100-400L IS vs. 400 f5.6L

Dear members,

After using the 100-400 for about 2 years, (and I like it a lot - here's a shot of mine I took sometime ago: http://www.airliners.n​et/open.file/1006210/L​/ ) some days ago I was thinking whether the 400L prime would be the better choice.

Of course, flexibility isn't there that much, but the fact that I mostly shoot at 400mm wouldn't make it that difficult.

Did anyone switch from one lens to the other or use both of them? Pro's and con's would be appreciated.

Btw, the 400 prime doesn't have IS, so how safer is shooting at 400mm vs. the zoom lens without bumping up ISO?

Thanks a lot.

Taken with the 400f5.6 and just resized nothing else done.
it is a little sharper than the zoom and faster focus about a third faster in my view its a great lens and i compensate for IS by shooting iso 200 this shot was at that and 1/1600 at f5.6 . The crop is at 100%
Rob.

I own both. I wrote this up some time ago after using the 400mm for a while. I still feel everything said is still accurate.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=43436

I thought about this also but decided to go with the 300f4 IS plus 1.4TC.
Very sharp lens even with the TC.
It gives me the choice of 300mm and 420mm with IS and sharper than my 100-400.
Still have the 100-400 zoom.
You can pry it from my cold, dead fingers.
Isn't that right Scottes.

lomond wrote:
Still have the 100-400 zoom.
You can pry it from my cold, dead fingers.
Isn't that right Scottes.

You betcha.

Don't forget my other saying: "If I could have only 1 lens it would be the Canon 100-400mm L IS."

Thanks a lot, guys!

I will check out one in my local store tomorrow, lets see how it goes

I don't think I ever heard about this question before on this forum. Hmmmm .

INNflight wrote:
Dear members,

After using the 100-400 for about 2 years, (and I like it a lot - here's a shot of mine I took sometime ago: http://www.airliners.n​et/open.file/1006210/L​/ ) some days ago I was thinking whether the 400L prime would be the better choice.

Of course, flexibility isn't there that much, but the fact that I mostly shoot at 400mm wouldn't make it that difficult.

Did anyone switch from one lens to the other or use both of them? Pro's and con's would be appreciated.

Btw, the 400 prime doesn't have IS, so how safer is shooting at 400mm vs. the zoom lens without bumping up ISO?

Thanks a lot.

This is an unbelievable picture. Where were you when you took it. Don't tell me scaling a mountain .