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

I have not experienced that issue on either my 7D2 or 5D3, either, John. Focus has always been quick and accurate on both bodies.

Yes it was on the 7D MK II

It was defiantly a weird issue. I had it at a track meet today and it seemed to work fine. Ill just have to keep an eye on it and see if it acts up.
Thanks
John

one from the local wetlands nearby me...Its a wet Black Shouldered Kite

BTW....Im finding the 5DSR and 100-400Mk2 IS combo is an absolute powehouse when it gets a subject locked on at 400mm from a medium distance. To my eyes its almost approaching the sharpness of primes.

Other great advantage of the Mk2 IS is I can handhold sharp at 400mm on the 5DSR at mid range shutter speeds (1/250 th sec) whereas I couldnt on my older Mk1 IS. This was mainly due to the fact the 5DSR's vast number of "on target pixels" meant I had to use more than 2-3x focal length on older Mk1 to get rid of camera shake and sometimes I just didnt have the light to go up in SS Now Im getting a couple of extra stops its increased my keepers by heaps although this shot doesnt demonstrate this as it was shot at a faster speed.

I just recently got this lens and I'm honestly impressed. I already owned the 400mm f/5.6 L and at 400mm my copy of the 100-400mm II is just as sharp when compared to the prime. I was initially concerned that it may not be as sharp, but was pleasantly surprised.

I compared images from my 400L prime. When comparing bird photos from my 400mm prime and new 100-400 II, the zoom is just as good in image quality. My prime is and always has been tack sharp. I could easily get pictures just as sharp as my 100mm L macro lens from my 400mm. I had considered buying the 70-200mm F/2.8 II (which I may still get) and the 70-300mm L but decided on the 100-400.

There have been a few L lenses I wasn't particularly impressed with upon buying, but the 100-400mm II is amazing. It's sharp, even at 5.6 for 400mm. Image stabilization allows me to handholding at 400mm. I usually get a "keepable" shot after one photo hand held, not two or three. I can count the number of times I've gotten a blurry photo from this lens on one hand, all of which were from my error or from my dog pulling at her leash while hiking and photographing.

I've read review of people saying this isn't a walk around lens, I beg to differ. It a little heavy, but with a camera strap it's fine, even when hiking in the mountains. Overall I'm super happy with this lens and I think it's going to be one of my favorite lenses for a long time.

and another same combo 5DSR and 100-400Mk2 IS but this time with 1.4 extender .

IMO This is where this lens really excels over the primes....Capturing birds in flight ....The lens is so light its a breeze to handhold all the time compared to a heavy 400 or 500mm prime . And combined with 50MP sensor with heavy cropping I can get a max focal length similar to a 7DMK2 cropped sensor of 640mm with no hit to aperture...still at 5.6 allowing full AI servo etc ..In this case I shot with extender and no notieable IQ hit... By cropping heavily this actually gave me the equivalent of a 800mm F8 lens ( same as a 7dMk2 because of similar on target pixel count) still with centre AIservo and AF... Infact Canon CPS lent me a new 500mm F4 ISII the otherweek which I took to the same place as this was shot and whilst I had some absolutely stunning bird shots from the 500mm they werent in flight like this guy was . Most of the primes were tripod shot and most of my Birds in flight with this

Gigas wrote in post #17981602
I just recently got this lens and I'm honestly impressed. I already owned the 400mm f/5.6 L and at 400mm my copy of the 100-400mm II is just as sharp when compared to the prime. I was initially concerned that it may not be as sharp, but was pleasantly surprised.

I compared images from my 400L prime. When comparing bird photos from my 400mm prime and new 100-400 II, the zoom is just as good in image quality. My prime is and always has been tack sharp. I could easily get pictures just as sharp as my 100mm L macro lens from my 400mm. I had considered buying the 70-200mm F/2.8 II (which I may still get) and the 70-300mm L but decided on the 100-400.

There have been a few L lenses I wasn't particularly impressed with upon buying, but the 100-400mm II is amazing. It's sharp, even at 5.6 for 400mm. Image stabilization allows me to handholding at 400mm. I usually get a "keepable" shot after one photo hand held, not two or three. I can count the number of times I've gotten a blurry photo from this lens on one hand, all of which were from my error or from my dog pulling at her leash while hiking and photographing.

I've read review of people saying this isn't a walk around lens, I beg to differ. It a little heavy, but with a camera strap it's fine, even when hiking in the mountains. Overall I'm super happy with this lens and I think it's going to be one of my favorite lenses for a long time.

Welcome to the 100-400 II club. Most would agree with your assessment of this lens, including me. I have had mine for over a year and have shot over 20 thousand pics with it. It is almost always on my 7D2 except when I'm shooting macro.

I wish you many happy shots and when you're ready please post some of your results!

Stunning capture....makes me wonder if my 1DXii choice was the right one!

The 100-400ii will go down in history as the greatest EOS lens. I say this having owned 400/5.6 and currently owning 300/2.8isii, 400DOii, and 500isii. When the 1DXii get's here it will be my first choice in wildlife/birding.

JM45ACP wrote in post #17981530
Yes it was on the 7D MK II

It was defiantly a weird issue. I had it at a track meet today and it seemed to work fine. Ill just have to keep an eye on it and see if it acts up.
Thanks
John

I don't remember with which lens or body, but some time ago I had something that sounds similar to your experience. You may note a bit of wiggle and rotational play at the lens mount which can lead to a lens/body intermittent electronic contact failure. I did two things, cleaned the contacts and made sure the lens was nicely rotationally clicked in when mounting. Have had that happen again.

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #17981675
Stunning capture....makes me wonder if my 1DXii choice was the right one!

well i dont think you can go wrong with the choice of what will be the No1 professional camera in the world when it finally ships ! .....From the specs Ive seen this will be an absolute killer camera when you need FPS and good low light performance. Infact I recon the 100-400 MK2 matched with a 1dx will be an absolute beauty as well. Probably wont get same extra reach past 400 as a 5DSR or a 7Dmk2 can get but it will make up for it in other ways like really clean low noise shots no matter how hard you crop of how high the ISO.

.Ive seen some of Canons 1dx2 pre production images and the images are sensational...... Infact if I could afford another photographic hit to my credit card this would be without a doun=bt the next purchase of mine....And if I had it on order like it sounds you have then I would be damn excited hahaha

Is a rainy day today so I'm take it off and clean the contacts and give it a once over.

Send that 1DxII to me if it gets in the way MedicineMan

JM45ACP wrote in post #17981530
Yes it was on the 7D MK II

It was defiantly a weird issue. I had it at a track meet today and it seemed to work fine. Ill just have to keep an eye on it and see if it acts up.
Thanks
John

"Lens drive when AF impossible"

I've had remarkable luck with all my Canon EF lenses. Really love all five. Only had to MA my 70-200 f/4 lens with my 7D Mk I. It works perfectly with my Canon 7D Mk II and Canon 5D Mk III.

When I have issues with my photographs, it's almost always my fault. Either I did something wrong in camera or I did a poor job post processing. Just my opinion...

Love Photoshop...

Charlie Wesley
St. Augustine, Florida

wesjr wrote in post #17982096
I've had remarkable luck with all my Canon EF lenses. Really love all five. Only had to MA my 70-200 f/4 lens with my 7D Mk I. It works perfectly with my Canon 7D Mk II and Canon 5D Mk III.

When I have issues with my photographs, it's almost always my fault. Either I did something wrong in camera or I did a poor job post processing. Just my opinion...

Love Photoshop...

Charlie Wesley
St. Augustine, Florida

Yes. Went out birding last week. Every OOF shot was my fault.