Another Soft 100-400mm Lens...

...NOT!

Just got this puppy from a fellow POTN member (thanks, Todd!) and of course, had to go shoot the local fowl. These are all shot with the 1D2N, handheld. Most at or near 400mm (what I really got this thing for). The IS works well, what can I say. None of them are wide open (since this lens is supposedly soft wide open at 400mm) but rather at f/6.3-8.0 or so. PP includes slight exposure adjustment, resize and a USM of 80/0.3/0 on all - nothing else!

Sorry to disappoint any pixel peepers, but this makes my ninth lens that's sharp out of the box... No learning curve, either.

The Canadian goose and white duck especially, at 100% crop are phenomenally sharp.

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Congrats! I'm a big fan of this lens too.

Love the "Bottoms Up" shot!

wow nice, i hope to have the same luck when i get my first L's-

I want it back...J/K! Glad that your happy with it. I like the Canadian Goose close-up.

I don't understand all the soft lenses either. I've never got a soft one out of the box yet. Congrats on the lens. Enjoy!

Thanks, guys!

I agonized over what long focal length lens I should go with - 300mm or 400mm primes, the 100-400mm... I really want a 400mm f/2.8L IS but that'll have to wait - if ever - followed by the 300mm f/2.8L IS, both of which I'd use with a TC as needed. For now I decided that the zoom offers me the most bang for the buck (versatility, close focusing, IS, etc.). I'm quite happy with it!

A lot of people complained of the weight - but I never thought to look at the specs personally and compare it to my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. It's lighter! Not to mention that compressed at 100mm it's also shorter. That made me very happy as the 70-200mm starts to push the portability envelope in a stuffed bag.

I'm definitely digging the tension adjustment. You can lock it not just at the short end, but at any focal length you want. Something that made my Noink buddy squeal. His only locks at the short end and creeps all over. Heh.

Skyhawk738QF wrote in post #2996591
I want it back...J/K! Glad that your happy with it. I like the Canadian Goose close-up.

No way, man.

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #2996646
I don't understand all the soft lenses either. I've never got a soft one out of the box yet. Congrats on the lens. Enjoy!

I guess we're just the "lucky" ones.

congrats on the lens. probably my next lens.

Great shots and very sharp...these threads are driving me crazy as I'm trying to decide between the 100-400 or the 400 f/5.6.

Hi DN,

Congratulations! And those pictures look great indeed!

Kind regards, Wim

I use mine at 400mm all the time and I dont see any softness, try it and you will quickly see that its fine

I think the vast majority of "softness" claims are user error problems that get magnified due to the longer focal length. I only have four L's and 1 100 macro, but each and every one of them was sharp right out of the box. No recalibration,...no failed battery tests,...no posts asking "Is this thing sharp?"... My 100-400 has been my most used lens since it was delivered.

My buddy shoots Nikon and is extremely jealous of my 100-400L. His 80-400 VR IS soft.

Razor sharp photos. Congratulations on the purchase too.

When I first got mine, I thought I had a bad copy. After playing with it and finding out "how" to shoot with it, it's turned out to be an amazing lens. I can't be happier with it.

Man...some people are so lucky...congratulation​s!

Those pictures suck. PAUSE.

NOT!!!