After months of trying to decide which way to get 400mm I finally decided to buy a Canon 100-400 L. This is my first L lens. I was expecting angels to sing when i openned the box but instead I found a rather stubby white lens. You guys had me convinced this lens was going to be some sort of monster and I was going to need a pack mule to carry it. I was a little disapointed to find it is no bigger than my sigma 70-200 f2.8. In fact, it fits in my camera case better than the sigma. Don't get me wrong, i am glad it is not huge. It feels like it will make a perfect quick draw wildlife walk around lens.
So far, i am very satisfied with the picture quality. It is very sharp and the images require very little post processing. The IS works OK. I was expecting miracles from the IS, but I am only getting good results. Not every handheld shot at 400mm and 125th second shutter speed turns out sharp, but more than half are passable.
Here are some of my better shots from this weekend.
Pbase doesn't do this shot justice. On the original you can see individual flees on the rabbit's ears and around its eyes. This was shot hand held at 400mm.
Everyone has a red winged blackbird picture. Now, I do too. Also done hand held.
This is from a water fountain in the new terminal at Detroit Airport. Guess what? This one was done hand held.
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Q: Am I impressed with "L"?
A: Sort of
Other than my $60 50mm f1.8, the 100-400 is my only Canon lens. This lens is great, but so far it hasn't shown up some of my third party lenses in build quality and sharpness.
Q: Will i by more "L"?
A: Yes, if Canon builds L glass that no one else can complete with.
I am hoping they come out with a 17mm tilt shift. That will be my next buy. But if sigma comes out with one first, I'll get the sigma with no reservations.
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