Tectortony
Well-known member
This lens gets more interesting as time goes on, all I need to know now is size,weight and COST. One assumes the quality will be good. Tony.
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Canon 200-400 f/4L announced (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter HokkaidoStu
- Start date
Helios
Well-known member
Like Nikons version I expect this lens to be approaching the size and weight of a 500/4. The main advantage is reach, 560 f5.6 with the converter over 400 f5.6. I have both a 300/4 and a 500/4. To my eyes they are both about the same optically, even with teleconverters, but it's worth lugging the 500 around purely because of it's reach. Every time I don't I regret it.
With frame fillers and fieldcraft, that's right to an extent, but in my opinion it's also very important where you actually are. For example in the birdguides POTY, they had a survey, and most of the notable and POTW where taken in either Norfolk, Suffolk, Linconshire, or Lancashire. I remember when I once visited Salthouse in Norfolk, you could walk right up to Dunlin, Snow Buntings, Teal, and Little Grebes, but this is not the case where I usually go. In the London area, Teal, Shovelers and Little Grebes are very shy and difficult.
My local reserves are Stockers Lake and Staines reservoir around the London area, and I would say for both that reach is king.
With frame fillers and fieldcraft, that's right to an extent, but in my opinion it's also very important where you actually are. For example in the birdguides POTY, they had a survey, and most of the notable and POTW where taken in either Norfolk, Suffolk, Linconshire, or Lancashire. I remember when I once visited Salthouse in Norfolk, you could walk right up to Dunlin, Snow Buntings, Teal, and Little Grebes, but this is not the case where I usually go. In the London area, Teal, Shovelers and Little Grebes are very shy and difficult.
My local reserves are Stockers Lake and Staines reservoir around the London area, and I would say for both that reach is king.
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
Eh?
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
Jaff
Registered Member
Some good insights here too http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...m-f-4-L-IS-USM-Extender-1.4x-Lens-Review.aspx
I think you're right Keith. Could be quite a beast.
I think you're right Keith. Could be quite a beast.
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
The likely combined price of those three lenses is a good bit more than I owe on my mortgage!
Adey Baker
Member
Perhaps they ought to have chosen the more directly comparable 400mm F4 lens as well (though it's very close to the 300mm in size).
I'm sure the zoom facilities will be welcome for those working close in from hides, but I can't help thinking that, for many people, the 400mm + 1.4x will be used much more often than the other 200-399mm! In which case I wonder how big/weighty/expensive a 500mm F5.6 would be...
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
Dunno, Adey - I use my 100-400 at the shorter lengths an awful lot - I'd use 200-399mm, I'm sure.
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
I'd surely expect so, but it might be subject to that "if you get a good one" oddness that besets some lenses like the 100-400mm - or the 400mm f/4 DO, which is even more prone to polarising opinion than the little zoom.
Actually, I wonder if the release of this lens might see some 400mm DOs hitting the used market? Although I like the idea of zoom lenses very much, I've always really liked the DO myself, and I've already got a very good 100-400mm.
Jaff
Registered Member
Yep. Those are the thoughts I had too. This lens is probably going to have a lot of glass in it and all it takes is one to be sub par.
Paul Jarvis
Registered Member
I can see this being very much a sports photographers lens with one flick of a switch to get extra reach at the other end of a pitch, may footy or cricket say.
