Canon 400mm DO F4 IS ?

[Gallus]

After encountering dust and Fungal problems with my Canon 100/400 lens I have been looking at an alternative to this lens, wieght and performance in any new lens is the most important factors to me which rules out the 500mm IS on wieght grounds bringing me to look at the 400mm DO IS I have read mixed reviews on this lens do any members have fist hand expierence of this lense or are there any other viable solutions, I use a 20D with my present lens

[James Eaton]

A friend of mine replaced their 100-400 lens with the 80-200mm IS then used a Canon 2x converter. They are very happy with this combination, something worth considering maybe? Especially if your budget doesn't allow a DO lens.

[Rob Hutchinson]

If you are using the lense with a tripod then check out the non-IS Canon 400mm f5.6,
this lense gets some fantastic reviews and appears to be considerably sharper than the 100-400.
Plenty of comments about this lense on BF so worth doind a search...

[Andy Bright]

I can't can't comment on that particular lens but I do see that Mifsuds have one for £3495... and I expect you can knock them down a bit.

[Michael McKee]

After encountering dust and Fungal problems with my Canon 100/400 lens I have been looking at an alternative to this lens, wieght and performance in any new lens is the most important factors to me which rules out the 500mm IS on wieght grounds bringing me to look at the 400mm DO IS I have read mixed reviews on this lens do any members have fist hand expierence of this lense or are there any other viable solutions, I use a 20D with my present lens

This thread has some details:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=38488

[Hugh Harrop]

After encountering dust and Fungal problems with my Canon 100/400 lens I have been looking at an alternative to this lens, wieght and performance in any new lens is the most important factors to me which rules out the 500mm IS on wieght grounds bringing me to look at the 400mm DO IS I have read mixed reviews on this lens do any members have fist hand expierence of this lense or are there any other viable solutions, I use a 20D with my present lens

Can certainly reccommend this lens. Bought one a year ago and rate it 10/10. Although my 500mm f4 is my standard bird photography lens the 400mm DO is great for foreign trips where gear weight is an issue. I used it in India for a month last Feb an got some cracking images. I know that there were issues with the first (and second) batch of lenses a couple of years ago but these seem to have been overcome by Canon and what you have is a very light, ultra portable Canon prime lens. Go for it!

Hugh

[Bill Atwood]

Try this thread also:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=45748

Most of my photography is for small bird group talks. I've just got back my slides from a recent RSA trip where I used this lens handheld with a 2x TC on an EOS 3. I'm very happy with the results. I'm even pleased with the slides where I stacked 1.4x and 2.0x and used a G1227.

I've been putting off buying a digital SLR, but this lens has me hot for a 20d. With a 1.4x TC, I would have a 896mm f5.6 with IS. Like Hugh said, it makes a great travel telephoto. I can't believe how much easier it is to transport and use than my 500/4.5. With the strap over my shoulder, and tripod foot tucked in my belt, I can carry it around all day while birding.

There are occassional issues with weirdly patterned highlights in out of focus background. Presumably some photoshop work could rectify this. From what I understand, the "softness" issue is not applicable to lenses manufactured from 2003 on.

[stuartelsom]

After encountering dust and Fungal problems with my Canon 100/400 lens I have been looking at an alternative to this lens, wieght and performance in any new lens is the most important factors to me which rules out the 500mm IS on wieght grounds bringing me to look at the 400mm DO IS I have read mixed reviews on this lens do any members have fist hand expierence of this lense or are there any other viable solutions, I use a 20D with my present lens


I can only echo what Hugh & Michael have said. I bought a used 400 DO in the late summer and I'm totally blown away with it - it is light, easily hand-holdable with a converter and more importantly fits in my LowePro bag as hand luggage for foreign trips. On a 20D you effectively have a 640mm f4 or with a 1.4x t/c it is a whopping 898mm f5.6.
If you check out my website www.stuartelsom.co.uk all the images dated July or later are taken with this lens. Let me know if I can be of any further help.

Have fun

Stuart

[Gallus]

I followed up the information from Andy Bright and bought a 400DO IS I ordered it on the Friday before Christmas and it was delivered on the Saturday to my home in a remote area of the Highlands full marks to Royal Mail. Christmas day was sunny so it was out with the new lens after the presents were opened.
First impressions were very positive it works extremely well with the x1.4 extender in AF without the x1.4 it is very fast focusing in AF it is light easy to use hand held image quality is excellent as you would expect from a lens in this price range.
I spent day two with the lens on a tripod with good results I use a Manfrotto 444 carbon fibre model which gives me a light outfit to carry on a Days birding.
I have attached two images of my first shots with the lens, early days but it looks like this outfit fills my main criteria of a lightweight outfit and quality images.

[cspratt]

Little late now but I was going to suggest the 300L F/4 IS lens with a 1.4x converter. I also have the 100-400 and interchange the 100-400 and 300 with 1.4x depending on lighting conditions. The 100-400 is a bit better on dull days.