Canon EF 100mm-400mm L Lens

[Hobjob]

This works but AF is slow - I suspect in Richard Parkers test the light was too low to allow it to work.


I also was very interested to see the increasing sharpness of the 100-400+1.4 when at F15.

I have largely given up my 1.4 because fo softness, but I think I might get it out again and try pushing the F stop up (or is it down?). Problem is that hand holding with that reach, and shooting wildlife, needs high ISO.

Hmmm Graham and Ollie have been extolling the high ISO virtue of the 7D - can I justify it??!!

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Hmmm Graham and Ollie have been extolling the high ISO virtue of the 7D - can I justify it??!!

The 7D doesn't suit everybody. I saw this on another forum:

"I also had what many reviewers said was the best thing since sliced bread Canon 7D , for me it was horrible , bad metering, poor af tracking, my “keepers” on that camera were down to less than 30%, may be it was me, but it soon went, I hated it."

Jim

[slimrbp]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

This works but AF is slow - I suspect in Richard Parkers test the light was too low to allow it to work.

Possibly although the target was fairly well lit and high contrast.It wasn't so much it was slow as it judderred back and forth alarmingly.
Then when I put the taped converter on my 300mm f4 it did exactly the same until I took the tape off then it autofocused properly.
Perhaps I didn't tape the pins correctly but either way it wasn't a method I was happy about using.

With regards to the 7D, I haven't had the opportunity to try out the AF tracking properly yet but will be at Biggin Hill next weekend with my 7D and a 100-400 so will soon see

I understand the points about the metering, the 7D has a different metering system if I understand it correctly it also tries to take into account the colour of the scene as well as the tones. I have found it meters differently to the 40D I was used to so I have had to relearn that but it's no biggie just keep checking the histogram for a while until I get used to it.

[glsammy]

So far I can't fault my 7D. It's already proved to me to be far superior in AF performance and much more accurate in general metering over my 40D.
Often I don't need to apply as much compensation as I used to do plus it has the added advantage that if I need to, there's a far greater range of compensation available.
It's just a matter of getting used to the various modes available.
There's no way my 7D is going anywhere other than out with me.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by glsammy

So far I can't fault my 7D. It's already proved to me to be far superior in AF performance and much more accurate in general metering over my 40D.

It's just a matter of getting used to the various modes available.
There's no way my 7D is going anywhere other than out with me.

Same here mate

[Swift Fox]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

I Love mine - would hate to not have it.

And I use the zoom all the time except with birds, when it is usually fully out.

Having said that, I have a couple of friends that use the Sigma's and I have a sneaky suspicion they are a bit sharper and they do hae that little bit of extra reach.

"John" from WAB uses nothing but his 100-400 - well till the last week or so when he was lent a Nikon + Bigma. pm him and see what he says!

My very techy son tells me that 1:4 100-400s are not that sharp but canon sort them out asap.

Thanks for all the helpful comments so far

I'm going to save up for one of these. With regards to the above i have heard about some lenses being different to others and was wondering if there is an easy way to check it and also if anyone on here has had to send theirs back to Canon?

Also do most of you use a tripod/monopod or do you handhold as i'm interested to see how it handles?

[Dae]

I have the canon 100-400 and can't really fault it. To answer one of your questions, my husband and I handhold the lens on our 50d body with good success. We take it everywhere with us, and wouldn't be without it. Someday we may plump for a prime lens (yeah when we win the lottery) but until then this lens suits us perfectly. We've found no need to use it on a tripod, but I have had a go with it on one and it's easy to manage on both a tripod and a monopod and had excellent results.

I have not sent our lens back to canon specifically but did send it back to a canon approved repair shop to have it recalibrated, cleaned, and have the tension ring replaced which does seem to be a common problem in these lenses - they just wear out with heavy use. Ever since it's been recalibrated we've been thrilled with the results so obviously has done it some good. So yes, I'd agree with hotjob's techy son that if after you get it and it doesn't come as sharp as you thought, get it recalibrated and that should sort it out.

It does take some getting used to this lens, it doesn't zoom in and out like other lenses, and I found that a bit tricky at first - but once you get it it's perfectly natural. If you do get this lens, enjoy as I'm sure you'll not be disappointed.

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Swift Fox

Also do most of you use a tripod/monopod or do you handhold as i'm interested to see how it handles?

70% hand held 25% rested on hide ledge, tree, gate or sometimeson top of my scope which is on a tripod. Vary Rarely on the tripod itself.
If walking a long way I use monopod.

At the Farne's the other day most were hand-holding though not Boddie or Fourwings. I didn't even bother to take a pod.

Pressl2 has a small bean bag attached to his big Nikon - shame it is bright red!!!

If you look at John's website and Gallery photos on WAB, most will have been taken with 100-400 + 1.4 extender AND hand held. (Note Exif does not "see" the extender if it is taped)

Try everything and do what you like, not what others tell you to do.

Don't forget that the manfacturers advise turing off stabilization when rigid on a tripod etc.. (I never do, but have not really tested it) And you still need the speed up for those wretched birds which never keep still. There are some WAB threads on this.

[Roddy]

I bought a Sigma 120-400 - for a day! It went straight back to the shop the following day. If you're used to 'L' glass sharpness, in my opinion it doesn't even come a close second.