Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Canon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1       2      
3
       end
  

Archive 2016 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II

  
 
Bsmooth
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


I guess it depends on what you actually need. I have the 70-200 and also the 100-400V1. I probably haven't even used the 70-200 at all in maybe 2 years. But my 100-400 I use all the time.
For birding or just general wildlife its perfect, especially as far as versatility.I've been looking at all lenses in general, hopefully thinking of upgrading to the newer version of the 100-400 and it really has no equals at all.
Some are sharper, such as the 300 2.8, but it doesn't focus as close, and again it doesn't have the ability to zoom either. Then theres the 400 5.6 which is a great lens, but again it only focuses to a min focus of about 11.5 feet.
I think the 100-400 v2 is a bit overpriced, but as far as versatility goes its pretty much above and beyond anything out there, and its even better than the original which was no slouch either!



Mar 15, 2016 at 11:46 AM
Imagemaster
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


Any photographer is free to choose whatever he thinks is the best criteria for himself, be it bokeh, sharpness, fps, or anything else.

It is your gear and your images and you can do whatever you want with both.

If they display most of their images on the Web and are happy with them, they can continue to use whatever makes themselves happy, and not be concerned about what someone else believes they should be doing.



Mar 15, 2016 at 08:48 PM
gdanmitchell
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


Just to toss another idea on the pile....

I have access to several lenses, including the 70-200mm f/4L IS and the 100-400mmL IS v. 2. (My wife is also a photographer and we sort of share some equipment.)

I love the 100-400 for a lot of my photography, ranging from wildlife to landscape. But one place that I don't use it (much) is when traveling on foot in the backcountry. For this I take the 70-200mm and the 1.4x TC. Now I realize that this isn't 400mm, but it does extend the usefulness of the smaller and lighter zoom with a minimal addition of weight.

I agree that the 70-200 may be ever so slightly better in optical terms, but the 100-400 is also very good in this regard.

Dan



Mar 15, 2016 at 09:16 PM
mudlake
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


I'm coming to this thread late, but I'll chime in anyway. I have the 70-200/4 IS, Sigma 150-600C, and Zeiss 135/2 Sonnar Apo (thanks again, David). After much thought, I decided to replace my big Sigma and 70-200/4 IS with the 100-400L IS II. The lens will get here on Tuesday. I use my 6D for wildlife, landscapes, portraits, and family images. I used to use the 70-200/4L IS for landscape and portraits but with the recent acquisition of the 135mm Zeiss, I haven't used it at all, even though it's a brilliant lens.

I will have a three lens setup now that should do all I need: 24-70/4L IS for landscape/general purpose, Zeiss 135/2 Apo for portraits, and the 100-400L IS II for wildlife/landscape/portraits/everything else. I will miss the Sigma and the 70-200/4L IS, but I think the 100-400 II will be the perfect replacement for those two lenses.



Jun 04, 2016 at 01:26 PM
Dave Bachrach
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


I sold my 70-200 f/4 IS to get the 100-400 ll and haven't looked back since! My 70-200 f/4 was an awesome lens, but I needed more reach with good IQ and 100-400 ll delivers. Is it perfect 'No', but it is right tool for the what I need which is mostly wildlife shooting. I still have a 300 f/2.8 IS, however it has been staying at home a lot after getting the 100-400.



Jun 07, 2016 at 03:38 PM
ggreene
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


My 100-400 mk2 is so good that I have largely stopped using my 70-200 IS II with 1.4x TC for outdoor sports. The 1DX will cover the extra stop lost. I've even done twilight games drifting into night with it and the 1DX files still hold up. Granted that is under good quality lighting.

Would love for somebody to make a decent foot for it. I have the RRS one and while it's nice it's still too small. I want one that is higher and longer so it's easier to use for hand carrying.




Jun 07, 2016 at 04:02 PM
Robin Smith
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


Why not split the difference and get the 70-300L? Less weight-increase penalty and loss of light at shorter focal lengths, smaller, and cheaper. Same optical quality. And it fits in a normal shoulder bag easily. The 100-400mm is a large lens - you got the 70-200f4 presumably because you liked the smaller size - the 100-400mm is the same size as the 70-200f2.8. So you might not want to carry it much. The 70-300L is lighter than the 70-200mm f2.8 and shorter than the 70-200mm f4 when stored.


Jun 08, 2016 at 12:09 PM
Don Clary
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


I have owned and tested 70-200 f4L IS and 100-400 ver I.

I presently own 24-70f2.8L II, 70-200 f2.8L II, 100-400 II and 1.4XIII. I have tested all lenses multiple times on a solid tripod, using a lens resolution chart, with all lenses carefully micro-adjusted at each end of the zoom range. After micro-adjusting I like to bench mark each lens against similar focal lengths of my other lenses at the same time, same target, same lighting.

After being exceedingly pleased with 24-70 f2.8L II, and 100-400 II, I parted with 70-200 f4L IS. I felt while it was quite good and I loved the light weight, it was not up to the sharpness level of these version II lenses. I replaced it with 70-200 f2.8L II, which I feel is roughly equal to 24-70 f2.8L II and 100-400 II. I hate the relative weight of the 70-200 f2.8L II, but love its optical performance, and will drag it along on my international trips.

My comments below are not a criticism, but probably show differences in individual samples of each lens.

Jcolwell P.S. for focal lengths from 100mm to 200mm, the 70-200/4L IS is better than the 100-400L IS II. My 70-200/4L IS is consistently slightly better than my 100-400L IS II, at common focal lengths and apertures. My 70-200/2.8L IS II is consistently better than both of them. I have no reason to think that my 100-400L IS II is not operating as well as it should.

EB-1 I'd put the crossover point for the 70-200/4 IS vs. the 100-400 IS II around 175mm.

Rabbitmountain Thanks Jim, interesting comparison. The 70-200 has better contrast than the 24-105 and 70-200/4IS. The 100-400II does
...Show more

My 70-200 f2.8L II and 100-400 II were even or slightly better over the entire focal range, compared to 70-200/4L. My 70-200 f2.8L II was very slightly better at 200mm compared to 100-400 II, perhaps both equal at 100mm. The 70-200 II + 1.4x III was not equal to 100-400 II at 280mm but very close. Not enough difference to not use it.

I'm going on a September China trip and need 400mm for animals and 70-200 f2.8L II for low light night performances. Since I value wildlife over low light, I'll take 100-400 II, and leave 70-200 II + 1.4x III at home.

ggreene My 100-400 mk2 is so good that I have largely stopped using my 70-200 IS II with 1.4x TC for outdoor sports. Would love for somebody to make a decent foot for it. I have the RRS one and while it's nice it's still too small. I want one that is higher and longer so it's easier to use for hand carrying.

http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/product-p/h116.htm

I love the price, performance and workmanship and highly recommend it.



Jun 08, 2016 at 02:22 PM
Don Clary
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.3 #9 · p.3 #9 · 70-200 f/4L IS vs. 100-400L II


Incidentally, the China animals will be very rare snub-nosed Golden monkeys in Shennanja, Hubei province. I previously got rare pictures of black snub nosed monkeys in Yunnan province.


Jun 08, 2016 at 02:40 PM
1       2      
3
       end




FM Forums | Canon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1       2      
3
       end
    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.