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Archive 2014 · 70-300L or 100-400L

  
 
seattlebruin
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 70-300L or 100-400L


so I've got a 70-300L that's my favorite lens by a pretty fair margin. I love the IQ, AF, IS and ergonomics (except the focus ring in back).

I picked up a too-cheap-to-mention 100-400L because the only thing that I've been missing is a little bit of extra reach for birding, etc. I've been shooting the 70-300L with a Kenko 1.4x as well and I've quite liked that with the 7D's AF system.

In the end (~1 month) I'm only going to keep one of the two lenses. Any thoughts or personal preferences on what you liked/disliked about each lens? I'm not really looking for a specific "you should do x" recommendation, just things I might not have thought of when it comes to each one when considering.

I can say that if the 100-400 had the same ergonomics and IQ as the 70-300, it wouldn't even be close as I like the focal range significantly more



Sep 19, 2014 at 01:50 AM
lowside67
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 70-300L or 100-400L


Went through the same discussion... bought the 70-300L and took it to Africa with me. On a crop body, I would have been thrilled with the 70-300L as it easily bested the sharpness of my friend's 100-400L photos but reach was a bit short on my full frame.

If I was to do it all again, I'd buy a crop and keep the 70-300L - for me the better image stabilization and lens handling beats out the 100mm extra.

Mark



Sep 19, 2014 at 03:50 AM
Ferrophot
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 70-300L or 100-400L


I had a 70-200 2.8 that I was happy with so for an African trip I purchased a 100-400L thinking I would sell it afterwards. 7 years later I still have it. I don't put it on the 7D very often but I'm glad iI kept it when I do. If you're into birds I'd stick with the 100-400L, reach is important. If your use is more general then I'd keep the 70-300L, it seems a better all-round lens. If you are sans a 70-200 optic I'd also keep the 70-300L as well. I think the 100-400L is a lens that is purchased with a specific use in mind, it's not what I'd call a general purpose lens. If you don't think it is needed for your photography then it would be the one to go.


Sep 19, 2014 at 05:58 AM
Kathy White
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 70-300L or 100-400L


I have both and use them for totally different things. I shoot
football and other daytime sports with the 70 300L
and wildlife with the 100 400. 70 300L has faster AF.



Sep 19, 2014 at 04:55 PM
ggreene
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 70-300L or 100-400L


I would say keep the 70-300 as you seem to like it quite a lot. Sell the 100-400 and then see what Canon does with the updated version of it. Given Canon's updates of late they usually make things lighter with higher IQ and that sounds like what you are looking for.


Sep 19, 2014 at 05:16 PM
seattlebruin
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 70-300L or 100-400L


I really like the additonal reach. The 100-400 mk ii doesn't really interest me that much because budget is also an issue. If it came to that, the Tamron 150-600 or Sigma 150-600 C would also probably be good options


Sep 19, 2014 at 06:48 PM
NCAndy
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 70-300L or 100-400L


When I bought the 70-300L, I wanted the reach of the 100-400 but just didn't want the push-pull design. The lens also had rumors of a replacement in the works, haha. But I really like the 70-300L and it is my travel lens because it is relatively compact, certainly smaller than the 100-400. I've been very satisfied with it and it's always in my kit.


Sep 19, 2014 at 07:40 PM
Grenade Tester
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 70-300L or 100-400L


I've had a 100-400 for about six years. I really like the extra length with a crop body but I've just had it fixed for the third time. I also have a 300mm/2.8L lens so was a bit unsure about getting the 70-300L but when it took two separate repair places three months to fix the 100-400 I bought the 70-300L. Obviously the design of this lens is a good deal newer than the 100-400 and I am amazed at how sharp the new lens is. I've just sold the 100-400 and am using the 300mm/2.8L with a 1.4x and 2x convertors. Best of both worlds now.


Sep 20, 2014 at 08:00 AM
Tim Kuhn
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 70-300L or 100-400L


I would suggest buying the Kenko 1.4 tc, the 70-300 handles that really well. I used mine on an African safari a lot, the IQ is top notch with the tc.

Add a and then the 70-300 is extremely versatile. It already has a pretty close minimum focus, with a 36mm tube it make a pretty nice macro lens.

Tim



Sep 20, 2014 at 08:12 AM
martines34
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 70-300L or 100-400L


Why don't you buy the 400mm f4 lens and you can use the extender on it??

