Canon EF 100mm-400mm L Lens

[Swift Fox]

I thought i'd tap into the collective knowledge of this forum

I have been looking at the Canon 100mm-400mm telephoto lens and i wondered that a few of you on here might own it. I wanted to know what it is like to use and what the image quality was like. I have just read this review below and found it to be helpful so i thought i'd share it:

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens Review

If any one has any other good links regarding this lens feel free to post up here.

I have also been looking at the Sigma 120mm-400mm as a comparision, i have had a look at both of these lenses at a camera shop and found it to be lighter in weight than the Canon (they didn't have the 100-400 in, so i tried the 28-300) as well as being half the price. Having said that i do like the Canon and i wanted to know which is best between them.

[slimrbp]

I did a mini test on my blog (I'm lens testing expert though).

Richard Parker's Photography Blog: Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L Static tests

Richard Parker's Photography Blog: Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L Field Test

I really liked the lens, in fact I have arranged to hire one for my next holiday!

[Martin Dyer]

Owned one for quite a while. Used it a bit. Bought a 300f4L, and icw with the Canon 1.4 eftc, the 100-400 never came out the cupboard again until I sold it. The only L lens I have ever sold, and absolutely no regrets about selling it.

I cannot recommend, based on my experience with this and other lenses, when there are other better options available for about the same price.

I know lots of people swear by them though. I also know lots of peeople who did the same as me, and traded for the 300f4L + 1.4

Martin

[slimrbp]

Following on from what Martin has said, my current combo is the 300mm F4 + 1.4x extender.

The main reason for not buying a 100-400mm was that I didn't fell that I would use the zoom that often as most of shots are taken at 300mm or 420mm.

I am hiring one because I am shooting at an air-show and also I have a photography day at Wildwood coming up so the convenience of a zoom is preferred.

[Geoff F]

I generally find this review site useful Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS - Review / Test Report

But at the end of the day, do you need 400 mm? Would you like a bit more and add a 1.4x converter most of the time? Do you need a zoom and if so, how small would you require at the other end of the range?

There doesn't appear to be many complaints about this lens, apart from the odd niggle about the push pull action of the zoom.

After some serious thoughts about this lens, compared with a 400 prime or the Sigma 150-500 OS; I finally opted for the Sigma. I'm generally happy with that lens, but I can't really say if it was or wasn't the best choice.

And to add to the confusion, the Sigma 50-500 is available in OS now.

[welshcameraman]

I own the 100-400 lens and my father has the sigma 150-500, I have to say in my opinion the canon is head and shoulders better than the sigma. That said, if I had my time over again, at the price, I would probably go for the canon 400mm 5.6.

It's nice to have the versatility of the zoom, but 99.9 % of the time it's set at 400 and having used John's (jonsphotos, on here) prime, I feel it gives better results and is certainly lighter and easier to use.

Martin

[david156]

Hi,

This is my main lens and can't really complain. I was originally going for the sigma 150 - 500 but decided on this lens instead and don't regret the decision. If I had the money I would upgrade to a prime lens and convertors but at the moment thats not possible.


Here are some pictures i've taken with this lens on a 50d.



And these two were taken with this lens on a Canon 1000d.




Hope this helps,

David

[Swift Fox]

Thanks for all the replies, I've had a good look around that site Geoff and i found it to be very informative. Those pictures are fantastic david, they are really clear and sharp. I have looked at prime lenses although the cost is a bit off putting and i do like the versatility of having a zoom lens, at the moment i use the Canon 70mm-300mm IS USM which i've found to be a really good lens and i've included some shots below:

[Jim Ford]

I made this comment about the Canon EF 100-400mm in another thread. Still not sure what the answer is, though.

Sigma DG 120-400MM F4/5.6 APO OS HSM

Jim

[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.