Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM - AKA The Dust Pump

Puckman wrote in post #16891241
Hey Julian. Seen your great shots in the SoCal thread, but thought I'd ask here.
Now that you've had some time with the 100-400, what are your overall thoughts? It's on my radar, as is the currently hard to get 150-600 Tamron.
Any complaints with the 100-400? Is it everything you hoped for?

Have had the 100-400 for about 3 years now. Love it. Super versatile and awesome in great lighting. It does struggle a little bit around dusk so if you're looking for a low-light performer, this lens won't suit your needs.

My copy is sharp enough for me. It's not as sharp/crisp as the 400/2.8 IS vII I borrowed last year (but it's 1/9th the price. And it does 100-399mm better than the 400.

I love the push-pull zoom. I don't have to worry about twisting my wrist while I pan. The 200-400/4 1.4x that I tried over this past weekend would be fine if I had a monopod or had it on a tripod. But that doesn't work as well on an airshow so I was handholding it. I'm fine with the weight of the 200-400. But the zoom ring is way out there so it was very difficult to support the lens and zoom, while panning the subject at 1/160s shutterspeeds.

No issues doing so with the 100-400.

Downside, it does suck in dust into the front element somehow/someway. Not that it's really affected the IQ of the images. And downside #2 is that the IS is only 2-stops. Not much to write home about for 2-stops.

Hi All,
I recently tested the lens with a 36mm Kenko extension tube (on 5D3) and discovered that I could still focus at a distance and obtain an actual magnification of about 30-40%. Anyone knows why is that? Of course now I can focus really close up which is great as it allows me to travel with it without having to lug a macro lens.

THanks!

Hand Holding as well Julian, had to use manual mode for focusing, AF was to slow to react. Shot with 7D. What I don't like about shooting in Manual for focusing is, you have to be careful not to touch focus ring where you grab in front of focus ring, to adjust with the push pull. Tomorrow I will bring my Tripod, and gimbal to pan.. If I decide to go again.

jwcdds wrote in post #16891638
Have had the 100-400 for about 3 years now. Love it. Super versatile and awesome in great lighting. It does struggle a little bit around dusk so if you're looking for a low-light performer, this lens won't suit your needs.

My copy is sharp enough for me. It's not as sharp/crisp as the 400/2.8 IS vII I borrowed last year (but it's 1/9th the price. And it does 100-399mm better than the 400.

I love the push-pull zoom. I don't have to worry about twisting my wrist while I pan. The 200-400/4 1.4x that I tried over this past weekend would be fine if I had a monopod or had it on a tripod. But that doesn't work as well on an airshow so I was handholding it. I'm fine with the weight of the 200-400. But the zoom ring is way out there so it was very difficult to support the lens and zoom, while panning the subject at 1/160s shutterspeeds.

No issues doing so with the 100-400.

Downside, it does suck in dust into the front element somehow/someway. Not that it's really affected the IQ of the images. And downside #2 is that the IS is only 2-stops. Not much to write home about for 2-stops.

Excellent write-up. Thank you.
I'm considering this (as well as the elusive Tamron 150-600) for something with range and versatility. Surfing, Birds, Wildlife.
I don't really specialize in any of those subjects, but find myself wanting to shoot those things now and then, and unable to do so with my 70-200. So really, it's about having the reach and good IQ and have something that's portable enough (not super heavy).

I do worry about the dust issue though.

Puckman wrote in post #16891846
I do worry about the dust issue though.

overblown.

^^^Jwc, the weird yellow-propeller plane, what is that? Never seen before

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nxUe​5K

METAL1 wrote in post #16892363
^^^Jwc, the weird yellow-propeller plane, what is that? Never seen before

It is this:

http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Northrop_N-9M

^^^thank you! interesting story.

bobmatt wrote in post #16892837

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ncSz​rp Water Vole at BWC by bobmatt1, on Flickr

Beautiful!

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

IMAGE LINK: http://www.cscott4.com …2014-Wildlife/i-gDSGQxz/A

IMAGE LINK: http://www.cscott4.com …2014-Wildlife/i-NJXGrbf/A

From the 2013 Brantford Air Show

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nqTs​PS

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nh3D​QG

5Dm3 + 100-400mm