The 400mm is razor sharp and you would have the reach you want and coverage with both lenses.



Sep 20, 2014 at 08:24 AM
kevindar
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 70-300L or 100-400L


hello fellow bruin. I own both too. if you are shooting bif or wildlife, there is generally no substitute for reach. as a walk around tele, landscape, kids in the park, etc, I much prefer the 70-300 for its AF speed, IS, size and handling, and over all image quality.


Sep 20, 2014 at 09:16 AM
JVthePT
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 70-300L or 100-400L


The 70-300L beats the 100-400L in every category except reach, it's AF is faster, IS is better, IQ is better, color and contrast are better. Keep it and sell the 100-400L for $1000 and get the Tamron 150-600 for situations where you need more reach.
I sold my 70-300L and have kicked myself ever since.



Sep 20, 2014 at 09:21 AM
OntheRez
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 70-300L or 100-400L


100 additional mm in FL is an incontrovertible advantage for the 100-400. If you need the 400 then you have the answer. I've not owned the 100-400 but used one on two separate occasions long enough to get a feel for it. There's nothing scientific about this opinion, but for me, I never liked how the 100-400 worked. Call it preference.

I picked up a 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6L as a Canon refurb looking for more reach in daylight activities - sports, wildlife, etc. The 70-300mm clearly has quicker and better focus and the IS is several steps better. Not a surprise when one considers how long Canon has allowed the 100-400 to languish. If you can live with the 300mm limit then I'd recommend it. If you need 400mm (and don't have the $6k - $8k for a fast 400 prime), then the 100-400 is about it. I do have the 400mm f/5.6L and it is an excellent lens. I use it a lot but basically I need support to get the best results from it.

Probably your photographic skills will be more important than the lens choice, though I end where I began. 400 is longer than 300

Robert



Sep 20, 2014 at 12:11 PM
lowside67
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 70-300L or 100-400L


Here are a couple sample photos from my 70-300 @ 300mm handheld:

Sample Image 1

Sample Image 2



Sep 20, 2014 at 01:06 PM
kevindar
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 70-300L or 100-400L


As a point of reference, when shooting hummingbirds, despite the shorter reach, I prefer the 70-300, b/c of better AF, very sharp at 300, better hand holdability. I get much better results, sharper, better contrast, with it than I do with 100-400.


Sep 20, 2014 at 03:11 PM
Mike Eckstein
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 70-300L or 100-400L


I owned and used a Canon 100/400L for many years and as a nature photographer I said if I could only have one lens it would be the 100/400L. But If I could have two lenses it wouldn't be one of the two lenses. I replaced my 100/400L with the 400L ƒ 5.6 and the 70/300L. Both are superior to the 100/400L. Although the 400L lacks IS it produces much sharper pictures then the 100/400L and the auto focus achieves AF much faster. Birds in flight taken handheld provide many more sharp images with the 400L. The 70/300L is just so much better than the 100/400L. Better color, better sharpness throughout the range and much, much better IS.

Although you can use a a 2X on the 100/400L I have never gotten a useable image in many many tries.

Image below taken with 400L ƒ5.6 and Canon Extender 2X II

http://www.meckstein.com/post/df.jpg

Image below taken with 70/300L

http://www.meckstein.com/post/reddish2.jpg



Sep 20, 2014 at 05:44 PM
seattlebruin
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · 70-300L or 100-400L


Already have one, but it was giving me some trouble on a 7D (which has now been sold for a different 7D that seems to work fine). I love the combo, it's one of the biggest marks in favor of the 70-300. Only thing is that the 100-400 can handle the same extender, just haven't have a chance to really test the IQ of that combo yet

Tim Kuhn wrote:
I would suggest buying the Kenko 1.4 tc, the 70-300 handles that really well. I used mine on an African safari a lot, the IQ is top notch with the tc.

Add a and then the 70-300 is extremely versatile. It already has a pretty close minimum focus, with a 36mm tube it make a pretty nice macro lens.

Tim





Sep 21, 2014 at 11:40 PM
seattlebruin
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · 70-300L or 100-400L


because for a hobbyist like me, $1,000 is already expensive for a lens. Quadrupling the price is pretty much out of the question

martines34 wrote:
Why don't you buy the 400mm f4 lens and you can use the extender on it??

The 400mm is razor sharp and you would have the reach you want and coverage with both lenses.





Sep 21, 2014 at 11:43 PM





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