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

[Boddie]

This lens from Canon

Do you have any experience of it and do you rate it? If not what would you suggest with image stabilisation?

Where can it be bought for the least louies?

Cheers

Andrew

[JM]

Hi Andrew,

I have a friend who has this lens and he really rates it, apart from the 'push pull' zoom part he reckons it suffers with dust getting inside, not really too big a problem with image quality as you tend to focus well past the dust anyway.

Here is a review of the 100-400
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/s...&cat=27&page=2

Have you seen contemplated the sigma 80-400 OS? It is a lot less money and from what I have heard is equally as good! (see review below)

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/s...&cat=37&page=2

Hope this helps a bit,
Justin

[pxl8]

Originally Posted by Boddie

This lens from Canon

Do you have any experience of it and do you rate it? If not what would you suggest with image stabilisation?

AKA "The Pump" because the zoom action is in/out rather than twisting the ring. I've not used one myself but I know a lot of people who use it and swear by it. I also know a couple who loath it, mainly because of the pump action zoom. Other complaints are it's a heavy old lens and can be a bit on the soft side as well (compared to the rest of the L range).

Cheapest has to be from Kerso, he sells US imports on ebay but ships from Scotland so no duty, etc. to pay. He'll also deal direct to save you paying the fees, he's got them listed on ebay for £915, I suspect it would be nearer £860 without the fees. I got my 70-200 f/4 from him and he's a top bloke. PM me if you want the details.

[Boddie]

Excellent

Thanks guys. I have some louie burning a hole and am getting itchy so need to invest it quickly before I blow it on booze and birds.

[JM]

No worries, As pxl8 states his guy is good!

[Boddie]

Yeah I just had a quick look at his portfolio.

When I take the plunge I shall let him know who referred me.

Cheers

Andrew

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Excellent

Thanks guys. I have some louie burning a hole and am getting itchy so need to invest it quickly before I blow it on booze and birds.

Beers are on you then mate, and if you're shopping for Birds get me an albatross

Depending how much loot you have with those kinds of discounts you might better of with the 70-200m f2.8 IS or possibly even the 400 f4 IS prime .

One downside of the "pump" is that the pumping action can vacuum up dust and deposit it on your sensor, I used a hired one to cover a motorcross event once (while my little bigma was at the doctors after the floating hide incident refered to on other threads - I bet I can do an eskimo roll, etc) and at the end of the day my sensor was coated with cack despite never having taken the lens off during the day.

The nice people at fixation said it was the dirtiest sensor they had seen that year.

[Boddie]

Really was it that bad. I guess it stands to reason really. I have to admit I am not sure how I would get on with the push pull of it. May have to try a few out at the shops before I commit

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Really was it that bad. I guess it stands to reason really. I have to admit I am not sure how I would get on with the push pull of it. May have to try a few out at the shops before I commit

Yeah it was, mind you that was exceptional circumstance the air was so thick with dust that I looked like an extra in beau geste by the end of the day (water.... water..... oh Grolsh that'll do)

needless to say the nice rental people at calumet werent best pleased when they got their lense back.

Why not rent one for a w/end and see how you get on with it, calumet do £31 per day - discounts for longer hires. see http://webres.calumetphoto.com/webre...entalguide.pdf

but dont mention my name, they'll probably charge you double

[rubecula]

Hi,

I have one of these lenses and am very happy with it. I think that you will soon get used to the push-pull action. I do get some dust on the sensor but cleaning the sensor is straightforward as long as you are careful. I use digi-pads and eclipse fluid, both obtainable from Warehouse express. If the lense has a downside it is that if you ise a 1.4x converter then you lose autofocus. That's not so bad if you are photographing stationary objects but is no good for things like birds in flight.

Hope this helps,

rubecula