Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM (Page 6): I just bought the lens...and love it. Wildlife, nature and sports. Very happy with it. I did end up buying a monopole though due to the...

edct Loc: Connecticut

I just bought the lens...and love it. Wildlife, nature and sports. Very happy with it. I did end up buying a monopole though due to the weight. Still, it's great.

Good luck.

gessman Loc: Colorado

imagemeister wrote:

Pictures aside, Here are the Photozone test scores for the 1-4 and 400 prime on APS C at 8 MP: 1-4 @ 400 f5.6 (1670) center, (1592) edge, 400 prime @f5.6 (1657 ) center, (1655 ) edge . So, the 1-4 "wins" in the center but "looses" at the edge. This difference is so small as to be indiscernable by most mortals ! So, in my opinion it comes down to ergonomics and speed of use.

At worst, they seem very similar as you present the information from Photozone. Have you reviewed the comparison by Michael Reichmann? His side-by-side test would seem to be in conflict with these numbers. It would be interesting to see his response. Oh, that's right, he already responded. He said there was nothing wrong with either his 100-400 or his testing process. Oh well. I guess there's no way to settle this one. I think I'll probably quit talking about it. Thanks for the numbers. :-)

Mike629 Loc: NJ,United States

All things considered, had no idea how much chatter this would generate, I`m like a kid on Christmas Eve...UPS delivers the lens tomorrow and I can`t wait to unpack it ( I`ve watched 2 or 3 unpacking videos on Youtube , yes, I`m nuts ) Thanks for all the comments, much of it very informative . Nearly all very positive. Mike C.

LittleRedFish Loc: Naw'lens (New Orleans)

Mike C in SA wrote:

I`ve been shooting with Canon T3i since Sept. `11; I have 2 lenses: 18-55mm and 55-250mm and am looking to buy Canon 100-400mm for over $1,400 and want to be certain it is compatible with T3i. Due to the holiday, can`t get any info...thought someone here might know. Any help?

Is SA as in South Africa? I used to live there. Just wondering.

Mike629 Loc: NJ,United States

Rachel wrote:

Mike C in SA wrote:

I`ve been shooting with Canon T3i since Sept. `11; I have 2 lenses: 18-55mm and 55-250mm and am looking to buy Canon 100-400mm for over $1,400 and want to be certain it is compatible with T3i. Due to the holiday, can`t get any info...thought someone here might know. Any help?

Is SA as in South Africa? I used to live there. Just wondering.

SA is a little town in central NJ, South Amboy, U.S.A. Should probably change it to Mike C in NJ. I`ll add my location to my profile. There, it`s done.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Mike C in SA wrote:

All things considered, had no idea how much chatter this would generate, I`m like a kid on Christmas Eve...UPS delivers the lens tomorrow and I can`t wait to unpack it ( I`ve watched 2 or 3 unpacking videos on Youtube , yes, I`m nuts ) Thanks for all the comments, much of it very informative . Nearly all very positive. Mike C.

Congratulations on your purchase and we'll be looking for you to haul in some of those kinds of shots that Rocky the Squirrel brings in on his stringer. Good hunting and have fun.

Mike629 Loc: NJ,United States

gessman wrote:

quote=Mike C in SA All things considered, had no ... (show quote)

Thank you, Mr. Gessman. I`ve got a lot to learn and the only way to do that is to get out and shoot and hopefully improve with experience. I was strictly a point & shoot photog. until getting my 1st dslr just this Sept. `11 so I`m just scratching the surface, I hope this lens will take me where I want to go.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I would like to add one other thought here regarding the 1-4 and 400 prime. The 400 prime is 7 elements non-IS, the 1-4 is 17 elements + IS. It is much more difficult to manufacture the 1-4, so you have a greater liklyhood of getting one that is less than optimum performing.

Mike629 Loc: NJ,United States

imagemeister wrote:

I would like to add one other thought here regarding the 1-4 and 400 prime. The 400 prime is 7 elements non-IS, the 1-4 is 17 elements + IS. It is much more difficult to manufacture the 1-4, so you have a greater liklyhood of getting one that is less than optimum performing.

We could never have put a man on the moon if we were afraid of too many parts. Maybe we should still be living in caves and instead of photography, just make primitive drawings on cave walls. Come on.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Mike C in SA wrote:

quote=gessman quote=Mike C in SA All things cons... (show quote)

That's an awfully nice shot there. Let me say this, if you're just getting your lens collection going, I would think that you absolutely made the right choice in that the 1-4 will offer you a lot more utility and flexibility until you add some more "L" glass to cover other ranges. You made a very good choice, no doubt, and from the looks of the image accompanying this comment, you'll do some great stuff with it. I look forward to seeing what you do. We just had this conversation just before Christmas with user TracyG who was struggling with the same decision and she opted for the 1-4 also. Search for her and check out the work she's done since Christmas and strike up a conversation with her. She's experienced and does some really good work and yet new with the lens. She's freshly gone through the initial indoctrination process with the lens and I'm sure you'd find her to be friendly and helpful.

Mike629 Loc: NJ,United States

gessman wrote:

quote=Mike C in SA quote=gessman quote=Mike C i... (show quote)

Thank you, Sir and I will look up Tracy G.

Dave Clark Photography Loc: Peoria Illinois

Mike C in SA wrote:

Went ahead and bought it, Thanks

It was a good choice. I have both the 70-200 and the 100-400. I used the 70-200 with a 2x converter and later bought the 100-400 I like it because I do a lot of Eagle photography and you don't lose track of you subject when zooming in on them because of the slide action. I constantly would miss the shot because I would lose the bird when rotating the barrel. If you go to Pbase.com/dmclark you can see some shots taken with this lens all the exif data is on each image.

Mike629 Loc: NJ,United States

Dave Clark Photography wrote:

quote=Mike C in SA Went ahead and bought it, Than... (show quote)

I want good glass, but, Don`t cry for me now, after 28 1/2 years , I am out of work for the first time in my life, I`ll be 55 mid year, no good to any employer. Now that that`s out of the way, I`m on unemployment and my savings, you don`t know how hard a decision this was, I was torn between Canon 70-200 L or the 1-4, the 1-4 was 1,400 to 2,069 for 70-200 so it was an economic decision. I have always wanted to pursue photography but didn`t have the time; now I have the time and I was cut down 18 months before 30 year pension. Hit a brick wall, gotta move on. Buying glass now before I`m broke, can always hock it...lol. I`d die first unless it is survival mode. Sorry, I want to catch all the decent shots I can while I can. Shooting takes me away from the boring details of the hours.

Mike629 Loc: NJ,United States

I love when I get a good shot, or even close

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

I got my lens aout an hour ago and could not wait to get it on the camera. Here is a quick shot taken at about 18 feet. Tried to send as a tiff but kept getting errors so here is a jpg.

Jim D

f/6.3, 400.0 mm, 1/400 sec, ISO 1250