Canon 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

[sandipan]

I am planning to buy "Canon 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM" Lens for Wildlife photography.
Any feedback on this lens will be helpful for me.
Although the Canon 300mm f/4 has better optical quality than this lens, I preferred to take the 100-400 mm lens for it's versatile zoom range.
I am expecting that even though it's a slow lens, we can get good quality shots with higher ISO with cameras like 40D.

[dougj]

I've shot the 300/f4 and it's a great lens. I have not used the 100-400, but I've been looking at it for awhile. It seems the recent copies of this lens produce better image quality. Canon has not made any comments relative to recent changes, but the images I've seen and the comments on photography forums have been very favorable.

This might be my next lens purchase, although I'm also considering the Sigmonster, Sigma's 300-800mm, but no IS and a lot more expensive.

[moffetb]

I've been using my 100-400 mm IS Canon zoom for over 5 years now. I love the quality of it, and have had no problems with it. I bought it for my film camera a while ago, but now shoot the Canon Digital Rebel Xt.



I shoot a lot of airshow photography with it, you can see from above. I have noticed that you can see the image stabilization in action if you know what to look for.

Because of that capability to see the IS working, (you can see it on the snowy egret here) I keep in mind what shutter speed I am shooting at and turn off the IS when using high shutter speeds.



http://www.pbase.com/moffetb/galleries

Almost all of the outdoor photography shots and airshow shots were taken with the 100-400 IS.

Brian

[ericvision]

"Buy" and "It"

[marxz]

"Buy" and "It"

what he said...

no honestly I have reasonably free and easy access to one from a friend and as much as I love my Sigma 50-500 the 100-400 IS is a real kick arse zoom.

While if I was buying now I'd probably buy a prime for use beyond 200 if I didn't have my Bigma and access to the 100-400 then the 100-400 would be my first choice

[texces]

I have that lens and absolutely adore it! Make sure you get the image stablizer on it! Well worth it as it is easy to use hand held that way! Ilove mine! Hope you enjoy!!!!!

[amjones]

Have had the lens for 18 months and is the lens of choice for me.

Stop it down to F7.1 or better and it will produce you excellent images




Hand held 1/400 F9 ISO 200 400mm

Not had the problems of dust being pulled in due to the trombone action, an over hyped problem I think.

IS gives you a couple of stops leeway



Hand held at 1/160th F7.1 Iso 640 400mm

Andy

[marxz]

Not had the problems of dust being pulled in due to the trombone action, an over hyped problem I think.

Andy

personally I read a lot of that "dust pump" in reviews for the push pull lens I pretty much think it's a load of old BS....

OK any extending zoom has the potential for having more dust issues than an internal zoom like the 70-200 L's. but the "dust pump" criticism seems to be solely isolated to the push pull zooms. My Sigma 50-500 is a twin ring (twist to zoom) lens and I can feel air getting blown out on to my hands when I twist back down to the wider angle (which means air MUST get sucked in when I twist to extend to telephoto end) yet in over two years being used in all sorts of environments including outback Australia I'm still yet to notice any dust inside. A friend of mine who has the Canon 100-400 L has shot far far more often than me in the Outback and the outside of his lens has taken on that nice rust red colour that is ubiquitous to the Australian outback and any and all sorts of object you may take there (cars, clothes, cameras) but there's no visible dust inside his lens nor does he have any more problems with sensor dust than your average Joe city photographer.

[ericvision]

With all the air shifting about in the 100-400L and your shutter-box, it must blow out as much dust as it sucks in... I certainly find a few in-outs of the 100-400 dislodges most sensor blobs

[gymell]

I've got the 300/4, 400/5.6 and 500/4 primes and am planning to get the 100-400 for the versatility it offers. When I'm on a birding trip (with birders, not photographers) or some other occasion where I'm not planning to shoot something specific in advance, having the ability to bring along something reasonably sized (certainly compared to the 500) and flexible will definitely be a good thing. There are a lot of religious wars over whether the 100-400 is as sharp as the 400/5.6 or 300/4 + TC, but that's really beside the point. The real advantage is versatility, and if you need it, I don't see how you can beat the 100-400.

[sandipan]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions. Recently I have got this lens and satisfied so far. It may not be as sharp as the prime (300 f/4) lens offers but the versatility is really helpful. It's bit heavy but hand-holdable.
I am comfortable with it's Push-Pull zoom mechanism.
The IS is also helpful as I am able to take decent shots even with 1/30 sec.

Yet to take more shots with this lens to make a final verdict.

[moffetb]

I've recently picked up a monopod for my camera, and it really helps out for holding the lens steady. Turn off the IS, according to Canon.

Brian

Example photo with the monopod (taken with 100-400 mm IS, 1.4 times teleconverter)

[uplander]

I have had mine for over a year now and I think itis a great lens. If you plan on shooting hand held, this lens just simply does the job. Draw backs? F/5.6 , you need a tripod at low light levels and turn off the IS.
I'm looking to get some faster lenses now for low light shooting.
here are some handheld shots

[equianio]

http://www.pbase.com/jagphanther/root

[clarkerobinson]

I'm a big fan of this lens too. Bear in mind that technique plays a big part in long lens sharpness. I notice that I'm now consistently getting sharper images with this lens than I did a year ago, and I know that the lens hasn't magically gotten any sharper during this time

Below is a 100% crop straight out of the camera, no post processing.

Clarke