p.1 #1 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
I had to make a 600 km round trip drive to our capital city yesterday to pick up my 400 DO II (and a 7D2 and a set of III TCs).
After some backyard test shooting, I can confirm what others have already reported:
1. On the 7D2, optics are tack sharp wide open at 400 and 560mm. At 800 mm, IQ is decent wide open (f/8), but improves more when stopped down to f/10-f/11.
2. AF speed of the 7D2 + naked 400 DO II is insanely fast. With a 1.4x III, AF speed is still critically fast. With a 2x III, AF slows down such that I believe it will be challenging for me to use it well at fast, erratic BIFs.
3. This thing is very compact and light, and I'm confident that I will be able to hand hold it comfortably through long BIF sessions. Here's a couple of snapshots with and without the hood (using my camera phone).
Those said, the most striking feature of the new lens for me (aside from size and weight) is the asymmetrical placement of the strap mounts. One is at 9:00 o'clock position, while the other is at around 4:00 o'clock (see photo below):
At first glance, I thought it was a manufacturing error or defect. But when I assembled the combo and walked around the yard to do test shots, I realized it was purposely designed like that.
The 7DII + 400 DO II + 1.4x III just hangs naturally over my right shoulder when walking. On the move, I lightly press my right hand against the lens barrel to prevent the combo from swinging and to let the tripod mount rest on my right hip. In such a configuration, the strap is prevented from touching (and possibly chafing) any part of the lens or the DSLR.
When waiting for BIF action, I transfer the strap to around my neck, and the weight of the combo on my nape is easily bearable (even for hours). From such a hanging position, I can quickly raise the combo in a second upon seeing an incoming BIF. Again, the strap in this scenario barely touches any part of the lens or the camera. (YMMV of course, depending upon the size of one's belly upon which the tripod mount rests. )
The great optics, AF speed and light weight/compact size are things I've already expected from the new DO lens, especially after reading the reviews. But its ease of handling/walk around properties is a very pleasant surprise for me. I hope I can post some bird images from the combo soon..
p.1 #2 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
Glad you are liking the new lightweight gears Romy. I"m sure the weight difference between the 400 2.8 and the 400DOII is outstanding.
I'll be honest and say my straps have never left the original lens case but nice to hear they are working well
Can't wait to see what exotic birds you aim that new setup at. As far as focusing with 2xTCIII, Arash had a recent thread about how on 1 series bodies the AF doesn't slow down with the 2XTCIII but it does on the smaller bodies like 7D2. Just something to think about but then you are losing a lot of reach by stepping back to a 1DX over 7D2.
p.1 #3 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
Thanks, Geoff.
The maximum length, or narrowest AOV, that I feel comfortable with in acquiring and tracking BIFs is 900ish (1D4 + 700 mm, 7D2 + 600 mm, or even a 5D3 + 800 mm). Note that these are tripod only combos (at least for me). Longer than that, I have trouble finding the subject in the VF quickly, unless I'm in the open and I see the incoming BIF many seconds before critical pose angle/distance.
Thus, the 7D2 + 400 DO II + 1.4 III (896 mm), with its fast AF and sharpness wide open, falls just right within my comfort zone. And the big bonus of this combo is hand-holdability. Though I wish AF with the 2x III on the 7D2 were as fast as that on the 1Dx, 800 mm on an APS-C is really too long for me at BIFs.
As I posted before in the thread of Arash, here's how I see the capabilities of both combos as related to BIF shooting:
1. 7D2 + 400 DO II + 1.4 III - 20 MP, 896 mm AOV, 10 fps, fast AF, all AF points active/more VF coverage, 1 stop brighter (can be shot 1 stop lower ISO vs the 1Dx), lighter weight.
2. 1Dx + 400 DO II + 2x III - 18 MP, 800 mm AOV, 12 fps, fast AF (according to Arash), limited AF points active.
Seems to me either combo can record similar information density. One can give more importance on the extra 2 fps, or alternatively live with 10 fps but gain lighter weight/all AF points availability.
p.1 #5 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
I agree that f/5.6 combos shot on 7D2 are much preferred to similar reach 1DX combos at f/8. My current favorite combo is 7D2/600/1.4TC. I'm okay shooting that 1300 FOV for most stuff although smaller BIF require a lot of luck or shorter lens options.
