Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II....at last, it's announced!!

On Amazon there's a 'just launched' seller from Japan selling the 100-400 ii for £3057 :eek:
 
canon_togger said:
On Amazon there's a 'just launched' seller from Japan selling the 100-400 ii for £3057 :eek:
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Cant see him selling many!

A guy in Singapore once tried to sell me a L Canon at a more expensive price than UK from him because as they were nearer Japan the lens would be 'fresher'
 
corny said:
Cant see him selling many!

A guy in Singapore once tried to sell me a L Canon at a more expensive price than UK from him because as they were nearer Japan the lens would be 'fresher'
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Fresher?
It's not a cream cake :rolleyes:

I won't be paying £2k never mind 3k for this lens, I'm hoping the price will come down by easter.
 
canon_togger said:
I'm hoping the price will come down by easter.
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....It would be great if it did but isn't such a lens unlikely to have a price drop worth waiting for as soon as 4 months (approximately) from launch?

It can only be speculation but how likely would Canon be to drop their price even after 6 months?

I had a situation yesterday when a flock of Canada Geese suddenly flew overhead and I couldn't even get the whole of one bird in frame as I was too close with my 400mm prime. Being able to quickly zoom down would have been perfect with this new 100-400mm. [Robin continues to convince himself that he needs to buy this lens]

It's not just lens reach which wildlife photography needs but I have often had to step back.
 
some imports are £1400 ish already with tax and shipping paid on ebay, won be long till they are £1200 give it 2-3 months.
 
I don't really need it before easter, hence my statement above.
But I tend to be a 'want it now' buyer so.....:arghh:
 
RedRobin said:

....It would be great if it did but isn't such a lens unlikely to have a price drop worth waiting for as soon as 4 months (approximately) from launch?

It can only be speculation but how likely would Canon be to drop their price even after 6 months?.
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Canon don't drop their prices, retailers drop their prices after the initial rush of 'ohmygodnewshinytoymusthave' types have paid the idiot tax. And 3 to 6 months seems to be about right. The 200-400 stayed at its RRP for around 4 months before the initial price drop (£12000 to £11000), then another 6 weeks before the next drop (£10200) where it stayed for 8 months until the big drop to £8800 - LINK

In 6 months I expect the price of a legal version of the 100-400 MkII (i.e., not fallen off the back of a lorry, or a smuggler-special) to be around £1600
 
Think I might sell my 7D2 to finance this......:)
 
Hi,

Scott Kelby posted some thoughts on this lens - HERE

Mike.

PS: George, I'll give you tuppence ha'penny and a slightly used Heelan' Coo toffee for it ;)
 
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RedRobin said:
I had a situation yesterday when a flock of Canada Geese suddenly flew overhead and I couldn't even get the whole of one bird in frame as I was too close with my 400mm prime. Being able to quickly zoom down would have been perfect with this new 100-400mm. [Robin continues to convince himself that he needs to buy this lens]
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Ironically, that's the kind of situation where the push-pull zoom mechanism makes the Mk I 100-400 absolutely unbeatable.
 
hollis_f said:
In 6 months I expect the price of a legal version of the 100-400 MkII (i.e., not fallen off the back of a lorry, or a smuggler-special) to be around £1600
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Maybe. Back in post #120 of this thread I estimated £1675. Unless something dramatic happens to exchange rates in the interim period I'd be surprised if it doesn't go below £1700 and surprised if it does go below £1600. But how long that will take depends on how much pent-up demand there is and how fast shipments are, and the early signs are not good. I'm still waiting for my first batch of them....
 
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Nobody got one yet?...they seem to be shipping in other countries...
 
I tried one last night on a 7D II at LCE in Southampton.

Brilliant lens, the speed of the AF is much superior to the original. Not sure about the twist zoom compared to the push/pull, but then I prefer the push/pull myself as a personal preference.
 
....good, looking forward to reviews, will you be trying them out Stewart?
 
350wedge said:
I tried one last night on a 7D II at LCE in Southampton.

Brilliant lens, the speed of the AF is much superior to the original. Not sure about the twist zoom compared to the push/pull, but then I prefer the push/pull myself as a personal preference.
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....When I get mine (it's a case of when and not if) I'll be mounting it on a 7D Mark II too, so I'm very interested to hear what your longer term opinions are about this combo, Tony @350wedge . It should be a great combination for wildlife photography.

I personally prefer twist (to match zoom actions my 70-200mm L) rather than push-pull on zooms. Did you know that you can alter the default resistance to make the zoom action looser/tighter?
 
RedRobin said:
....When I get mine (it's a case of when and not if) I'll be mounting it on a 7D Mark II too, so I'm very interested to hear what your longer term opinions are about this combo, Tony @350wedge . It should be a great combination for wildlife photography.

I personally prefer twist (to match zoom actions my 70-200mm L) rather than push-pull on zooms. Did you know that you can alter the default resistance to make the zoom action looser/tighter?
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Much as I'd have loved to have bought them both there and then, my credit card really would have complained..! I bought a 70-200 F2.8 yesterday in any case so those might have caused meltdown :)

I need to sell my MKI 100-400 before I do anything.....
 
Looks like Stewart wiped out the stock at WEX as currently showing 'awaiting stock' ;) :LOL:

I will be waiting for the early high price phase rush to finish..........it will finish won't it as at £1999 that is a "bit rich" for my pocket plus like others I would need to sell my Mk1. On that note I wonder how many will be coming onto the market!
 
Nice StewartR :)

From what I've seen and read about it so far it looks like it's an amazing lens !!
Let us know how your experience goes?
 
