby-Crowned. Neither seem to care about your existence -- which is good since they move around so quickly, making warblers look slow, that it is very difficult to get off a good shot. My best shots of these two are using the 300 f/4 + 1.4x combo since it is easier to swing quickly and faster to focus.

Glad to hear that the 400DO II is usable with the 2X. It should be good in the winter bare, I still use my 300 f/4L that way, but you have to get close.

And it is true that having the ability to zoom back out will get you shots that you otherwise have to pass up; I have C3 set up on the 7D2 for BIF; if something comes along (heron, red-tail, and as happened last week a Bald Eagle) I can twist the mode dial to the end stop, quickly switch off the IS, and see what I can get. Sometimes you get surprised.

Great insights, Russ, especially about the bird's behavior. I'm hoping to see some of those Kinglets you mentioned, haven't come across any in my region yet.

400 DO II with 2X converter handheld

5D Mark IV | EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM @800mm | 1/800| f/8 | ISO 640

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Coderunner wrote in post #18309654
400 DO II with 2X converter handheld

5D Mark IV | EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM @800mm | 1/800| f/8 | ISO 640

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Gorgeous Red-belly.

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #18312164

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Tjhb​tx GHO face 700mm by MedicineMan4040, on Flickr

You are right in that Owl's business!!! Love it!

My experience with 400 mm DO -

compared to Tamron 150 -600 ( i own both) .....

Autofocus initial acquisition is fast, especially with the bare lens, it is exceptionally fast ( i have 2 x converter and didnt use 1.4 x so far).

1dx with 2x converter----- reach really helps.

Focus accuracy is much improved. at F4 ------subject separation is really good when i am using the bare lens. low light handholdability is pretty good too . IS works really well.

Hands down i feel 400 DO is a much superior tool than tamron.

Wrt not so impressive quality of images i posted - is due to lack of proper technique and processing skills (i have long way to go)

In good hands, this lens will really shine.

Google for Arash Hazegi and see what he could do with 400 DO II and 2x converter.

Hope this helps.

regards

Anil

Yesterday along the South Jetty Road near Florence, Oregon.....

short toed snake eagle from today morning...

Spring time bird: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

MatthewK wrote in post #18318638
Spring time bird: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

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Wow, these are just fantastic!

Thanks, Jeff! Those little guys are really fun to photograph, as they're very inquisitive.

They were hanging out next to this Pine Warbler:

Early morning Sunlight...

Super common Robin.