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Archive 2018 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X

  
 
molson
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


I'm getting the urge to do more wildlife photography again after some fairly positive experiences licensing images to Audubon and Ducks Unlimited. I sold my 500mm f4L IS II last year along with the rest of my Canon gear as part of a futile effort to downsize and switch to mirrorless, but having seen the numerous limitations that entailed, I'm back into the Canon system again.

Currently, my longest lens is the 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II, and I've thought about getting another used 500mm f4L IS II, but there aren't many used ones for sale in Canada at the moment. I have noticed a lot of used 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4x zooms for sale and the prices are quite low since people seem to be dumping them to switch to Sony, so I'm tempted to try one. Any reason not to?



Jan 14, 2018 at 11:45 AM
jcolwell
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


No.


Jan 14, 2018 at 12:00 PM
ggreene
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


I can't think of any either. The zoom range plus built in TC gives you the ultimate versatility. I had a chance to try one at an FCS playoff game. It's definitely more hand holdable then a 400/2.8 but it's still 8.5 lbs to lug around.

Given your downsize desires maybe a 400 DO II would be an option as well. Probably the same price as a used 200-400 but much smaller and lighter. With TC's you get a really compact 560/5.6 and 800/8.



Jan 14, 2018 at 12:25 PM
VictorJB
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


“Hey Honey, can I spend $7500 on a kick ass lens? I’m literally saving $2500”.

“No.”

“Okay.”



Jan 14, 2018 at 12:27 PM
AmbientMike
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


I love mirrorless (m4/3,) but I'm not sure it's going to beat the big whites for professional bird photography. It works for mf teles, though, a 300/2.8 mf was my normal lens in 2016. Easier than optical finder or LV

Although the 300/4 Olympus looks really great. You might check out bobbytan's winning WA entry.

I haven't used any of these, but arguments against would be 1) tc use vs. 500/4, and 2) you already have the 400mm fl with the II

I tend to like @jcolwell@ 's answer,though, which kinda cracked me up!



Jan 14, 2018 at 12:28 PM
molson
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


VictorJB wrote:
“Hey Honey, can I spend $7500 on a kick ass lens? I’m literally saving $2500”.

“No.”

“Okay.”




It sounds more dramatic in CAD$ - spending $8500 to save $6000...



Jan 14, 2018 at 12:38 PM
erikburd
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


VictorJB wrote:
“Hey Honey, can I spend $7500 on a kick ass lens? I’m literally saving $2500”.

“No.”

“Okay.”


That discussion sounds familiar to me for some reason...



Jan 14, 2018 at 12:40 PM
molson
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


ggreene wrote:
Given your downsize desires maybe a 400 DO II would be an option as well. Probably the same price as a used 200-400 but much smaller and lighter. With TC's you get a really compact 560/5.6 and 800/8.


I have thought about the 400DO II, but no stores in Canada seem to stock them; new, it's only a few hundred $$$ more expensive than a used 200-400, but given my propensity for changing camera systems, I prefer to buy stuff like this second-hand to minimize my loss if (when) I sell it...



Jan 14, 2018 at 12:43 PM
Cicopo
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


"I prefer to buy stuff like this second-hand to minimize my loss if (when) I sell it..."

Me too but when that time comes I seem to keep thinking I'll regret doing it & back off. Guess I'll need to have a talk with myself very soon because I'll be looking for a used 100-400 V 2 but so far can't part with my ver 1 which I rarely use.




Jan 14, 2018 at 01:04 PM
ggreene
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


molson wrote:
I prefer to buy stuff like this second-hand to minimize my loss if (when) I sell it...


I try to buy refurb for the same reason. Like new condition without the premium price.



Jan 14, 2018 at 01:05 PM
RustyBug
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


Talk you out of it ... okay, because you want this instead.
https://petapixel.com/2018/01/09/nikon-180-400mm-f-4-12400-nikons-first-built-teleconverter/


Now, you've got some real "ammo" for how much you'd be saving.

Oh, that didn't help, huh.



Jan 14, 2018 at 01:45 PM
molson
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


RustyBug wrote:
Talk you out of it ... okay, because you want this instead.
https://petapixel.com/2018/01/09/nikon-180-400mm-f-4-12400-nikons-first-built-teleconverter/

Now, you've got some real "ammo" for how much you'd be saving.



Not really... dealers here already have it heavily discounted, down the the same price as the Canon version (even though it isn't even shipping yet...)



Jan 14, 2018 at 02:07 PM
OwlsEyes
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


I saw one on the BS board here for less than $7500... yeah that's a lot of money, but it's a heck of a bargain. If you shoot wildlife (want to shoot wildlife), the only reason not to buy the 200-400L is price and weight. If the price is fine, then you need to decide if weight matters. Since you've been shooting mirrorless, one (but not all..) of the motivation of leaving DSLR's is weight reduction. The 200-400L is a beast, as I believe it is about 2/3 of a pound heavier than your former 500mm lens.

cheers,
bruce



Jan 14, 2018 at 05:49 PM
RobAmy
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


I really enjoy the 200-400mm lens. I have had it for a few years now. I little heavy but very hand holdable for me. I have said before, if I can only have one lens I believe this would be it. It has pros and cons for sure but it checks many boxes on the plus side for my needs any way. Traveling with the 24-70, 70-200 and the 200-400mm with extenders (784mm) meets an amazing amount of local length.


Jan 14, 2018 at 05:56 PM
white
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


One of the best ways to waste money is to keep changing systems. Even more costly than switching cars sometimes.


Jan 14, 2018 at 06:35 PM
molson
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


OwlsEyes wrote:
I saw one on the BS board here for less than $7500... yeah that's a lot of money, but it's a heck of a bargain. If you shoot wildlife (want to shoot wildlife), the only reason not to buy the 200-400L is price and weight. If the price is fine, then you need to decide if weight matters. Since you've been shooting mirrorless, one (but not all..) of the motivation of leaving DSLR's is weight reduction. The 200-400L is a beast, as I believe it is about 2/3 of a pound heavier than your former 500mm lens.

cheers,
bruce


A little heavier than the 500L IS II, a little lighter than the 500L IS I had previous to that... and a lot lighter than the Pentx 645 600mm f5.6 I used for a couple of years.

It's also just a bit heavier than the Nikon 200-400mm f4G VR (sans teleconverter) that I've used extensively - except the Canon focuses all the way to infinity.



Jan 14, 2018 at 06:43 PM
molson
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


white wrote:
One of the best ways to waste money is to keep changing systems. Even more costly than switching cars sometimes.


Even worse is buying multiple systems and keeping all of them...



Jan 14, 2018 at 06:45 PM
Herb
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


my go to long lens.....


Jan 14, 2018 at 07:16 PM
mogud
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


molson,

Aden in Toronto has the 400 DO II in stock.



Jan 14, 2018 at 09:26 PM
PetKal
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Talk Me Out Of Buying a 200-400mm f4L IS + 1.4X


mogud wrote:
molson,

Aden in Toronto has the 400 DO II in stock.


Yeah, Morley, but I have a superb Canon 500 II in stock, and I do not charge any sales tax (HST).

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1521019/0#14326514



Jan 14, 2018 at 09:51 PM
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