Canon 100-400 IS L

Hi all.
I have Just borrowed this lens so Can anyone tell me what settings this lens should be set at.
The lens is a Canon EF 100-400 1:4.5-5.6 L IS

1. Stabilizer 1 or 2
   
2. 1.8m or 1.6m

The stablizer 1 is for overall stabilzize and 2 for just vertical ie when you are panning. The other is for limiting the focus range by the AF system, so it doesn't try focussing from closeup if you are shooting distance. So both depend on what you are doing at the time.

It depends on what you're using it for.

IS mode 2 is for panning (lens is stablised in the plane of movement). For more general use, mode 1 is best.

As for the minumum focus distance, it depends on whether you're focusing on near objects or trying to avoid accidentally focussing on near objects when your subject is further away (say if you're photographing behind a fence or foliage)

Stabilizer Mode 1 if you're doing general shooting, Mode 2 if you're shooting anything that you have to "track" horizontally, like a bike rider, or a car.

The second one is the focus limiter switch, and you switch it between full (1.8M and infinity), and limited (6.5M and infinity). What this does in the limited mode is half the focus range that the lens needs to go through, thus speeding up AF speed.

I find it very fast to begin with, though, and it means you won't be able to AF on anything inside of that 6.5M, unless you switch it back.

Thanks to you all for the info.
Cannot wait for the weekend, and to try this baby out.


Cheers to you all.