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The 100-400 MkII is selling for $2600 Australia, about £1300, shame my brother isn't coming over for a visit anytime soon :(
 
There's a very interesting comparison between the old and new 400DO lenses and the old and new 100-400 lenses on this site...
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2014/12/a-brief-400mm-comparison

The results are, to me, frankly surprising on the 100-400 products.....be interesting to get real world opinions rather than test results, and these results just post optical improvements, no mention of AF speed or IS improvements.

George
 
George said:
There's a very interesting comparison between the old and new 400DO lenses and the old and new 100-400 lenses on this site...
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2014/12/a-brief-400mm-comparison

The results are, to me, frankly surprising on the 100-400 products.....be interesting to get real world opinions rather than test results, and these results just post optical improvements, no mention of AF speed or IS improvements.

George
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....Still rather early for real-world opinions I guess but do you think that his results on the 400mm DO lenses comparison perhaps set us up to expect much more from the 100-400mm lens comparisons?

This afternoon I have been reading the 7D Mark II 50-page Autofocus Guide (RTFM!!) and I noticed that the 7D2 has the 'AI Servo AF III' like the 1DX (which I have never used) and that consequently I think it might be safe to assume that these bodies with the new 100-400mm II mounted will deliver more potential than with the previous 100-400mm. Technology never stands still.

I might add that the finer points of camera technology are all well and good but I still have a lot to learn about post-processing subjects like white Egrets!....
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/little-egret-with-edit.571643/
 
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The more reviews I read, the more I'm loving the sound of this lens.
Just waiting for santa to deliver mine :)
 
I'm using the Mark II 100-400 on a 7D Mk II body. It's a really nice combination. IS on the lens is excellent and I've been going as low as 1/40s at times at 400mm (I've been photographing rats in shady corners of a local pond). The other big bonus is that it is very sharp at f/5.6. Combined this makes a real difference working in the grubby gloom that we seem to have had recently. AF is fast, plus the minimum focusing range is less than a metre. Getting used to the twist zoom, but that's fine and the torque control is useful. I don't like the lens cap, but that is me being pretty picky.
 
Words said:
I'm using the Mark II 100-400 on a 7D Mk II body. It's a really nice combination. IS on the lens is excellent and I've been going as low as 1/40s at times at 400mm (I've been photographing rats in shady corners of a local pond). The other big bonus is that it is very sharp at f/5.6. Combined this makes a real difference working in the grubby gloom that we seem to have had recently. AF is fast, plus the minimum focusing range is less than a metre. Getting used to the twist zoom, but that's fine and the torque control is useful. I don't like the lens cap, but that is me being pretty picky.
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Words said:
Should add that it plays nicely with the 1.4x III extender.
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....That's really helpful to know as I have both the 7D Mark II and the 1.4x III Extender. Thanks for posting this information. :)

When you say that you find it is very sharp at F/5.6 do you mean when F/5.6 at 400mm? Or that you are finding that its optimum sharpness is when at F/5.6 throughout its zoom range? (aka the lens sweet spot).

It sounds as if it's going to be difficult to wait too long for a price drop!
 
Mine has arrived but I'm trying to resist opening it until Christmas morning, which is only another 24 hours!
Step away from the box Marie....:exit:
 
canon_togger said:
Mine has arrived but I'm trying to resist opening it until Christmas morning, which is only another 24 hours!
Step away from the box Marie....:exit:
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....I'm not envious................. Much!!

GreenEnvy.jpg


Have a wonderful Christmas, Marie, and we look forward to reading your opinions about this lens in due course.

:)
 
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RedRobin said:
....

When you say that you find it is very sharp at F/5.6 do you mean when F/5.6 at 400mm? Or that you are finding that its optimum sharpness is when at F/5.6 throughout its zoom range? (aka the lens sweet spot).
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I've just been leaving it on 5.6 throughout the range, and I've not even felt the need to go hunting for a sweet spot (quite unlike the original version). This shot of a rat in the undergrowth was at 5.6 1/200s (ISO 400).
 
I bought one to pair it with my 7dmkII this is my first shot very little light as it was in the shade 1/200 f5.6 iso 800 about a stop under exposed PP work done, 400mm but 640mm fov with the crop factor.
Feel quite happy with the lens .
Rob.
 
GyRob said:
I bought one to pair it with my 7dmkII this is my first shot very little light as it was in the shade 1/200 f5.6 iso 800 about a stop under exposed PP work done, 400mm but 640mm fov with the crop factor.
Feel quite happy with the lens .
Rob.
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....Oooh! That's a very nicely balanced image indeed :) As a 7D2 user I don't think I need any more convincing.
 
A quick play with the lens as the light starts to improve here.
This is with 1.4x kenko 300 dgx, 560mm, iso800, F8, 1/500 on 5D3
I already prefer it to the tamron 150-600mm in terms of size/weight.
50% crop and slight sharpen for web.

15915720109_b1dfdaceb1_o.jpg


Handheld, 400mm f5.6, iso640, 1/2000th
50% crop
web sharpen
16102223125_5eee5726b4_o.jpg
 
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canon_togger said:
A quick play with the lens as the light starts to improve here.
This is with 1.4x kenko 300 dgx, 560mm, iso800, F8, 1/500 on 5D3
I already prefer it to the tamron 150-600mm in terms of size/weight.
50% crop and slight sharpen for web.

15915720109_b1dfdaceb1_o.jpg


Handheld, 400mm f5.6, iso640, 1/2000th
50% crop
web sharpen
16102223125_5eee5726b4_o.jpg
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How does the image quality of the Tamron stack up against the 100-400 mk2 (at the focal lengths that they share)?
It would be interesting to see a real user comparision with & without the extender too.
 
LC2 said:
How does the image quality of the Tamron stack up against the 100-400 mk2 (at the focal lengths that they share)?
It would be interesting to see a real user comparision with & without the extender too.
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+1
 
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