p.4 #1 · Is Canon 400 f5.6 still worth buying for bird photography ?
The 100-400mk2 can be had for about $1600 on the refurb store. Not in stock all the time but with a little patience it's not that hard to get one. Tough for the prime to compete against that.
p.4 #2 · Is Canon 400 f5.6 still worth buying for bird photography ?
ggreene wrote:
The 100-400mk2 can be had for about $1600 on the refurb store. Not in stock all the time but with a little patience it's not that hard to get one. Tough for the prime to compete against that.
That's a great price, but even at $2000 the zoom is worth every penny over the prime IMO. IQ of the zoom is at least as good and even with 1.4x attached wide open it still shines. AF speed of the zoom is much improved so prime loses a big advantage over the V1 zoom. The zoom has best in class max magnification too and of course current gen excellent IS.. A lens is an investment and I think it's worth paying extra for something you could keep well over 10 years even if it means saving up longer.
p.4 #3 · Is Canon 400 f5.6 still worth buying for bird photography ?
I bought the 100-400 II last year to replace my 400/5.6, but eventually went back to the prime. Yes the zoom is a great lens, but for me it didn't have any advantages over the prime, only downsides. Sharpness is the same, with or without TC 1.4 when I compared them side by side. But the 400/5.6 is much more pleasant to handle and this makes a big difference for me. After all this is a hobby and supposed to be fun. I hold the 400/5.6 by grabbing it around the barrel, something I could not do with the zoom. I tried different ways to hold it up, i.e. by the foot, but never found a really comfortable way. The built-in hood and lower weight of the prime are an extra bonus.
For some, the ability to zoom out to 100mm, the IS or the close focus ability of the zoom will surely be important. Not for me at this point - I shoot BIF hand held at fast SS. If I was ever going to go for larger animals or close-by critters, I'd take another look at the 100-400.
p.4 #4 · Is Canon 400 f5.6 still worth buying for bird photography ?
Thorsten wrote:
I hold the 400/5.6 by grabbing it around the barrel, something I could not do with the zoom. I tried different ways to hold it up, i.e. by the foot, but never found a really comfortable way.
I have to say that is my gripe with the 100-400mk2 as well. The foot design is awful and third party solutions have not done much better. It's small and far too short in both height and length for a comfortable hand hold.
p.4 #5 · Is Canon 400 f5.6 still worth buying for bird photography ?
Like the venerable 30-06 Springfield cartridge the Canon EF400L 5.6 will continue to reliably produce time tested results.
It's light, fast, accurate and after 3 years of constant beach shooting from a skimmer-pod Toshio was shocked to find it virtually dust and sand free when he lubricated the AF motor.
I might buy a second NEW lens because it is soooo affordable.
p.4 #6 · Is Canon 400 f5.6 still worth buying for bird photography ?
Pixel Perfect wrote:
That's a great price, but even at $2000 the zoom is worth every penny over the prime IMO. IQ of the zoom is at least as good and even with 1.4x attached wide open it still shines. AF speed of the zoom is much improved so prime loses a big advantage over the V1 zoom. The zoom has best in class max magnification too and of course current gen excellent IS.. A lens is an investment and I think it's worth paying extra for something you could keep well over 10 years even if it means saving up longer.
I paid even less than $1600 including 21% tax for a brand new one, thanks to rebates etc.
The huge discount made the decision to upgrade my 4/300IS to a 100-400II a no-brainer :-)
Still unsure about the weight increase though (I have similar concerns as Thorsten mentions above), so I'm keeping an eye on the new Sigma 100-400. And I'm hoping that some day we get a really light/compact 4/300IS DO from Canon...
p.4 #7 · Is Canon 400 f5.6 still worth buying for bird photography ?
I still shoot mine over the zooms as the color and contrast is much better. I will typically have a 600mm on tripod and gimbal head, and the 400mm on a second body around my neck for the close "coming right at me" shots
