I'll be returning the 100-400 this noon and have already placed an order for the 300mm f/4 IS and a 1.4x TC. Thanks to everyone who gave me samples, advice and encouragement. Hope to have the 300 with me for at least 1 year.
Now, I have a 17-35, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro (which replaced my 100 macro and 70-200 f/4). The 150, to me, is a good replacement for the 70-200, on which I mostly shot between 150-200mm. +, it's 1 stop faster, as sharp or sharper than 70-200 f/4 and lifesize macro. So, the 150 covers the entire range from 70-200, in a sense, for me. And, with the 300 IS, I'll be getting a sharp, excellent 300mm f/4 IS, a good 420mm f/5.6 with IS and an acceptable 600mm f/8 with IS with my 1.4x and 2x Extenders. Primes spoil me!
Thanks for everyone who helped me make a decision. Hope to post shots from the new lens next week. I'll be taking it to Eureka Springs, AR for the Cat Shoot next weekend. Hope to get some nice shots there. Thanks all, again. This is a wonderful forum.
I have found that this lens is pretty erratic, I can sometimes pick up a small bird in a tree at 400 and it locks on and takes a decent image (albeit soft) but today I had blackbird at I guess 100ft or so in a tree - should have been easy but there is no way the lens would focus - just wouldn't do it! I can'd say why - I was using a tripod, had the centre focus mark dead on, light was good - just couldn't lock on.
Any ideas?
jra111 wrote: Here are 2 from yesterday almost 100% crops 100-400L
Do you get a perverse pleasure from posting good samples after someone says they've returned the lens for another model? Good shots, BTW. Looks sharp. Maybe mine was a bad copy, maybe I'm not half as good as you at getting sharp shots. But, thanks anyway.
Canis wrote:
I have found that this lens is pretty erratic, I can sometimes pick up a small bird in a tree at 400 and it locks on and takes a decent image (albeit soft) but today I had blackbird at I guess 100ft or so in a tree - should have been easy but there is no way the lens would focus - just wouldn't do it! I can'd say why - I was using a tripod, had the centre focus mark dead on, light was good - just couldn't lock on.
Any ideas?
C
Remember the focus spot needs to have a contrasting line perpindicular to the focusing mark. You may have to slightly recompose to get a good contrasting spot, or manual focus. Does a blackbird have a good contrast, or is it all black? If a red winged blackbird, the red contrast has to intersect the focusing mark, and be nearly vertical or horizontal (not diagonal) - of the course, assuming focus on the wing is acceptable
I just saw the thread again and I had taken some pictures yesterday and thought I would post them . I didnt read any of the new posts. I was just trying to help show if you got a decent copy. Im sure you will love the 300F4IS. I have not heard of anyone getting a bad copy of one of those.
krementz wrote:
Remember the focus spot needs to have a contrasting line perpindicular to the focusing mark. You may have to slightly recompose to get a good contrasting spot, or manual focus. Does a blackbird have a good contrast, or is it all black? If a red winged blackbird, the red contrast has to intersect the focusing mark, and be nearly vertical or horizontal (not diagonal) - of the course, assuming focus on the wing is acceptable
So, does the focus spot have to cross from one area of contrast to another for the lens to focus, black birds here are black - no red. So if I had focused part on the bird and part on the background it might have been OK.
jra111 wrote:
OH man Im sorry. I just saw the thread again and I had taken some pictures yesterday and thought I would post them . I didnt read any of the new posts. I was just trying to help show if you got a decent copy. Im sure you will love the 300F4IS. I have not heard of anyone getting a bad copy of one of those.Joey
Hey, I was just kidding. I'd seen some good samples, like yours, but since I had lots of sharp pics with other lenses I've owned or currently own, including the 70-200 f/4 zoom lens and a couple of primes, I guess the 100-400 is not my cup of tea. I tried hard to like it - it offers so much versatility, and when at 100mm, it's so small compared to the 300 f/4 IS or 400 f/5.6. But, I couldn't get myself to accept it completely.
Actually, this reminds me why I started my website - if you have time, read the text on this page. I started that site just for people like me who constantly go through lens changes. Mind submitting the samples to my site (link above)? Thanks.