As Peter says...show us da birds!!
Liquidstone wrote:
Thanks, Geoff.
The maximum length, or narrowest AOV, that I feel comfortable with in acquiring and tracking BIFs is 900ish (1D4 + 700 mm, 7D2 + 600 mm, or even a 5D3 + 800 mm). Note that these are tripod only combos (at least for me). Longer than that, I have trouble finding the subject in the VF quickly, unless I'm in the open and I see the incoming BIF many seconds before critical pose angle/distance.
Thus, the 7D2 + 400 DO II + 1.4 III (896 mm), with its fast AF and sharpness wide open, falls just right within my comfort zone. And the big bonus of this combo is hand-holdability. Though I wish AF with the 2x III on the 7D2 were as fast as that on the 1Dx, 800 mm on an APS-C is really too long for me at BIFs.
As I posted before in the thread of Arash, here's how I see the capabilities of both combos as related to BIF shooting:
1. 7D2 + 400 DO II + 1.4 III - 20 MP, 896 mm AOV, 10 fps, fast AF, all AF points active/more VF coverage, 1 stop brighter (can be shot 1 stop lower ISO vs the 1Dx), lighter weight.
2. 1Dx + 400 DO II + 2x III - 18 MP, 800 mm AOV, 12 fps, fast AF (according to Arash), limited AF points active.
Seems to me either combo can record similar information density. One can give more importance on the extra 2 fps, or alternatively live with 10 fps but gain lighter weight/all AF points availability.
p.1 #6 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
quote]PetKal wrote:
OK, Romy, let us see some in-flight bird shots with 400 DO II, You've had the lens for 2-3 days by now.
Awesome focus placement, Pete. Looks like the 1dx and 400 DO II like each other a lot, AF-wise.
arbitrage wrote:
As Peter says...show us da birds!!
Lol.... I've been busy lately on non-birding things. I wish I can shoot some BIFs this weekend, I'm dying to shoot the combo in anger, not at a peso bill, on a tripod, with a remote switch, trying to verify MFA. Perhaps, we can start later a 400 DO II image thread (if none exists yet).
p.1 #7 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
If was independently wealthy, I'd have a 400DOII for when I was just hiking/walking around and thought there was a chance I'd run into something and a 600II for when I was gonna tripod it up. Stupid economics.
p.1 #8 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
Chris, you have just got 500 II which is considered by many, myself included, to be the optimum one long lens solution, particularly so if your shoulder would allow you to use it hand held. In combination with 100-400 MkII (or MkI) I believe you'd have a lens kit that covers all essential bases of wildlife photography and then some.
Too much gear compartmelising is obviously expensive, and it may create logistic problems. For instance, carrying and using multiple lens/camera setups is not only tedious, it may also turn out to be disruptive to your picture taking if you keep switching lenses/cameras in the field.
p.1 #9 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
Liquidstone wrote:
Thus, the 7D2 + 400 DO II + 1.4 III (896 mm), with its fast AF and sharpness wide open, falls just right within my comfort zone. And the big bonus of this combo is hand-holdability. Though I wish AF with the 2x III on the 7D2 were as fast as that on the 1Dx, 800 mm on an APS-C is really too long for me at BIFs.
Sounds like a great lens for BIF indeed, if it had a much shorter MFD I would seriously consider buying one for DIF shots (flying dragonflies). Probably the long MFD helps to improve size/weight and AF speed?
I hope Canon will make a DO version of the 4/300IS (similar to the Nikon) with sufficient magnification, or maybe a light 4/200 IS macro ...
p.1 #11 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
Well, I tried the 7D2 + 400 DO II +1.4x TC III at water birds yesterday, and I can confirm that AF is amazingly fast at f/5.6!
Even using all points AI servo, the 7D2 had no trouble picking the BIF from the terrestrial BG, as long as the bird's plumage is of reasonable contrast to the BG. I love the greater VF coverage of the AF points as well (compared to my 1D4 and 5D3) - it's akin to casting a much larger net, making acquisition and tracking far easier. I initially used the central AF points group (15 points), but when I tried all points and discovered that target acquisition/tracking works well, I just left it at that setting. I used Case 1 all the time.
