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

Yoiks!

I seem to have started a discussion here. For what it is worth I am the heretic (see many of my other posts here and elsewhere) who simply does not like IS. I, personally, find it to be a virtually useless feature - with one exception! Namely the Canon 100-400 Mk2 - I simply cannot hold this lens steady below 1/400 sec! When I had a 400 F2.8, later 600 F4 and now 800 F5.6 I have no use for IS, but that 100-400 Mk2.............

In my previous post I mentioned the Canon Rep regarding the fact that IS can interfere with AF which he agreed with. Well he was a wee bit sceptical, to say the least, regarding my criticisms of IS with long lenses. He was trying to tell me that Canon have the very best stabilisers going (which I agree with) but I contested that they were still more of a problem than an asset (note the exception of the 100-400 Mk2). Unfortunately we didn't have any really long lenses at hand but after a couple of minutes "tuition" I had him getting as sharp, if not sharper, shots at 1/160 with a 500 F4 L hand held with IS off than with IS on - he didn't want to talk to me after that!

Use what suits you and your needs best! With small, light, but long lenses like the 100-400 IS can be handy - I use it on mine! However for shorter lenses and the big heavy primes - I have yet to find a use for IS on modern cameras. Not having a go at anyone or any manufacturer but the greatest increase in the sharpness of my shots came about when I turned IS off. If it doesn't work for you then no big deal just turn IS back on. Try it and see

johnf3f wrote in post #18418618
Yoiks!

I seem to have started a discussion here. For what it is worth I am the heretic (see many of my other posts here and elsewhere) who simply does not like IS. I, personally, find it to be a virtually useless feature - with one exception! Namely the Canon 100-400 Mk2 - I simply cannot hold this lens steady below 1/400 sec! When I had a 400 F2.8, later 600 F4 and now 800 F5.6 I have no use for IS, but that 100-400 Mk2.............

Do you shoot the 600mm and the 800mm handheld?

You must have some supremely stable body parts!!! Handholding the 500 f/4 (the heavier v1?), getting sharp photos at 1/160? With NO IS? Even with the reduced weight, the 500 f/4 II is one heavy, cumbersome hog, no way I'd get sharp shots at 1/160! Using IS Mode 3, and seeing the shake before the shutter is pressed is disconcerting; even when I am braced the FOV is moving around, but as promised the photos turn out sharp.

Well, I'll have to try this next outing for sure

johnf3f wrote in post #18418618
Yoiks!

I seem to have started a discussion here. For what it is worth I am the heretic (see many of my other posts here and elsewhere) who simply does not like IS. I, personally, find it to be a virtually useless feature - with one exception! Namely the Canon 100-400 Mk2 -

I'm happy that you made that exception.

I've had sharp images at 1/30sec fully extended with the extender. I just love the IS on this lens.

bidkev wrote in post #18418141
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Well after switching to mode 1 I took 24 shots this morning and only missed one of them. I can breathe easy as I really thought there was something wrong with either the camera or the lens. All shots of the same species and here are a few

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/W6Mx​nS Little Friarbird (1) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/W8Xc​Yi Little Friarbird (8) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WLn3​vd Little Friarbird (5) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WLnb​4Q Little Friarbird (4) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/X7Jd​BWLittle Friarbird (4) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/WLzD​t5Little Friarbird (2) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

Could you give some hints on your post processing? I never managed to get such sharp pics with the 7D2 + 100-400II combo.

MatthewK wrote in post #18418150
Interesting notes about IS not being useful, even detrimental, above certain shutter speeds. For anything 400mm and above, I usually just leave the SS at >1250, so next session will try shooting without, but I do like having the steady viewfinder image.

This is something I was taught very early on when I got into photography. This is especially true when the camera is in AI Servo. I also experienced this, tracking is more accurate with fast moving subjects and when you shoot a burst there are less pics out of focus.

johnf3f wrote in post #18418618
Yoiks!

I seem to have started a discussion here. For what it is worth I am the heretic (see many of my other posts here and elsewhere) who simply does not like IS. I, personally, find it to be a virtually useless feature - with one exception! Namely the Canon 100-400 Mk2 - I simply cannot hold this lens steady below 1/400 sec! When I had a 400 F2.8, later 600 F4 and now 800 F5.6 I have no use for IS, but that 100-400 Mk2.............

In my previous post I mentioned the Canon Rep regarding the fact that IS can interfere with AF which he agreed with. Well he was a wee bit sceptical, to say the least, regarding my criticisms of IS with long lenses. He was trying to tell me that Canon have the very best stabilisers going (which I agree with) but I contested that they were still more of a problem than an asset (note the exception of the 100-400 Mk2). Unfortunately we didn't have any really long lenses at hand but after a couple of minutes "tuition" I had him getting as sharp, if not sharper, shots at 1/160 with a 500 F4 L hand held with IS off than with IS on - he didn't want to talk to me after that!

