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Archive 2016 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures

  
 
fplstudio
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


I am a happy new owner of the Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS ii and I decided to share my first impressions and pictures. More than a descriptive review I thought that some pictures can convey my real world experience.

First, I have to say that among my L lenses I have a Canon 70-200 f/4 L IS so my impressions can be driven by my personal experience. All shots were taken with a FF Canon 6D during last weekend.

Build Quality
I have other L lenses (16-35 f/4 L IS, 70-200 f/4 L IS, 135 f/2 L, 24-105 f/4 L IS) and the 100-400 ii has probably the best build quality. The lens is generally compact but very heavy for walk round and hiking and this is a factor to be considered when you want a zoom of that caliber. You definitely need a very sturdy tripod to take the lens without blurring your images.



Versatility
Having all focal lenses between 100mm and 400mm and combing this with a wonderful IS makes this lens invaluable for a multitude of situations: you have in one go access to handheld landscapes, nature, wildlife, portraits, sport photography.


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 170mm f/8 1/125s ISO100


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 100mm f/8 1/60s ISO400


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 400mm f/6.7 1/250s ISO200


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 135mm f/13 1/10s ISO100


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 135mm f/13 1/8s ISO100


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 135mm f/16 0.5s ISO100


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 400mm f/5.6 1/2000s ISO2500


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 270mm f/8 1/250s ISO160


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 400mm f/8 1/250s ISO250


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 214mm f/8 1/250s ISO200


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 400mm f/6.7 1/250s ISO800


The lens is known to have incredible close-up capacity


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 400mm f/8 1/350s ISO250

Image Quality
The lens delivers very good pictures. It is pleasantly surprising the sharpness and details that you can achieve with such a zoom even wide open. It seems as sharp as my 70-200 f/4 L IS to my eyes. The colors are the typical amazing outcome of the best Canon L lenses which for me is one of the reason to love the Canon system.



Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 400mm f/5.6 1/250s ISO200


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 400mm f/5.6 1/500s ISO640


Crop 100%, unsharpened


The out of focus areas and the gradient from sharp to blurred zones are also very pleasant, although we cannot achieve the bokeh of faster zooms like the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS ii.


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 350mm f/5.6 1/250s ISO800


Crop 100% unsharpened


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 200mm f/5.6 1/250s ISO400


Crop 100% unsharpened


Resistance to flare seems also very good and chromatic aberrations are well controlled. I have also noticed very little distorsion, I would say better than my 70-200 f/4 L IS.


Canon 6D | EF 100-400 ii | 170mm f/16 1/10s ISO100


In conclusion my first impressions are that this piece of glass delivers spectacular results and it is amazing for its versatility. The only drawback (more for its intended use than the lens itself) is the heavy weight which is less desirable in some circumstances. This is why I will keep my smaller and lighter 70-200 f/4 L IS.

Cheers
Francesco

Edited on Oct 07, 2016 at 07:40 PM · View previous versions



Oct 07, 2016 at 07:37 PM
EB-1
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


You will find that the 100-400 IIIQ holds up rather well on better bodies like the 5DsR, not just the low-res 6D types.

EBH



Oct 07, 2016 at 07:40 PM
Wrei
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


I never put mine on a tripod, the IS is great! I walked 8 hours a day on vacation with the lens mounted to a 5D III hanging off my shoulder and using it handheld with nothing blurred. But then I am a 65 year old knucklehead who consistently does 10 lb arm curls at least once a month! It is a terrific lens.

http://www.rayswindlepix.com/img/s4/v64/p818315541-4.jpg



Oct 07, 2016 at 07:58 PM
EGrav
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


You definitely DO NOT need a tripod with this lens. It is a "walk around" lens.


Oct 07, 2016 at 08:05 PM
EB-1
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


There are many good reasons to use a tripod, regardless of the exceptional efficacy of the IS.

EBH



Oct 07, 2016 at 08:10 PM
Imagemaster
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


There are many good reasons to shoot handheld, regardless of the exceptional efficacy of a tripod.


Oct 07, 2016 at 08:26 PM
EB-1
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


Imagemaster wrote:
There are many good reasons to shoot handheld, regardless of the exceptional efficacy of a tripod.


Sure there are and I do sometimes remove the foot completely and leave it in the USA for weight savings.
I do wish Canon made two 100-400 II versions, one for the tripod and one push-pull for handheld use. The lens is so good there is relatively little to complain about though.

EBH



Oct 07, 2016 at 08:33 PM
Kathy White
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


I've always loved mine, but I've used it almost non stop with my 5DIV. I even grabbed it for portraits the other day because I had Ma'd it and still haven't most of my other lenses. It's amazing on it.


Oct 07, 2016 at 08:34 PM
Imagemaster
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


fplstudio wrote:
In conclusion my first impressions are that this piece of glass delivers spectacular results and it is amazing for its versatility. The only drawback (more for its intended use than the lens itself) is the heavy weight which is less desirable in some circumstances. This is why I will keep my smaller and lighter 70-200 f/4 L IS.

