200-400 f/4 L IS vs 100-400 vII (hypothetical)

[jasonsim]

I would forget about the 200-400mm L.  It has been announced for over 2 years (I think) and has yet to come out.  I wonder why it is taking so long to come out with that lens...makes you wonder.

I would get the 300mm f/2.8L IS II.  Armed with the 1.4x and 2x III converters you have a very capable 420mm f/4 and 600mm f/5.6 lens.  It is cut your eyes sharp using either extender wide open.  Fast AF too.

Plus it is probably lighter and cheaper than the 200-400mm will be.

Cheers,
Jason

[sposh]

Rather than wait I got myself a 2nd-hand 100-400 for Xmas and went a'shooting in Kenya. The idea is to wait for future announcements, reviews & maybe price drops, and then sell the 100-400 to offset whatever comes next. A couple hundred euros or so for a years rental seems worth it. Really happy with the results, though my only other experience with L lenses is my trusty 24-105. Before that I was a Rebel user. Would have been cool to have a 1.4x TC but had already spent too much. Pull zoom didn't completely lock, this looks like a common issue as most 2nd-hand lenses on the site mentioned this defect. Not too big an issue in most cases, this isn't exactly a walkaround lens.

Hand held leaning on the van roof (roof comes up) didn't even use the beanbag I brought along. Glad I read ahead and learned the tripod would have been pretty useless. Main difficulty was handling my kids at the same time ;-)

[DavidGMiles]

I would get the 300mm f/2.8L IS II.  Armed with the 1.4x and 2x III converters you have a very capable 420mm f/4 and 600mm f/5.6 lens.  It is cut your eyes sharp using either extender wide open.  Fast AF too.

This I 100% agree with this - it's likely what I will be doing - the 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens is just amazing - the attached image was shot in Kenya last September, fading light getting worse, leopard probably about 40' away, Teleconvertor on, shot from the top of a vehicle - all the factors say that this should not have been usable but it is

PS I hired this lens as I was still mulling over the 200 - 400

[docsmith]

Rather than wait I got myself a 2nd-hand 100-400 for Xmas and went a'shooting in Kenya. The idea is to wait for future announcements, reviews & maybe price drops, and then sell the 100-400 to offset whatever comes next.

+1.  I own the 100-400L.  It isn't perfect, but takes great pictures and is one of my two most used lenses.  Great for birds and other wildlife. 

So, my recommendation would be to buy what is for sale now and sell it if something better comes out.  It is the difference of having a picture versus not.  Based on what you said, that would leave you with either the current 100-400L or or one of the current big white lenses. 

[Don Haines]

Elevator :: lift
Apartment :: flat
Rent :: hire

Queen's English and all that...   

and never try to hand-hold a lens that won't fit in your boot

and Neuro is right.... an apartment is a flat

[neuroanatomist]

and never try to hand-hold a lens that won't fit in your boot

and Neuro is right.... an apartment is a flat

Wait, wait...boot...is that the things on my feet today, to make it easier to walk through the 11" (or is that 28 cm?) of snow that's fallen so far here in Boston...or is that the large compartment in my car where I carry groceries, etc.?  Because a 70-200/2.8 won't easily fit in the former, but an 800/5.6 will easily fit in the latter.

 

[FunPhotons]

Great advice. Here's the thing, I can wait. Actually I prefer to wait, I am busy with my normal and wide angle and am holding off wildlife as a closer to 'retirement' (8 years away) activity to explore. So I'd rather get the ultimate later rather than a compromise now. Sometime in the next 4 years is fine.


Th 300 is an interesting idea. TCs are a bit of a pain though.

What then do you think is the ultimate? I suspect the 200-400 is.

[Don Haines]

and never try to hand-hold a lens that won't fit in your boot

and Neuro is right.... an apartment is a flat

Wait, wait...boot...is that the things on my feet today, to make it easier to walk through the 11" (or is that 28 cm?) of snow that's fallen so far here in Boston...or is that the large compartment in my car where I carry groceries, etc.?  Because a 70-200/2.8 won't easily fit in the former, but an 800/5.6 will easily fit in the latter.

 

How about either? BTW, I have a pair of size 13 boots that I use in the far North that you could slip you 600 f4 into.