300L 2.8 II and 400L 2.8 II

Very interested to see how sharp this new 300 2.8 is

The current one is as sharp as anything out there, with awesome contrast and colour. The only thing in my mind that would be worthy of an upgrade would be new IS and a weight reduction.

I imagine that Canon didn't work on sharpness, which is already perfect for more than 20 years ... Every body seems to be obsessed, by sharpness, but IMO is a lot concerned with things never measured in charts :
-> the way the lens resist to flare with loss of contrast and colours
-> depth of colours
-> micro contrasts

I own a 300L2.8 and this lens has got major issues, which can be corrected in new series.
Resistance to flare are absolutely terrific .. We must, all the time, take care of the sun position when we use this lens (hoods have got really limited effect on loss of contrasts and colors)..

Digital picture created recently a new incomplete tool .. at least, just can just get an approach of this major point with some samples
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …p=453&FLIComp=0​&APIComp=3
all these long lenses completely lose colours and contrast as soon as light is approaching the frame

Maybe, someone will one day create a chart of the way a lens react when sun or light is coming little by little in the frame.
About colours, when I compare colour depth between 24L1.4II, 85L1.2II and 300L2.8, there is also a big margin of improvement for 300L.

At last, there can be also a big step with TC's support. I often use TC2X, and here too I expect good news.

I don't use IS, but I imagine there too, one day canon will approach the sharpness of a right speed (minimum 1/1250) with IS, actually I always felt we could get acceptable pictures with low speed, but not as sharp as taken with the appropriate speed.

So, If canon manage to make these long lenses more "usable", it would be a great step and would probably justify new very expensive versions and make actual 300,400,500, 600 completely obsolete.

newworld666 wrote in post #11093423
I image that Canon didn't work on sharpness, which is already perfect for more than 20 years ... Every body seems to be obsessed, by sharpness, but IMO is a lot concerned with things never measured in charts :
-> the way the lens resist to flare with loss of contrast and colours
-> depth of colours
-> micro contrasts

I own a 300L2.8 and this lens has got major issues, which can be corrected in new series.
Resistance to flare are absolutely terrific .. We must, all the time, take care of the sun position when we use this lens (hoods have got really limited effect on loss of contrasts and colors)..

Digital picture created recently a new tool .. and just some samples
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …p=453&FLIComp=0​&APIComp=3
all these long lenes completly lose colors and contrats as soon as light is approaching the frame

Maybe, someone will one day create a chart of the way a lens react when sun or light is coming little by little in the frame.
About colors, when I compare color depth between 24L1.4II, 85L1.2II and 300L2.8, there is also a big margin of improvement for 300L.

At last, there can be also a big step with TC's support. I often use TC2X, and here too I expect good news.

I don't use IS, but I imagine there too, one day canon will approach the sharpness of a right speed (minimum 1/1250) with IS, actually I always felt we could get acceptable pictures with low speed, but not as sharp as taken with the appropriate speed.

So, If canon manage to make these long lenses more "usable", it would be a great step and would probably justify new very expensive versions and make actual 300,400,500, 600 completely obsolete.

Very interesting link, thanks! I didn't realise the superteles lost that much colour under flare. Wow. It's never something I've taken notice of.

airvincent wrote in post #11092762
Just got information from Australia camera store mention that the new lens won't be coming in Dec.... Looks like shipment delay and Canon Australia not yet officially mention the price of new lenses.....
How about in US or other place?

I called a local store in Vancouver, Canada today and they didn't have any idea of price or release date.

dennykyser wrote in post #11008903
Ok, I just got my 400 2.8L IS today, version I not II, I thought these lenses were like a year away. Did I screw up by buying mine now for $7150.00 US.

IMO, yes. For me spending $7K or $10K is pretty much the same thing. If you're spending that much on a lens, I'm guessing you can afford either.

Methodical wrote in post #11009657
I'd say enjoy and don't look back and don't do the what if game

Just One Man's Opinion

This isn't an "If" game so much as a "when" game. I'd agree if the new lens was just a rumour, but it's not.

george m w wrote in post #11010550
....yeah, for the difference in price between what he paid, and what the newst version will sell for....he can also ( almost ) buy a 200 f/2.0 !

Except...maybe he doesn't really need a 200mm. Or better yet, he can afford both the 400mm and the 200mm - in which case, the $ doesn't matter.


All of the above stated, I'm not a professional and don't need the lens right away, so I'll probably wait for the price to come under $9K or when I actually need it for something, whichever comes first.

AdamJL wrote in post #11093528
Very interesting link, thanks! I didn't realise the superteles lost that much colour under flare. Wow. It's never something I've taken notice of.

I use my 300L2.8 for F1, quadbike races or dog agility shows, and the flare issue, makes really difficult to cover such type of events.

I always have to try find places, with taking care of the flare.
Loss of contrast and colours don't arrive when the sun enters the frame, but they come really progressively.
So even with a large screen like on the 5DMKII, it's very difficult to control this point.But, back home, when post processing arrives deception arrives too with many pictures.
Let's hope that these point were in Canon's focus to achieve new perfect lenses

Is this a problem on the IS version of the lens, too?

newworld666 wrote in post #11093769
I use my 300L2.8 for F1, quadbike races or dog agility shows, and the flare issue, makes really difficult to cover such type of events.

I always have to try find places, with taking care of the flare.
Loss of contrast and colours don't arrive when the sun enters the frame, but they come really progressively.
So even with a large screen like on the 5DMKII, it's very difficult to control this point.But, back home, when post processing arrives deception arrives too with many pictures.
Let's hope that these point were in Canon's focus to achieve new perfect lenses

Methodical wrote in post #11097489
Is this a problem on the IS version of the lens, too?

100% telephotos are concerned over 300mm...

... I am a bit surprised that not so many people seems to be concerned with such issue
Since I own a 300L2.8, as I try to get nicest pictures of quadbike pilots, and in my case it's really a difficulty as spectacular jumping tables are sometimes with a bad orientation and makes very difficult to get nice contrast and deap colours.
For F1 traces too.. You can't move, so of you choose a wrong sit when you order your ticket.. your week end is almost lost ..

I never shoot into the sun really, so that could be a reason! I mostly try and have the light behind me.