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

For my next birthday I want to give myself one between the 100-400 IS II and the 400 F5.6.
Now I'm more inclined on the former, but the latter is half the price.
The 100-400 is new and so I'd buy something new, instead the 400 is out there for a long time.
The 100-400 has IS, maybe it's not the most important thing but I have the 100mm macro L IS and, I'm very satisfied with it.
Maybe I'd better save more money and go for the 100-400.

Treat yourself. 100-400, no contest.

It looks like one of the kids pet from the movie "The Village of the Dammed" Nice shot in tough conditions. It's a keeper.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17574810
He also happily hand holds a SIGMA 300-800mm zoom, weighing in at about 14 pounds!
With T-Cons!
no IS!

We need to start new Romy fanclub thread

I'll be a cheerleader but no pom pomps or anything else.

Fabercula wrote in post #17580680
For my next birthday I want to give myself one between the 100-400 IS II and the 400 F5.6.
Now I'm more inclined on the former, but the latter is half the price.
The 100-400 is new and so I'd buy something new, instead the 400 is out there for a long time.
The 100-400 has IS, maybe it's not the most important thing but I have the 100mm macro L IS and, I'm very satisfied with it.
Maybe I'd better save more money and go for the 100-400.

I had the 400 and I just got the 100-400II. IMO the 400 5.6 is one of Canon's best buys. Its a bit bigger than the zoom but its lighter.
Having the versatility and IS is what convinced me to go with the zoom but if you just want 400 the prime is a great choice for the price. Especially used where you can probably get it for around $800 to $900.

Fabercula wrote in post #17580680
For my next birthday I want to give myself one between the 100-400 IS II and the 400 F5.6.
Now I'm more inclined on the former, but the latter is half the price.
The 100-400 is new and so I'd buy something new, instead the 400 is out there for a long time.
The 100-400 has IS, maybe it's not the most important thing but I have the 100mm macro L IS and, I'm very satisfied with it.
Maybe I'd better save more money and go for the 100-400.

Having now used the 100-400II since literally the day it was launched - it has not left one of my cameras for more than a day. I love this lens. I have even gone out to do street photography with it - insane yes but I wanted to try it. The IS on this lens makes it like owning a second or even 3rd lens all in one; I actually believe the IS it is more than 4 stops of performance - almost 5. That makes owning the 100-400II more than just owning a 400mm lens.

I have now used this lens at:
- ice hockey games (5D3 & 7D2)
- Rugby, frisbee football
- Birding (7D2)
- wedding (5D3 & 7D2)
- street photography (5D3)

There is almost no price I would pay for the 400mmm F5.6 Prime - if I didn't own the 100-400II and someone wanted to unload a used prime for $300 then maybe - but even then I would likely say no. I did a very careful test of the Prime and I needed to use a SS of 1/640 to get tack sharp images - 1/500 would not do at an acceptable rate. I can easily get consistent tack sharp images with the 100-400II at 1/30th at 400mm - easily. I did a very deliberate test and I can score above 80% tack sharp at 1/10th which is ridiculous as you would really never need to do this but it is possible.

I have loved my 300L F4 IS since purchasing it in 2006 and said I'd never part with it. I'm kind of torn ever since purchasing the 100-400 which I must admit I was a tad sceptical about a first. I trusted the members here and they did not disappoint.

My wife told me to keep it. Much lighter and I'm not getting younger so may want to use it now and then. Still thinking about it.

Thank you everybody for replying.
This afternoon I went visiting the shop. They showed me the 100-400 II IS, about a 1.6 kg, but I could manage to hold it quite firmly all the same.
I liked it.
They suggested me to choose between that and, for saving some money, the Tamron 150-600.
Now I'm thinking it over before making up my mind.
If it weren't also a matter of money, I think I'd father go for the 100-400.
I already own a Kelko 1.4x and I could reach approximately the same reach of the Tamron.
Your opinions are highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Fabrizio

I can tell you the 100-400LII is worth the extra in my book, hand held this afternoon,

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/u5nu​2U

not bad at macro either
- handheld 7D2, 400mm, F9, 1/125, 1250 iso

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/tNmV​17

lol yup,....very purple lol

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/t97g​SD

Fabercula wrote in post #17582840
...They showed me the 100-400 II IS, ...
I liked it.
They suggested me to choose between that and, for saving some money, the Tamron 150-600.
....
Your opinions are highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Fabrizio

Well, posting this question in a thread full of those that worship at the Throne of the 100-400mm MkII will not exactly get you a balanced reply. It will however get you the right answer!

Seriously, unless you need 600mm all the time, or simply HAVE to go the bargain route, get the 100-400mm.

Better IQ, faster more confident AF, much much MUCH better Image Stabilization, all weather build quality.. and more portable. If you ever need to sell you will get about 90% of your money back, (assuming you use it, if not closer to 95%) etc..

Tamron was a SUPERB bargain when it came out, still is, up against the old version 1 100-400mm there was a very hard decision. Now it is a matter of cost and little more.

Pondrader wrote in post #17582986
lol yup,....very purple lol

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/t97g​SD IMG_3924 by Wild Photography, on Flickr

Oh Jeff, the timing on this one, absolutely perfect!

The other day we were driving and saw like 20 or so manatees mating in shallow waters....

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/t9fU​Sq

Thank you Jake, I had a chance today so I went down to the lake around two in the afternoon, I walk over to the edge of the water and sat on the big flat granite that rolls out of the lake and watched the loon sit on a nest with two eggs, It was panting just a little in the heat of the sun and as I was thinking she may slide off the nest her mate gliding through the water stopped to look at me from about 10 feet. He dove under and I could see the white on his back all the way to the nest and at that moment she slid into the water and he climbed up onto the nest in the most clumsy way you can imagine. she dove under and emerged right in front of me, then started her stretching and preening and well you can see the rest of the story. I do believe I have conditioned them to my presents just a little.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/tNWU​tX