Opinions on Canon 100-400 L, IS, USM, etc lens?
Discussion
Well you know how it is - you have a 20D or something like it and you start out with a Tamron or Sigma type zoom lens. It's around the 28-300mm mark and is a lovely starter lens. Then you get your eye in and find that you need something a bit longer too and IS would be a bonus at the long end obviously...
I found le Mans was great but for some of the night shooting I was up to ISO 3200 and finally handling the camera competently (!) and yet I still got blurred shots. Not a huge surprise but IS would have helped with this, particularly with the second mode designed for panning. I also found I could do with a bit more range and realistically 400mm is going to be the max for hand held shots (for me at least!)...
Been looking at prices and although it is a big jump for me I don't want to waste money with half measures if I'm going to chop in the 28-300. What is the consensus of opinion on the Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5/5.6L USM IS lense? I want the length of a 400mm but also want the practicality of being able to come down to 100mm or so. With that range a lense will effectively still work as a walk-around lense. I've tried one at Jessops of course so I'm aware of the weight and dimensions and don't find it excessive in either category.
I guess what I'm asking is:
Is it a good lense?
Is it value for money? I can get one for £887 from eBay (cash when collecting needless to say!)
What alternatives would you propose if you thought I could spend my money better?
I've had a search but after going back a bit only found a few references to this lens so apologies if I missed out on someone's in depth review
Cheers for any opinions,
Andy
I found le Mans was great but for some of the night shooting I was up to ISO 3200 and finally handling the camera competently (!) and yet I still got blurred shots. Not a huge surprise but IS would have helped with this, particularly with the second mode designed for panning. I also found I could do with a bit more range and realistically 400mm is going to be the max for hand held shots (for me at least!)...
Been looking at prices and although it is a big jump for me I don't want to waste money with half measures if I'm going to chop in the 28-300. What is the consensus of opinion on the Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5/5.6L USM IS lense? I want the length of a 400mm but also want the practicality of being able to come down to 100mm or so. With that range a lense will effectively still work as a walk-around lense. I've tried one at Jessops of course so I'm aware of the weight and dimensions and don't find it excessive in either category.
I guess what I'm asking is:
Is it a good lense?
Is it value for money? I can get one for £887 from eBay (cash when collecting needless to say!)
What alternatives would you propose if you thought I could spend my money better?
I've had a search but after going back a bit only found a few references to this lens so apologies if I missed out on someone's in depth review
Cheers for any opinions,
Andy
I've handled a friend's (fnarr etc) and it's a bit weird to get used to the push/pull technique for the zoom but apparently it soon "clicks". He had some great results from a safari in Namibia and a guy who's airshow work I've always looked up to used it with great success as well.
I think if I didn't already have the 400 L prime, I'd be seriously looking that lens.
Oh and it's too big a lens for walkaround in my opinion. Both in terms of focal length and physical size. The 24-105 IS L is much more suited to that
I think if I didn't already have the 400 L prime, I'd be seriously looking that lens.
Oh and it's too big a lens for walkaround in my opinion. Both in terms of focal length and physical size. The 24-105 IS L is much more suited to that
Edited by graham@reading on Saturday 29th July 20:23
Thanks for the feedback guys! I've obviously been nosing around and heard good things about the lense but wanted to make sure before I splash out that sort of money Still chicken feed compared to the pro stuff I know, just not chicken feed for me.
As for the walkabout verdict, maybe I've already got one over-developed bicep and I'm trying to balance them up
Cheers,
Andy
Still chicken feed compared to the pro stuff I know, just not chicken feed for me. As for the walkabout verdict, maybe I've already got one over-developed bicep and I'm trying to balance them up
Cheers,
Andy
Yes, it's a great lens, but the only complaint I've heard from many users is that the push/pull zoom mechanism sucks in a lot of dust, but I've never owned the lens, so I'm not sure how serious the problem is. I know someone who might be selling one. Contact me if you are interested.
Gemm said:
Yes, it's a great lens, but the only complaint I've heard from many users is that the push/pull zoom mechanism sucks in a lot of dust, but I've never owned the lens, so I'm not sure how serious the problem is.
I've had mine a year and in my experience it's not an issue. Most dust comes from lens changes IMHO.
Gemm said:
Yes, it's a great lens, but the only complaint I've heard from many users is that the push/pull zoom mechanism sucks in a lot of dust, but I've never owned the lens, so I'm not sure how serious the problem is. I know someone who might be selling one. Contact me if you are interested.
the problem is that the push pull means that the air movement is greater between the rear element and the mirror housing. if you have dust in there already it is going to be blown about more than compared to a normal zoom.
