Announcement Day July 23, 2012? [CR2]

[Bob Howland]

Lets hope the 200-400 f4 is one of the len's announced. I need one for October as im off to the forest to shoot bears, with a camera not a gun.

Mick

Where are you going? In Upstate New York State, where I live, October is prime time for hunting bears with guns but not cameras.

I'm just afraid that the Canon 200-400 will be so expensive that the Nikon 200-400 plus a D800 (or maybe a D400) will still be cheaper.

[Ricku]

Allright fellow canonites! Prepare for some more disappointment. 

The disappointment will definitely reach new heights with this camera, since so many are hoping for full frame or at least APS-C.

I'm hoping for full frame too, but I'm fully expecting a G1X-type sensor or some other crappy bs. Canon is not the innovative and exciting company they used to be. 

[dilbert]

Lets hope the 200-400 f4 is one of the len's announced. I need one for October as im off to the forest to shoot bears, with a camera not a gun.

Mick

400 + 1.4x is not enough for close ups at a safe distance of bears in the wild.

You need 700mm or more in glass.

Doesn't that depend on your definition of "safe"?

I don't know about you, but my definition of safe is around the 50 meters/yards mark - the "half a football field pitch" length. I've never seen anyone recommend anything closer as being "safe".

[maxxevv]

I don't know about you, but my definition of safe is around the 50 meters/yards mark - the "half a football field pitch" length. I've never seen anyone recommend anything closer as being "safe".

Not unless you were in a car with the engine left on idle ....   

Or you have 300-400 meters between you and the bear with some ready -to-scram car or secure shelter to run to ...  anything under that is definitely not safe if you have big camera gear at hand ! 

[8minutestorm]

I'd like to see a GF1 type of camera with normal/wide fast pancake lens from canon.

[briansquibb]

I don't know about you, but my definition of safe is around the 50 meters/yards mark - the "half a football field pitch" length. I've never seen anyone recommend anything closer as being "safe".

Not unless you were in a car with the engine left on idle ....   

Or you have 300-400 meters between you and the bear with some ready -to-scram car or secure shelter to run to ...  anything under that is definitely not safe if you have big camera gear at hand !

The bears refer to cyclists as meals on wheels

[TW]

Lets hope the 200-400 f4 is one of the len's announced. I need one for October as im off to the forest to shoot bears, with a camera not a gun.

Mick

400 + 1.4x is not enough for close ups at a safe distance of bears in the wild.

You need 700mm or more in glass.

Doesn't that depend on your definition of "safe"?

I don't know about you, but my definition of safe is around the 50 meters/yards mark - the "half a football field pitch" length. I've never seen anyone recommend anything closer as being "safe".

Aw, shucks. Here in East Tennessee, we hunt bears with slingshots and a pocket knife. Remember, Dan'l Boone kilt a bear with his bare hands...

[nonac]

The danger factor depends on the type of bear as well. For example, brown bears are much more dangerous than black bears.

[HeWhoShoots]

The danger factor depends on the type of bear as well. For example, brown bears are much more dangerous than black bears.

False. Black bear.

[unfocused]

The danger factor depends on the type of bear as well. For example, brown bears are much more dangerous than black bears.

False. Black bear.

Either way you're dead.

Best advice, always go with someone slower than you. You can't outrun the bear, but you don't have to. You just have to outrun the person you are with.

[dilbert]

I don't know about you, but my definition of safe is around the 50 meters/yards mark - the "half a football field pitch" length. I've never seen anyone recommend anything closer as being "safe".

Not unless you were in a car with the engine left on idle ....   

Or you have 300-400 meters between you and the bear with some ready -to-scram car or secure shelter to run to ...  anything under that is definitely not safe if you have big camera gear at hand !

I've never heard anyone from NPS say that much distance is required.

The goal isn't to be so far that you can escape but rather not be close enough for you to be perceived as a threat.

[Mick]

I've got loads of shots of bears with everything from a 200 to a 500 so the 200/400 plus extender and 7d is all I need. Got a mk4 as well. Best stuff is when the salmon runs, bears are so interested in food they ignore you. Got a great head shot this year with me lying in a river grizzly lying in the water staring at me pin sharp as well only a tiny crop. 500 prime and 7d, but i had to sell the big prime for a ridiculous profit.

What we do for the shot. A guy I met has a head shot of a grizzly coming out the water so only its head shows, salmon in its mouth, blood pouring from it shaking it, salmon eggs in mid air being caught by a seagull in Alaska. Amazing taken from a boat done with a 7d 300 prime and 1/4 extender.He got it in a top French magazine. Best I've seen in years. But I'm afraid I'll be disappointed and canon will again delay it. I need it to go deer shooting in autumn during the rut and European wolves later in the year white horses next spring time. I need the lens.....

Mick

[dilbert]

The danger factor depends on the type of bear as well. For example, brown bears are much more dangerous than black bears.

False. Black bear.

Either way you're dead.

Best advice, always go with someone slower than you. You can't outrun the bear, but you don't have to. You just have to outrun the person you are with.

There are three species of bear that can be found in North America:
- black bear: Yosemite and other warmer states (I've seen one in Arizona). Opportunistic feeder and easily scared. Don't get too close, don't run and don't come between mother and cub.
- brown bear: Alaska where they feed on mostly fish. Neither you nor your food is likely to interest them.
- grizzly bear: found in the upper rockies and Canada, these bears are not very well known for being kind. When walking mountain trails in grizzly territory, it is customary to be noisy so that they disappear before you see them. Most human casualties involve these guys.

[Saabiar]

2 species

brown and Griz are the same thing, that is all.

[Greatland]

Lets hope the 200-400 f4 is one of the len's announced. I need one for October as im off to the forest to shoot bears, with a camera not a gun.

Mick

400 + 1.4x is not enough for close ups at a safe distance of bears in the wild.

You need 700mm or more in glass.

I will be in Katmai in late August to shoot bears...I always take the biggest lens that I have with me, my 500.....but I also take my 100-400 along with my extenders.  I have gotten a lot of great shots with my 100-400 with the 1.4x and have been plenty close to the bears on many occasions to get great shots....having said that if I had an 800 I would never go there without it, with or without the extender....on the MK IV that gives you a lot of distance.  Really depends on where you go and just how close you can get to the bears....I really prefer to be able to get within 50 yds of the bears....makes for some awesome stuff!