While the 560 mm combo is already tack sharp wide open, I found that I had to stop down a bit (f/6.3 - f/7.1) to increase the DOF and put more parts of the larger birds in good focus.
Yesterday's BIF session was about three hours long, and my arms and neck were able to bear the light combo well. Looks like my 7D2 copy is an excellent one, IQ and AF wise.
I'll post some images as soon as I get back to my processing computer.
p.1 #12 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
Here's an uncropped full frame BIF:
Great Egret (Egretta alba)
Habitat - Uncommon in a variety of wetlands from coastal marshes to ricefields.
Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 7, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, uncropped full frame resized to 1500x1000.
p.1 #13 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
That looks good, Romy.
I am glad to hear that the lens agrees with you so far.
Do yourself a favour and get the following replacement foot :http://stores.4gdphoto.com/
The foot is nicely long and low profile, comfortable in hand, and I've found it ideal for hand support of the lens, and it works perfect as a lens carrying handle too.
Additionally, I view the Zeck's lens cap as an almost essential accessory.....B&H carries them, and the one for 300 f/2.8 IS lens (or 200 f/2 IS) fits perfectly on 400 DO II.
p.1 #15 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
johnvanr wrote:
Great shot!
How did you set up your camera to get that bird in focus and not the grass?
Thank you, that is a good question.
About 1/2 of all shots fired were OoF. The remaining 1/2 were is in focus, but only 10% typically were in sharp focus.
I didn't use any different/special camera settings at all......as always, center AF point + 8 pts expansion, AF sensitivity set to neutral. The key is to maintain the selected AF point on the bird's head/eye as steadily as possible.....everything else is of trivial importance as well as complexity.
p.1 #16 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
PetKal wrote:
That looks good, Romy.
I am glad to hear that the lens agrees with you so far.
Do yourself a favour and get the following replacement foot :http://stores.4gdphoto.com/
The foot is nicely long and low profile, comfortable in hand, and I've found it ideal for hand support of the lens, and it works perfect as a lens carrying handle too.
Additionally, I view the Zeck's lens cap as an almost essential accessory.....B&H carries them, and the one for 300 f/2.8 IS lens (or 200 f/2 IS) fits perfectly on 400 DO II.
Those are very nice accessories, Pete.... thanks for the links! I need to find a local source in our islands, as ordering such say from B&H is very inconvenient (custom duties plus shipping will make the cost unreachable for me).
The OEM lens foot is indeed too short as a carrying handle. The supplied lens cover, while a big improvement over the leather ones of the old big whites, is designed to cover the front of the lens when the hood is reversed. It's a tight and odd fit when used to cover the business end of the hood.
_____
Meantime, I tried the 2x TC III on the moon yesterday at dawn, but seeing conditions were far from optimal. I didn't hand hold this one (I had to slow down the shutter to get ISO 200 and f/11), will try again when the skies are clearer.
Shooting info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, November 7, 2015 (03:58 am), EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO II IS + EF 2x TC III, 800 mm, f/11, ISO 200, 1/25 sec, manual exposure, Live View AF, 455B/Uniqball support.
p.1 #18 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
That looks very good Romy, as good as one may expect from a sharp long lens shot well. In an hour or so I'll show you a few of my recent pictures taken with 400 DO II (on 1DX) where I tried to shoot it side-to-side with 200-400L, in order to assess the comparative lens effectiveness and ease of use. (A month ago I did the same thing with 400 DO II vs. 300 II, and the shorter lens was a decisive winner in that particular target scenario. In different scenarios, that outcome would probably change.)
p.1 #19 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
Thanks, Pete.... looking forward to your 400 DO II images.
Meantime, here's another uncropped full framed BIF. I kinda like the way the 400 DO II renders OOF, distant foliage.
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 7, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, uncropped full frame resized to 1800 x 1200.
p.1 #20 · A brief user review of the 400 DO II's strap mount :)
Another example of how the 400 DO II + 1.4x TC III renders distant vegetation. This was cropped to about 13 MP to strengthen comp, then resized to 1500 x 1000. This was shot wide open.
Great Egret (Egretta alba)
Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 7, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held.
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