UPS just bought my new to me Canon 400DO. Nothing to shoot but a pic of my neighbors cat.
I think for my tired old eyes it's going to be sharp enough
Here's three quick images,
Full Frame
Crop
Crop and sharpened.
Obviously not a scientific test
Of the lenses that I've bought and sold and traded over the years, the one sale that I regret was parting with the 400 DO. Yes, I traded up to a 500/f4, which is a sweet lens, and probably one I'll never sell, but getting another DO is high on my list... Good luck with yours... it looks like a fine copy!
From the day I got my 400 DO several years ago, it immediately became my favorite lens, and, of the various lenses and camera bodies that I own, it is the one piece of equipment that I'm least likely ever to sell. I especially like using it with my 7D. With the 7D and 400 DO, I can put as many pixels on the subject as I can with my 1D Mark IV and 500/4, but, with the DO, I'm using a lens that weighs 1/2 of what the 500 weighs. And, in spite of the opinions expressed by "internet experts" with regard to image quality, when I've presented pictures taken with both the 500 and the 400 DO, whether they be on the internet or with actual prints, to others and asked them to tell me which ones were taken with the 500/4 and which were taken with the 400 DO, I am yet to see a single time when anyone has been able to accurately guess which ones came from which lens.
I think that much of the negative reaction to this lens on the internet was a by-product of the price of the lens. Considering the way that the prices of other Canon long lenses have soared in the last several years, the DO is actually looking, relatively speaking, like a bargain today.
Ok I know this lens gets quite a bit of a bashing but most of the time I see images from it they look very good.
Now I have a question.....
So what makes the better 400? The 400/4 DO or the first gen 300/2.8L IS +1.4 TC?
Then extend things a little bit more . The 400+1.4 v 300+2x
I'm asking as I see both lenses come up from time to time (ok I see more 300's) and they tend to go for about the same £££ .
At the moment I have a sigma 300/2.8 (still getting used to it) and still find that I'm reach limited an awful lot . And anything longer is going to be way out of the price range
At some point in the future I may be able to splash a few more £ on a longer lens. It will be only long gun I will own .
I currently use a 300/2.8 with a 1.4x for use as my "400", and it's very sharp albeit quite a bit heavier, and a bit slower in focusing than when I had my DO. The DO really has the advantage in terms of use of use and portability. Adding a 1.4 to the DO is pretty darn good, and the lens still focuses fairly quickly but adding a 2x to the 300 slows AF down a considerable amount.
I'm sure Stan or Les can give you more current info on the DO since I no longer have mine, and one of your countrymen, Roy Churchill, used a 300+2x for many years, delivering some beautiful BIF shots.
Good to know. I've always wanted the 300/2.8 but since I got my sigma Im comming to realise that a TC is going to live on it a fair bit (even though Im shooting a 7D) . I should have known really as I was using a 100-400 previous
My thinking is if I can pick up a 400 DO at sensible money then that may be the better option. Im going to be upgrading my 80-200L to a 70-200 Mk2 at some point so a 1.4 TC can do double duty anyway .
I guess its a case of finding a good DO
Welcome to the 400 DO. I bought my used as well for a reasonable price.
I absolutely love mine after renting the 100-400, and 500 f4 beforehand.
Not sure with the glare and such this photo says too much other than it is working. Get it out there and enjoy.
I have some recent wildlife photos here on FM, my favorite is a moose. On my monitor it is tack sharp with great contrast. https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1158677
Like any longer telephoto make sure to calibrate your focus. That is key. Calibrate it with and without your 1.4x.
Get a plastic telescope cap for your lens. Very nice and protective.
Since I will have my toddler in a backpack during day hikes, the 500mm was not possible. The 400 with or without a 1.4x is a great day hiking lens that I can hand hold when needed.
Don't make much of any negative comments about this lens. Any contrast or other imperfections are quickly and easily dealt with in post.
Did I say I love it?
. Yeah I know. It will be with a very heavy heart (and I'm not sure i can even bring myself to do it ) . But the ONLY lens I would consider letting it go for is the 70-200 mk2 . The alternative is to add an f4 IS . But other than the want for a smaller lens sometimes the mk2 wins my heart every time.
. Yeah I know. It will be with a very heavy heart (and I'm not sure i can even bring myself to do it