Gemm said:
Yes, it's a great lens, but the only complaint I've heard from many users is that the push/pull zoom mechanism sucks in a lot of dust
Had mine 5 years...it's still clear as a bell. This lens is the dogs nuts.
Andy, you bought my 20D...would I steer you wrong?
Taken today...
Martin.
PS - #1. Mallow Skipper
#2. African Grass Blue...quite rare.
Edited by V6GTO on Saturday 29th July 22:20
BUY this lens!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no lens comparable(I had the Sigma 100-300mm F/4, great lens, but focusing could sometimes get erratic!),unless you are close enough to the action to get a 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Which I am, but don't have, I've just heard good things. Here are some samples I took at this years BRIC at Road America.
Sorry about the watermark..(click on the picture to open to full size)
misc...
Sorry about the watermark..(click on the picture to open to full size)
misc...
Edited by KTG on Saturday 29th July 22:41
KTG said:
BUY this lens!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no lens comparable(I had the Sigma 100-300mm F/4, great lens, but focusing could sometimes get erratic!),unless you are close enough to the action to get a 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Which I am, but don't have, I've just heard good things. Here are some samples I took at this years BRIC at Road America.
Sorry about the watermark..(click on the picture to open to full size)
Sorry about the watermark..(click on the picture to open to full size)
I love the photos but... *cough* 750 pixels wide *cough*
V6GTO said:
Gemm said:
Yes, it's a great lens, but the only complaint I've heard from many users is that the push/pull zoom mechanism sucks in a lot of dust
Had mine 5 years...it's still clear as a bell. This lens is the dogs nuts.
Andy, you bought my 20D...would I steer you wrong?
Taken today...
Martin.
PS - #1. Mallow Skipper
#2. African Grass Blue...quite rare.
Edited by V6GTO on Saturday 29th July 22:20
That's the 100-400??
That's very impressive bokeh for a zoom of that range
Imperialism2024 said:
KTG said:
BUY this lens!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no lens comparable(I had the Sigma 100-300mm F/4, great lens, but focusing could sometimes get erratic!),unless you are close enough to the action to get a 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Which I am, but don't have, I've just heard good things. Here are some samples I took at this years BRIC at Road America.
Sorry about the watermark..(click on the picture to open to full size)
Sorry about the watermark..(click on the picture to open to full size)
I love the photos but... *cough* 750 pixels wide *cough*
Sorry....Im bad at following forum rules
KTG said:
Imperialism2024 said:
KTG said:
BUY this lens!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no lens comparable(I had the Sigma 100-300mm F/4, great lens, but focusing could sometimes get erratic!),unless you are close enough to the action to get a 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Which I am, but don't have, I've just heard good things. Here are some samples I took at this years BRIC at Road America.
Sorry about the watermark..(click on the picture to open to full size)
Sorry about the watermark..(click on the picture to open to full size)
I love the photos but... *cough* 750 pixels wide *cough*
Sorry....Im bad at following forum rules
Well, the pictures are good enough to make up for it. But as long as you're keeping the files small, it's not too big of a deal, though your photos look horrible when embedded at larger than 750 pixels wide because they get squished.
First:
Sorry for not replying sooner but I was catching up on my sleep after the latest Tunnel Run...
Second:
Good God! So much feedback I'm still wading through the FredMiranda review but it is all good stuff... Thanks awfully for all the pointers guys!
Martin - bastard, now every time I take a pants photo people will point out yours and just blame the operator
Gemm - V. interested, is the lense listed anywhere like the Classifieds section yet? Let me know any details as I'm on a budget time-wise so I need to get hold of this lense asap There's one up for sale at the moment at £887 on eBay (critically it allows personal collection so I would be able to vet the product first 
)
Edited to add: Cheers for all the example photos peeps. [Sigh] I have to have this lense immediately [/Sigh]
Thanks again for all the help guys,
Andy
Sorry for not replying sooner but I was catching up on my sleep after the latest Tunnel Run...
Second:
Good God! So much feedback
I'm still wading through the FredMiranda review but it is all good stuff... Thanks awfully for all the pointers guys! Martin - bastard, now every time I take a pants photo people will point out yours and just blame the operator
Gemm - V. interested, is the lense listed anywhere like the Classifieds section yet? Let me know any details as I'm on a budget time-wise so I need to get hold of this lense asap
There's one up for sale at the moment at £887 on eBay (critically it allows personal collection so I would be able to vet the product first ) Edited to add: Cheers for all the example photos peeps. [Sigh] I have to have this lense immediately [/Sigh]
Thanks again for all the help guys,
Andy
Edited by TheStoat on Sunday 30th July 14:58
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