Cheers
Francesco


Congrats on your new lens. Nothing new here, as this lens has been around for over 1&1/2 years.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1381705/0?keyword=canon,100-400#13153759

For its focal-length range and quality of construction, the weight is not a drawback. What do you think the total weight of two or three primes that would be needed to cover a fraction of the zoom's many focal-length options?

Why would you compare the weight of the 100-400 to that of a 70-200mm?



Oct 07, 2016 at 08:39 PM
KKFung
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


Love this lens for birds and event, may try more landscape next time on 5DsR

This one on 1Dx2, handheld @ 400mm

B14I1172 by KK Fung, 於 Flickr

Edited on Oct 07, 2016 at 09:09 PM · View previous versions



Oct 07, 2016 at 09:06 PM
fplstudio
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures




EGrav wrote:
You definitely DO NOT need a tripod with this lens. It is a "walk around" lens.


Maybe you have misinterpreted. Not saying that you need a tripod to use the lens BUT that when mounted on a tripod you need a sturdy one.



Oct 07, 2016 at 09:09 PM
fplstudio
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures




Imagemaster wrote

For its focal-length range and quality of construction, the weight is not a drawback. What do you think the total weight of two or three primes that would be needed to cover a fraction of the zoom's many focal-length options?

Why would you compare the weight of the 100-400 to that of a 70-200mm?


1. I agree

2. I am not following you. Where did I compare its weight to that of the 70-200?



Oct 07, 2016 at 09:17 PM
Imagemaster
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


fplstudio wrote:
2. I am not following you. Where did I compare its weight to that of the 70-200?


fplstudio wrote:
The only drawback (more for its intended use than the lens itself) is the heavy weight which is less desirable in some circumstances. This is why I will keep my smaller and lighter 70-200 f/4 L IS.


Sorry, that sounded like a comparison to me.



Oct 07, 2016 at 09:59 PM
fplstudio
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures




Imagemaster wrote:
Sorry, that sounded like a comparison to me.


Just highlighting that a lighter 70-200 f/4 IS can well complement the 100-400 in a lens set up since weight is an important factor in some circumstances, at least to me when hiking for many days



Oct 07, 2016 at 10:03 PM
EB-1
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


fplstudio wrote:
Just highlighting that a lighter 70-200 f/4 IS can well complement the 100-400 in a lens set up since weight is an important factor in some circumstances, at least to me when hiking for many days


I'm really hoping that the 24-105 II is good enough to use with the 100-400 II as a two lens setup instead of 24-70, 70-200/4 IS and 100-400 II. Having a tripod ring from the 70-100 range can be nice, but sometimes I'd rather lose the weight.

EBH



Oct 07, 2016 at 10:11 PM
Eric Larsen
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


I've got both the 70-200 F4 L IS and just picked up the new 100-400 II. I'm encouraged that the 100-400 will be as spectacular. And, if it's as good as my 300 f4 L IS, I'll be giddy. The 300 produces such richness.

I am so encouraged by these photos! Haven't been able to shoot the 100-400 yet. Will be taking it to India soon and using it with a sidekick and 1325 Gitzo.

I'm so excited!



Oct 07, 2016 at 10:15 PM
EB-1
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


Eric Larsen wrote:
I've got both the 70-200 F4 L IS and just picked up the new 100-400 II. I'm encouraged that the 100-400 will be as spectacular. And, if it's as good as my 300 f4 L IS, I'll be giddy. The 300 produces such richness.

I am so encouraged by these photos! Haven't been able to shoot the 100-400 yet. Will be taking it to India soon and using it with a sidekick and 1325 Gitzo.

I'm so excited!


The 100-400 II is really nice at 300mm, so you will hardly miss the 300/4 IS. You might want to bring it as a backup.

The 70-200/4 IS starting to show its age on the 5DsR.

EBH



Oct 07, 2016 at 10:20 PM
cameron12x
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


EB-1 wrote:
The 70-200/4 IS starting to show its age on the 5DsR.

EBH


Just curious, in what way? Lack of overall sharpness? Lack of sharpness in the corners? Compared to another zoom in the same focal length and price point range?



Oct 07, 2016 at 10:25 PM
EB-1
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


cameron12x wrote:
Just curious, in what way? Lack of overall sharpness? Lack of sharpness in the corners? Compared to another zoom in the same focal length and price point range?


Corners and edges are not so great on the 5DsR. Mostly I use that lens for landscapes where it shows. I may revisit the f/2.8 II, which has been in the closet since the 1Ds III days. I was not seeing a noticeable difference between the two a few years ago.

EBH



Oct 07, 2016 at 10:32 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · First outing with 100-400 ii: impressions and pictures


Here's my experience with relative performance at f/8 and near-infinity focus distance, in order of best to less-best (they're all very good), from the top, down.

200mm

EF 70-200/2.8 L IS II
EF 70-200/4 L IS
EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS II

300mm

EF 300/2.8 L IS
EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS II
EF 70-200/2.8 L IS II + 1.4x III
EF 70-200/4 L IS + 1.4x III

400mm

EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS II
EF 300/2.8 L IS + 1.4x III IS on
EF 300/2.8 L IS + 1.4x III
EF 70-200/4 L IS + 2x III
EF 70-200/2.8 L IS II + 2x III



Oct 08, 2016 at 05:42 AM
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