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

Archibald wrote in post #17338898
I don't do sharpening in LR except I let LR do default sharpening on export. The reason I don't do sharpening under Detail is because I don't understand it.

About time I figured it out, I guess. (Tried a couple times before...)

There are 3 phases of sharpening but I'll talk about 2 for now. Capture and Output.

Capture sharpening compensates for the camera's AA filter. No 2 images are alike. This video shows how it works. I typically leave the radius at the default and don't often use the detail slider but you can experiment. The masking slider is the best tool in the detail tab. Remember to view at 100% when doing this.

https://www.youtube.co​m …tTeixz92A&featu​re=related

Output sharpening is for the media you will be viewing the image on. What is the default export sharpening you use? There are 3 levels and choices between, glossy, matte or screen. Do you select screen for web viewing? Try high or standard for sharpening. Also are you resizing the image on the export page as well?

I'm going to take one of my images and compare it to my PS sharpening action to some LR tests.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17338852
It's simply a matter of how you intend to, and how you can use the two different zoom tools. Yes, the new lens extends on a pretty fast twist, but it's nothing like th edead positive instant from here to there you get with push pull, no zoom gives that tactile 'you are now here" feedback.

I can practice for years with a twist zoom, and it will never allow me to frame fast in flight action as quickly as the push pull did. this really is not a matter of taste, it's ts what it is. If you don't see the benefit, then frankly, you weren't using in a way that would show you the benefit. Maybe you never were in a position to need it. I've been shooting it since 2004, and only needed this instant framing change a handful of times. But when it happened, it was a life saver. Lots of the best tools are like that. Esoteric, take it out only every so often, but do it better than anything in a pinch. Like a low angle smoothing plane

Looks like I'll have to eat some crow! Turns out my copy DOES pull/push after all. I was gripping the wrong part of the lens (the red ring). Try tugging on the hood -- it should work. I'm hoping this does not damage the lens in the long run. I admit this is more convenient and yes, faster, as I tend to support the lens on the hood when I shoot, so there is no need to move my hand to make the turn, small as it is (the turn, not the hand), to recompose.

Terrible review Jake. Terrible!!

Sincerely,
David's Wallet

joayne wrote in post #17338914
You and me both!
I love my v1 .. It's like an old friend.
It's traveled so many places
It will be difficult to part with.....

After reading Jake's review I went back into LR to see how often I used my 100-400. Turns out that it is my 2nd most used lens after the 24-70 f/2.8L My 100-400 is going with me down to the Rose Parade in a couple of weeks. It may be a good thing for me that no one seems to have stock of the new lens.

digital paradise wrote in post #17338937
There are 3 phases of sharpening but I'll talk about 2 for now. Capture and Output.

Capture sharpening compensates for the camera's AA filter. No 2 images are alike. This video shows how it works. I typically leave the radius at the default and don't often use the detail slider but you can experiment. The masking slider is the best tool in the detail tab. Remember to view at 100% when doing this.

https://www.youtube.co​m …tTeixz92A&featu​re=related

Output sharpening is for the media you will be viewing the image on. What is the default export sharpening you use? There are 3 levels and choices between, glossy, matte or screen. Do you select screen for web viewing? Try high or standard for sharpening. Also are you resizing the image on the export page as well?

I'm going to take one of my images and compare it to my PS sharpening action to some LR tests.

I ran one my images through PS and LR. In LR I sharpened carefully at a 100% view and exported using screen on high. Both were very close.

Watch the video and give that it a try so you can squeeze as much as you can out of your gear. I did play around with detail sharpening a bit and you can see when the smooth areas get noisy looking. My default setting for the masking slider is 80.

digital paradise wrote in post #17338762
The new thing here is the eyeglasses. Our max size used to be 1024 on the long side but I noticed your image was 1280. Is a larger size OK now with the new site? I have not real checked into it but I have been clicking on the glasses to view.

I hope don't mind that I ran it through my action as I was curios as you are because they are shipping mine tomorrow. I kept the crop size the same and just got rid of some outer stuff to stay within size.

Some time back they boosted the max size to 1280; it's in the posting rules sticky.

Snydremark wrote in post #17338998
Some time back they boosted the max size to 1280; it's in the posting rules sticky.

Yeah I was informed. Somehow I missed that. I imagine it was talked about and I did not spot the sticky.

digital paradise wrote in post #17338937
There are 3 phases of sharpening but I'll talk about 2 for now. Capture and Output.

Capture sharpening compensates for the camera's AA filter. No 2 images are alike. This video shows how it works. I typically leave the radius at the default and don't often use the detail slider but you can experiment. The masking slider is the best tool in the detail tab. Remember to view at 100% when doing this.

https://www.youtube.co​m …tTeixz92A&featu​re=related

Output sharpening is for the media you will be viewing the image on. What is the default export sharpening you use? There are 3 levels and choices between, glossy, matte or screen. Do you select screen for web viewing? Try high or standard for sharpening. Also are you resizing the image on the export page as well?

Thanks for the link. It is very helpful and clear. I used what I learned on the mallard pic and was able to get pretty close to what you did. Now I just have to remember for next time. Anyway, I saved the link and will refer to it when I need to.

On export, I let LR sharpen for screen. Yes, I resize, usually to 1400 px wide.

Timphoto wrote in post #17338961
After reading Jake's review I went back into LR to see how often I used my 100-400. Turns out that it is my 2nd most used lens after the 24-70 f/2.8L My 100-400 is going with me down to the Rose Parade in a couple of weeks. It may be a good thing for me that no one seems to have stock of the new lens.

My go to travel lens with the 24-105 pretty much covers it all.. And a light macro.
This will add a bit more weight tho...

I'll purchase it befor I travel in the spring

Keep posting up photos and experiences everyone ...

Archibald wrote in post #17339022
Thanks for the link. It is very helpful and clear. I used what I learned on the mallard pic and was able to get pretty close to what you did. Now I just have to remember for next time. Anyway, I saved the link and will refer to it when I need to.

On export, I let LR sharpen for screen. Yes, I resize, usually to 1400 px wide.

Good news. Amazing how a few adjustments can make a big difference. I'm looking forward to that lens. I know it will rock on my 5D3. I ordered a 1.4 III as well but is on back order at The Camera Store.

digital paradise wrote in post #17339031
Good news. Amazing how a few adjustments can make a big difference. I'm looking forward to that lens. I know it will rock on my 5D3. I ordered a 1.4 III as well but is on back order at The Camera Store.

With the availability of the new 100-400mm and the 7DII able to focus with the 1.4X, I suspected that the 1.4X's would be disappearing from shelves. I got one today from Vistek. They had only one left (at that location). Fortunately I only needed one.

You should be well equipped at The Bosque with the 100-400 II, and the 1.4 could certainly help.

Wonderful review and analysis! I'm bookmarking this thread. W00t!

David Arbogast wrote in post #17338949
Terrible review Jake. Terrible!!

Sincerely,
David's Wallet

ROFL

robert614 wrote in post #17338180
Best Buy has it in stock if your interested.

Regards,

Robert

By golly they do. Thank you Robert!

My company shuts down for almost two full weeks starting Christmas Eve so to be able to have this to play with would be amazing!

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17338608
Unfortunately with my copy, this is not so. The tension is far too tight.

Trust me, I don't care what Canon says, if it worked Id do it for sure!

Perhaps it will loosen up, but a day old it's so tight there is no use for the tension ring as the lightest setting is tighter than most zooms I've used.

Hutersdad, a member here, said about the same. So we have at least two examples with this same result.

Mine loosened up some. Enough so with tension at the lowest, you could use it as a push-pull. But it's still not as smooth as the v1.