Old 400mm f/2.8

aerobandit

aerobandit

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Piotr
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Someone local to me is selling his old canon 400mm f/2.8L mark I non IS. he said it's from early 90's and wants around £1600 for it. I think it's a good price but dont have any experience with this lens. do you think it's a bargain or not? is it optically good? and would it work nicely with x1.4 and x2 teleconverters and 7D?
 
Sorry I can't be more helpful than this, but the only thing I know about that lens is it's reputation for being absurdly heavy, so if you're planning to carry it around that's something to consider. Other then that, though I can't say anything about the optical quality from experience, but being an f/2.8L super-tele prime it should be phenomenal. I know the IS version certainly is.
 
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Optically it should be pretty good. Not as stellar as the MkII, but good none the less.

Having said that I'd be wary about buying one without knowing it's history & how hard it had been used. Canon no longer service or repair the, which means that, if the USM goes, you are left with a v expensive door stop, or at best an MF lens (if you are very lucky).
 
I used to have this lens. As the above posts, its going to be a bit of a gamble. Optically it was very good (it was pretty much standard for sports shooters), although the latter versions pipped it in respect of ultimate sharpness or AF speed.

The gamble aspect is, again as above, the lack of parts should it go wrong.

I'd be tempted to give it a good test, and if it looks well looked after it could end up being a bargain, but if you get any doubts in your gut feeling while playing with it walk away before you hit the giddy button and splash the cash.

Teleconverter wise, no more problems than any other lens.

Mike
 
Just make sure that your insurance covers you New for Old and go for it.
 
I bought a 1999 300/2.8 non IS about 3 years ago, and am as happy as a pig in poo.
I wouldn't hesitate in picking up a 400 if one came up and I had the cash at the time.
 
I have an 11 year old 400 2.8 and it is superb. No issues whatsoever.

And if it does go wrong, you could probably sell the parts for more than the lens cost you as there will be repairers who are after the bits.
 
I had one and the ONLY reason I got rid was... too heavy.. just stupidly heavy.. I ahve a newer one now.. much lighter... quality of the old one was decent.. not a patch on current lenses but still a step up from most canon zooms..
 
sthwild said:
I'm really tempted guys. It's a 1993 model thou. I believe that 20 years ago quality of glass wasn't as good as now.
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But then it's £15-1600 as against £3-4000 (?) 2nd hand for the newer model and the latest model is just silly money ...

Have you had a look at it / trial with it ?
 
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sthwild said:
I'm really tempted guys. It's a 1993 model thou. I believe that 20 years ago quality of glass wasn't as good as now.
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I dunno about that, maybe there are more advanced coatings now that weren't available then.
I do know a 1 day old or 20 year old Nikkor 400 2.8 are two completely different animals, but still stellar optically.
 
Canon have made 5 versions of that lens.

Canon FD 400mm f2.8L – manual focus lens for FD system
Canon EF 400mm f2.8L – autofocus lens for EOS cameras
Canon EF 400mm f2.8L II – autofocus lens for EOS cameras with Fluorite element. This lens is reviewed here
Canon EF 400mm f2.8L IS – with image stabilizer
Canon EF 400mm f2.8L II IS – latest lens with power focus mode for use when shooting video, IS-3 mode for the 4-stop image stabilizer, improved image quality and flourine coating at front and back glass surface to repel dust and moisture

The first two 400mm f2.8 were not that good optically. This could be due to lack of any Fluorite element. The last three 400mm f2.8 lenses use one Fluorite element and have excellent optical quality. For the last 3 lenses, camera sensor, subject movement, atmospheric haze and photographers skills are more likely to be the limiting factor.

As canon will no support the 1st 3 lenses, i.e. spares etc, they only keep parts for up to 10 years life of the lens, so if you get a problem, repairing the lens, might become a major issue
 
Rumour has it that Jacobs have a well used 400 IS for £2000 in their Leicester branch.
 
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