After seeing so many great images with this lens I had to have one. I did find out today on the first shoot that handholding this lens takes some skill. The 7D did fine AF wise but the shaky hands were wishing for the IS... I will learn and find myself a monopod to assist me....

Congrats with the new 'toy', John! Looks pretty good to me!

The 400/5.6 is a lens I've long been debating. My 100-400 is just too darn sharp to justify the expense but I've found myself tempted more than once.

A good monopod however is something I can advise anyone on buying. It's the one item I never forget to throw in the back of the car. Besides, it has saved me a lot of sore muscles during tedious seminars where I had to shoot all the keynote speakers with a 1D/70-200 2.8 IS + flash. That's a setup that will wear you down during a long day but not so with a monopod.

Good looking airplane. The 400 f/5.6 does well on all fast moving things, like this duck. (I betcha that's a kind of a picture the pilots of jet aircraft don't wanna see thru their windshield. )

Very nice... my ducks have been stationary but hope to find some in motion...very nice image!

Emile Gregoire wrote:
Congrats with the new 'toy', John! Looks pretty good to me!

The 400/5.6 is a lens I've long been debating. My 100-400 is just too darn sharp to justify the expense but I've found myself tempted more than once.

A good monopod however is something I can advise anyone on buying. It's the one item I never forget to throw in the back of the car. Besides, it has saved me a lot of sore muscles during tedious seminars where I had to shoot all the keynote speakers with a 1D/70-200 2.8 IS + flash. That's a setup that will wear you down during a long day but not so with a monopod.

Thanks... will be looking at the monopod thing next week...

Looks good to me! I'm trying to decide between the 100-400 and the 400/5.6. Looks like you've got a keeper there, enjoy it!

Thanks... here is another one which I think is a touch sharper with less "shake."

Here is a shot from my 7D / 400 f5.6L. I swear I've had more fun with that lens then the rest combined.

Very nice... I have got to find some swamps somewhere in this desert....

John McLean wrote:
Very nice... I have got to find some swamps somewhere in this desert....

What about them Roadrunners and Karakaras ? They'd make good targets for your 400 f/5.6.
Egrets are large slow fliers (not much of a challenge there) but they cause exposure troubles with their white plumage.

Nice shots. I have done aircraft panning on my 400 5.6 at 1/100. It doesn't not take much time to get used to.

For moving subjects, monopods are a total PITA. Don't bother.

sav1977 wrote:
For moving subjects, monopods are a total PITA. Don't bother.

I guess you don't watch many pro photographers at sporting events.

This is bull crap.

No brick walls.

No cats.

GRRRR!

sav1977 wrote:
Nice shots. I have done aircraft panning on my 400 5.6 at 1/100. It doesn't not take much time to get used to all the blurry shots at those settings.

For moving subjects, monopods are a total PITA. Don't bother.

Fixed.

This was a little harder to track!

Look like a keeper to me. Conrat on your new toy.

Was thinking of buying the 300 2.8IS (didn't happen), i sold mine but then imediately bought back one. Yes, i love the lens that much.
The key is to keep the shutter high at all time, even it means pumb up the ISO.
Here is one with a TC:

hsk06 wrote:
Look like a keeper to me. Conrat on your new toy.

Was thinking of buying the 300 2.8IS (didn't happen), i sold mine but then imediately bought back one. Yes, i love the lens that much.
The key is to keep the shutter high at all time, even it means pumb up the ISO.
Here is one with a TC:

1DMkII N 400mm f/5.6L

John McLean wrote:


Gottcha on the high ISO and bump up the shutter speed... great shot of the coyote....!


I'm I wrong, but isn't that a fox?

monochrome wrote:
John McLean wrote:


Gottcha on the high ISO and bump up the shutter speed... great shot of the coyote....!


I'm I wrong, but isn't that a fox?


Grey fox it is

Peyton wrote:
monochrome wrote:
John McLean wrote:


Gottcha on the high ISO and bump up the shutter speed... great shot of the coyote....!


I'm I wrong, but isn't that a fox?


Grey fox it is

Yeah... I knew that...NOT...

Rich Swanner wrote:
1DMkII N 400mm f/5.6L

rd4tile wrote:
This was a little harder to track!

Upped the ISO and bumped up the shutter speed... much better results. Still playing with the combo and AF and other settings.

Other Birds In Flight The Thunderbirds.............