Canon 100-400mm Mk I for wildlife (?)

Some folks selling the old pumper zoom for $800-900 (USD) in my parts. I'm aware that the Mark 2 is a nicer lens and perhaps better ergonomics than the older lens. That said I love the bargain of the MkI.

This fall I want to chase some deer and elk across the Rocky Mountain states. Pardon my snobbery but I'm addicted to full frame and don't see myself going back to "crop." I'd rather drop $400 on a 1.4/2x teleconverter if needed. I have a 5dIII and a 6D. I'm fit and don't expect to encounter them from the road. Love to hike. Wondering if the 100-400mm is good enough if Im fairly sneaky but not starving spear hunter sneaky. Longest I've ever owned is 200mm to date. Do I need the teleconverter? The 500mm+ lens options are a bit out of my budget.

Does the full frame quality and higher ISO quality of full frame make up for the slower lenses or do you generally get better image quality using say a 7D/70D/7DII and a faster lens?

Thanks.

I don't know why it would not perform. Some have posted safari photos from Africa using the mkI lens and they look well enough on line. If I were in the market, and for that price, I would get one.

Cool thanks.

Other opinions?

Look through the lens sample threads. Just because the new one came out, the old one didnt suddenly get worse. For the money its a great lens.

K will do

gonzogolf wrote in post #17601423
Look through the lens sample threads. Just because the new one came out, the old one didnt suddenly get worse. For the money its a great lens.

Yeah, totally.

But the new version works better with the 1.4X, and has better IS, so you can continue shooting without a tripod. Big advantages, but at a price.

The crop vs FF debate for wildlife photography has already been discussed extensively here. Sure you can increase the reach of your FF with the 1.4, but you can also put the 100-400/1.4 combo on a crop. And if the crop is the 7D2, it will AF.

More money, though, and who knows if you will need the reach...

Where are the sample lens threads?

I use it with a 60D regularly, and while I want the new version, mine seems to work fine. Some samples below. All hand held.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/tZHJ​9K

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/rrg6​Um

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ruQQ​UA

Silver-Halide wrote in post #17601439
Where are the sample lens threads?

Here.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=107

The 100-400mm is on page 2.

Good luck judging lens IQ from web images.

The original 100-400mm has been THE defacto wildlife Zoom from 1998 - 2014.

It has SUPERIOR Ergonomics to the new replacement.

Get one!

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17601471
The original 100-400mm has been THE defacto wildlife Zoom from 1998 - 2014.

It has SUPERIOR Ergonomics to the new replacement.

Get one!

Yup. There is a good reason that it's been in wildlife shooters' bags since the late '90s, and why it isn't leaving my kit any time soon.

Yessr!

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17601471
It has SUPERIOR Ergonomics to the new replacement.

Superior ergronomics for street reportage and normal people shooting? Or crawling around in the hills hunting wildlife with a camera?

Silver-Halide wrote in post #17601501
Superior ergronomics for street reportage and normal people shooting? Or crawling around in the hills hunting wildlife with a camera?

Street shooting with a dust pump? That big white monster may draw too much attention.

"Canon 100-400mm Mk I for wildlife (?)" -> Don't see why not - It was the Standard for years (FF or APS-C). Yes the mkII is an improvement and would give better handling and IQ, but bottom line the MKI was the standard for many years.

Owning one I will say it is a bit to carry around, I enjoy lighter/smaller equipment, but when shooting wildlife it's my 100-400 I am using.