Use what suits you and your needs best! With small, light, but long lenses like the 100-400 IS can be handy - I use it on mine! However for shorter lenses and the big heavy primes - I have yet to find a use for IS on modern cameras. Not having a go at anyone or any manufacturer but the greatest increase in the sharpness of my shots came about when I turned IS off. If it doesn't work for you then no big deal just turn IS back on. Try it and see

John are you able to shed some light on this tuition you provided to enable the sharp shots @ 1/160 without IS ?

CyberCat wrote in post #18418864
Could you give some hints on your post processing? I never managed to get such sharp pics with the 7D2 + 100-400II combo.

Certainly. Pretty much the same for all my images but I'm no expert at PS but it works for me.

in Raw. I adjust shadows and highlights till I bring back detail, although I rarely need to adjust shadows. Clarity and Vibrance +25. I nearly always shoot at 400 so luminence +20. If I don't do this then I get even more noise when I smart sharpen later in PS. I then send to PS and adjust again for highlights if needed to bring back more detail, then Smart Sharpen somewhere between 100 and 150. That's it although on the very odd occasion I may up the contrast as sometimes bringing back detail in shadows or highlight may "flatten" it somewhat. I don't know if there's a better way but it works for me.

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Dolp! Thought I'd try this lens with my 6D but missed a rare bird as I had the convertor on and forgot that the 6D won't focus with the convertor.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Xp2e​eR

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WMXo​Ho

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/X98i​PC

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/W8bH​m7

Service Berry's ..Delish

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Apologies for showing the same species but these are the first shots I've managed with the TC 1.4 since switching back to IS mode 1. I have to say, that happily, my lack of success with having so many non-keepers recently, I can only attribute to that inadvertent switch to IS mode 2 as my success rate since switching to mode 1 is back to my old self. I know that mode 2 works for some, but it just doesn't work for me. At least I can breathe a sigh of relief having tested both, with and without the TC, and now know that there is nothing wrong with either the lens or the camera

First one is a large crop shot from 30+ metres with a result that amazed me and all but the last are at full stretch and wide open...............did I tell you before that I love this combo?

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Wbj2​ih

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WdXX​EB

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WdYg​ue

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Xcv6​19

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Xopf​Gd

bidkev wrote in post #18420337
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Apologies for showing the same species but these are the first shots I've managed with the TC 1.4 since switching back to IS mode 1. I have to say, that happily, my lack of success with having so many non-keepers recently, I can only attribute to that inadvertent switch to IS mode 2 as my success rate since switching to mode 1 is back to my old self. I know that mode 2 works for some, but it just doesn't work for me. At least I can breathe a sigh of relief having tested both, with and without the TC, and now know that there is nothing wrong with either the lens or the camera

First one is a large crop shot from 30+ metres with a result that amazed me and all but the last are at full stretch and wide open...............did I tell you before that I love this combo?

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Wbj2​ih rainbow lorikeet by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WdXX​EB Noisy Friarbird (3) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WdYg​ue Little Friarbird by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Xcv6​19 Noisy Friarbird (1) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/Xopf​GdNoisy Friarbird (2) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

lol Mr spruce Grouse loves your images Kev..... Mode 1 just for you

bidkev wrote in post #18420337
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Apologies for showing the same species but these are the first shots I've managed with the TC 1.4 since switching back to IS mode 1. I have to say, that happily, my lack of success with having so many non-keepers recently, I can only attribute to that inadvertent switch to IS mode 2 as my success rate since switching to mode 1 is back to my old self. I know that mode 2 works for some, but it just doesn't work for me. At least I can breathe a sigh of relief having tested both, with and without the TC, and now know that there is nothing wrong with either the lens or the camera

First one is a large crop shot from 30+ metres with a result that amazed me and all but the last are at full stretch and wide open...............did I tell you before that I love this combo?

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Wbj2​ih rainbow lorikeet by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WdXX​EB Noisy Friarbird (3) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/WdYg​ue Little Friarbird by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Xcv6​19 Noisy Friarbird (1) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/Xopf​GdNoisy Friarbird (2) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

Back to his high level standard, everyone! Had me fooled, your other shots you've posted look great.

Have you tried Mode 3 at all? I'm about to head out now for some random shooting, intend on using it.

Pondrader wrote in post #18420465
lol Mr spruce Grouse loves your images Kev..... Mode 1 just for you

Hosted photo: posted by Pondrader in
./showthread.php?p=184​20465&i=i33894012
forum: Canon Lenses

So how was your success rate in mode 1 Jeff?

MatthewK wrote in post #18420486
Back to his high level standard, everyone! Had me fooled, your other shots you've posted look great.

Have you tried Mode 3 at all? I'm about to head out now for some random shooting, intend on using it.

Thanks Mathew. I'm not adventurous enough to try another mode. Modes are like women...............yo​u find one that works for you and you stick to it