EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review WOW!

Just purchased this lens, it's in the mail on it's way to me as we speak! The wait is excruciating, hopefully have it before the long Christmas weekend!

Its a fantastic lens, ..you just up'd your game. !!

Pondrader wrote in post #17823460
Its a fantastic lens, ..you just up'd your game. !!

Should have added it a long time ago. I've been getting by shooting birds using my 70-200 and sneak tactics, so some more reach will be very welcome!

I had recently purchased the 24-70 f/2.8 II, a very fine lens, but I had the nagging feel that I'd regret not getting the 100-400 II instead.... so I returned the 24-70 and ordered the 100-400. I feel so much better now.

I really did want a prime but I need IS so the 400 5.6 was out. Shot with a 300L F4 IS for 8 years so I'm still adjusting to the zoom. I often forget have it . 90% of the time I'm at 400.

Despite that I love it. Still waiting for Canon to come out with a 400L 5.6 IS II. If they do I might make some moves for the weight alone. I still have my 300 so there might be some selling going on - or not. We'll see.

AnnieMacD wrote in post #17823379
Wow, fantastic sunrise, Derek. How's the IS?

Its good, its a little more noisy than the 70-200 but that could just be that this lens has been shipped all over the place so it may not be the way its meant to sound.

stsva wrote in post #17823419
Beautiful images. With regard to the zoom being "clunky," what exactly do you mean?

Thank you, I probably mean its a larger diameter zoom to turn and with the function to set it to smooth and tight I'm finding it a little awkward. It also zooms more than my hand can turn in one go. A little more time with it and I'm sure all will be well.

digital paradise wrote in post #17823546
Still waiting for Canon to come out with a 400L 5.6 IS II. If they do I might make some moves for the weight alone.

If you're waiting for a 400 f5.6 IS 2, I think you'll be waiting a long time. They haven't even made a 400 f5.6 IS version 1 yet!

Tom Reichner wrote in post #17823629
If you're waiting for a 400 f5.6 IS 2, I think you'll be waiting a long time. They haven't even made a 400 f5.6 IS version 1 yet!

I know. That is why I avoided it. But IS is pretty common now. I don't know if Canon would make another more affordable prime in that focal length.

.

digital paradise wrote in post #17823657
I don't know if Canon would make another more affordable prime in that focal length.

I doubt it.

I think that if Canon did make a 400 f5.6 prime with IS, it would:
NOT be lighter than the new 100-400 zoom (at least not by more than a few ounces). Adding IS to a lens of this focal length adds a lot of weight.
NOT be cheaper than the new 100-400 zoom (at least not by more than a couple hundred US dollars)

So for those who are waiting and hoping for a 400 prime, I think that their best bet would be to just get the new 100-400mm zoom. If weight and cost are practically the same, I fail to see any advantage to the proposed prime because the new zoom is so sharp wide open and has aperture blades which create a pleasing blur, given the f5.6 aperture.


EDIT:
Ok, there would/could be one advantage. A retractable lens hood. I wish the 100-400 had this. In fact, I wish all lenses had a retractable collar - it is so important that engineering the lens around it would be advisable, in my opinion. I'd gladly pay several hundred more for a 100-400 that had a retractable hood like the 400 prime does.
.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #17823673
A few shots>

Brent Goose

Cormorant

Three Curlews a way off

dexy101 wrote in post #17823562
Its good, its a little more noisy than the 70-200 but that could just be that this lens has been shipped all over the place so it may not be the way its meant to sound.

Thank you, I probably mean its a larger diameter zoom to turn and with the function to set it to smooth and tight I'm finding it a little awkward. It also zooms more than my hand can turn in one go. A little more time with it and I'm sure all will be well.

Got it; I was thinking mechanical problem when you said clunky.

Lbsimon wrote in post #17822408
Sorry, I am too old for that...

But are you too old to remember The Machine that goes "Ping"?

So I finally got out to shoot with this thing today, and my subject ......... a group of photographers out birding

First impressions (and they were flawed) were that the lens was pretty soft @400mm, I was checking the previews and not at all impressed with the results.

Heres my first shot.

dexy101 wrote in post #17824551
So I finally got out to shoot with this thing today, and my subject ......... a group of photographers out birding

First impressions (and they were flawed) were that the lens was pretty soft @400mm, I was checking the previews and not at all impressed with the results.

Heres my first shot.

Hosted photo: posted by dexy101 in
./showthread.php?p=178​24551&i=i17005058
forum: Canon Lenses

After that I decided get out of my car and not shoot through the windshield

Much better, seems I was far too excited to use this lens that I didn't really think about anything.

Hosted photo: posted by dexy101 in
./showthread.php?p=178​24551&i=i120407894
forum: Canon Lenses

Holy crap this lens is good on my 1D, all I need to do now is use it more and decide if I need one.

Mate. don't let windshields bother you. These shots were taken through one and add to that the drizzle at the time, and it's better than no shot at all. The only problem being that in the passenger seat of a UK vehicle, you have to bend over backwards, and almost sit in the drivers lap due to the length of the lens

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/wf19​sx

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/vXoA​Uw

Great shots, it usually doesn't bother me but to be honest ive not had a chance to wash my car this last 2 months so it was fairy bothering the images today.

I haven't shot trough my windshield yet but this is through thick dirty zoo glass.