Canon 100-400mm or 400mm prime?

I agree with most here. The 100-400mm is more versatile and don't forget you are getting IS too for the same-ish price as the 400mm. I was asking myself these questions recently and decided on the 100-400mm. Cheers!
 
Tdodd, very valid points! The 100-400 costs slightly more but I'm still getting a 400mm range with the versitility and it has IS aswell. How well does it work with the TC attached?
 
You'll lose AF on all bodies except 1 series, which will then only AF with the centre point. But that is true of any lens that is slower than f/4 to begin with. If you can use a tripod and Live View then you can focus very accurately, albeit slowly, with a TC fitted.

Here are a couple of examples from my 1D3 with a Kenko 1.4X fitted....

This was hand held and shot through fencing, wide open at 560mm (728mm if you include the crop factor), 1/250 ....
20100402_095639_5479_LR.jpg


This is also wide open but was at 540mm as I didn't quite zoom all the way, by accident. This was shot from a tripod at 1/500. It is a 100% crop....

20100516_065841_7034_LR.jpg
 
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Not sure where your based but if you can get to the Cotswold Wildlife meet this Saturday am sure we can sort something out to give it a try, am sure there will be a couple of 7D/1-400's there :)
 
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