Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x TC Information

[Canon Rumors]

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“Production” model said to exist
Ben, a CR reader, had a chance to play around with the upcoming EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4tc in South Africa recently. He had a talk with a Canon product manager there about the highly anticipated lens and got to play around with the lens a bit.

• This was the first time that this specific model was on public display.
• Changes were made post Olympics-this is probably the final version.
• This one is a production model.
• Pricing: somewhere around $11000.
• Weight: No official comment from Canon. Ben thinks it feels nearly the same weight as the 600 F4 II.
• Focus speed the same as 500 II on 1DX, virtually instantaneous.
• Flip switch for converter works like a dream-instant magnification.
• One has to move L hand from front to flip switch, when hand holding the lens more difficult to flip switch than with lens on mono pod.
• Availability: next 2-3 months.

Here’s hoping this lens reaches us in Q1 of 2013.

cr

[ZoeEnPhos]

Hello Forum Readers!

I was on Canon´s the PRO Imaging Sales exhibition today (1st of December -12) for nature photographers, here in Stockholm, and the Swedish Canon PRO Photo Specialist Mr. K. Mörck was expecting that Canon probably will make an official announcement about when the first production lenses will be available for sales, later on this month of December 2012. I think many has eagerly been waiting for this lens!

/C

[Jonathan Johansson]

http://youtu.be/S5u8j75i0b8
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[Lee Jay]

<li>Pricing: somewhere around $11000.</li>

Yawn....

[neuroanatomist]

<li>Pricing: somewhere around $11000.</li>

Yawn....

Don't worry, just because you're uninterested due to the high price, doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people excited about this lens.  Granted, I'm not one of them, either, but that's because 560mm f/5.6 is not nearly as useful to me as 840mm f/5.6 (or 1200mm f/8 with AF).

[TexPhoto]

The instant 1.4 teleconverter is a great idea. Switching in a teleconverter on big glass is a great time to have 3-4 hands.  When I'm shooting surfers, I dread the swap, always worried a teleconverter or worse yet camera body with no lens is going into the sand. 

[kidcharles]

Sure this lens will be a nice versatile telephoto but given that it maxes out at 560 f/5.6 the $11000 price tag is kind of crazy. I'm sure some will pay, but it is still nuts.

[Waterloo]

<li>Pricing: somewhere around $11000.</li>

Yawn....

If you can't afford it, why even comment? My money is in the bank just waiting and I'll be one of the first in line.

[eml58]

This is a very interesting Lens, no doubt, Nikon's 200/400 f.4 for wildlife shooters is a bit of a Legend, not great, but damn good. Canon's 200/400 will without a doubt be better, but. I'm a wildlife shooter, Africa & Arctic predominantly, I have waited so long for this lens that I decided to get the 400 f/2.8 VII then a few months back added the 600 f/4 V II, The quality of those two Lenses now makes this Lens superfluous to requirement, and as "Neuroanatomist rightly comments, I'de rather have my 400 f/2.8 & 600 f/4 on my 1Dx with option for f/5.6 & (Now) f/8. I just need a little munchkin to carry the Kit around, but I'll manage the minor downside for the upside of Versatility. I also agree with others that say this Lens will likely be a "Must Have" & I wish them enjoyment.

[Dylan777]

With $11000 price tag...I will add this lens on my "DREAM" list 

[robbymack]

Personally I will never own this lens, I'm curious though of those who will buy it what are you planning to shoot with it?   Would you rather canon just have a 200-400 and drop the teleconverter?  Nikons 200-400 is one of the few lenses that intrigues me about the dark side.

[hambergler]

<li>Pricing: somewhere around $11000.</li>

Yawn....

Don't worry, just because you're uninterested due to the high price, doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people excited about this lens.  Granted, I'm not one of them, either, but that's because 560mm f/5.6 is not nearly as useful to me as 840mm f/5.6 (or 1200mm f/8 with AF).

I'm pretty sure that is going to be the case with most people,

At 8500 this would be compelling.  At 11K I really don't many choosing this over a 400 2.8 or 600 f4.

Even if I had money to burn I'd purchase those two before I ever got the 200-400.

[OCwildlife]

I'm considering selling a few lenses to get this one. Looking forward to trying it out. I read it will weight 335g or around 7.4lbs. Thats a biggy to me. I'm needing to lighten my gear. [which is usually the old 500mm and iDMK4 around 12 lbs total. With a possible 7DII + 200-400, I would increase distance, and decrease weight. So tempting! Either that or the new 500, which weighs just a little less than the 200-400. Hard decision! I love my 500.
BTW, I'm Linda, hello. I read this forum alot.

[expatinasia]

Don't worry, just because you're uninterested due to the high price, doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people excited about this lens.  Granted, I'm not one of them, either, but that's because 560mm f/5.6 is not nearly as useful to me as 840mm f/5.6 (or 1200mm f/8 with AF).

Well said.

This is a seriously expensive zoom, I am sure many will buy it, but I see little point. Most sport photographers I know already have the 500 or 600s etc. There is very little incentive for them to by this/

[OCwildlife]

Well the big worry is will that 560mm be as clean as the old 500mm? If it is, then that old heavy 500 will be less missed than I thought.

And will I want to shoot at f5.6 for the duration of a day in shadows and late afternoons?....back to shooting at 400mm. Not that big of a deal. I do find when shooting with my 300, I am always wishing for a 400. 400 is useful for sports and larger wildlife. Quite a few times I had to run backwards so I could get far enough away for a full shot of a close Bobcat. Tree shooting would be great at 400 also.

Air shows, well 500mm was tight. I had myself wishing for a 400 a few times. It's too bad they could apply that inboard teleconverter to a 500mm. That would be a big seller. Sure, I prefer 500mm, but there are quite a few uses for 400. A revamp of the 400DO would have been great. I'm tired of my shoulders hurting! So the 200-400 still doesn't help that much.