A New EF 400 f/5.6L Before Photokina? [CR1]

[Hillsilly]

I wonder if they can make it a little lighter, shorter, give it the sharpness and AF speed of the f2.8 and make it fully weather sealed without affecting the price too much?  IS is a nice idea, but I'll happily skip it if it means a big price increase.  Like many people, I only venture into 400mm territory when photographing sports and wildlife and IS isn't going to help freeze action much better. 

[tron]

If it has the latest 4-stop Canon IS and the price is not exorbitant I will think seriously about it...

[Canon-F1]

before photokina... they better hurry then.

[bvukich]

before photokina... they better hurry then.

Never said which year 

[vlim]

5.6 is too slow for a prime....... like the 800-5.6?

the 800 f/5.6 too slow ? wow i guess you've never tested it

this new 400 would be great if it's a weather sealed lens with the IS II (and a price under 2k of course)

but if the new unofficilay announced 100-400 f4-5.6 L IS is as good as the 70-300 f4-5.6 L IS in term of sharpness and quality of the image the choice will be a tough one !

[vlim]

Replacement lens that currently costs about same as 100-400.  At f/5.6 why would anyone want this lens?  Help me understand benefit over 100-400?   

If you arlready have the great and light 70-200 f/4 L IS a new 400  is a better choice in my opinion

[Etienne]

Replacement lens that currently costs about same as 100-400.  At f/5.6 why would anyone want this lens?  Help me understand benefit over 100-400?   

If it's sharper, faster focus, lighter, smaller, I would look at it. Maybe cheaper too.

[Marsu42]

5.6 is too slow for a prime....... like the 800-5.6?

Slow because you don't get the necessary shutter speeds? You will in good daylight. And using a 70-300mm on crop (=112-480mm 35mm) I can say that the depth of field with f5.6 is still pretty thin, so if I could with my crappy crop sensor I'd rather use f8 and higher iso often. So if the new 400mm has the new IS, fast af, is sharp, affordable and not that heavy it's a winner unless you plan on using a tc.

[neuroanatomist]

the new unofficilay announced 100-400 f4-5.6 L IS

Since when was it unoficially announced?  Much less officially?  There have been two patents issued on it, and it's been rumored is 'coming soon' for many years.

[AvTvM]

the new unofficilay announced 100-400 f4-5.6 L IS

Since when was it unoficially announced?  Much less officially?  There have been two patents issued on it, and it's been rumored is 'coming soon' for many years.

so true. unfortunately!

I could not care less for a 400/5.6, especially without IS. But I really would like a gret new 100-400/4.0-5.6 with improved IQ on the ling end and latest 4-stop IS.

[dave]

I wonder if they can make it a little lighter, shorter, give it the sharpness and AF speed of the f2.8 and make it fully weather sealed without affecting the price too much?  IS is a nice idea, but I'll happily skip it if it means a big price increase.  Like many people, I only venture into 400mm territory when photographing sports and wildlife and IS isn't going to help freeze action much better. 

It's interesting that you would happily skip IS.

Obviously one wouldn't want to pay heaps but I think in this case about the general rule that without IS you need to shoot a 400mm lens at at least 1/400th to get consistently sharp images. There are many instances where you don't necessarily need a speed of 1/400th to stop movement of wildlife. If IS can help steady the lens so that about 1/60th to 1/100th are useable (and even slower), then to me that opens up many more possibilities for the lens.

I suppose it's horses for courses but when I had the original there were plenty of times when IS would have been handy.

[vlim]

Since when was it unoficially announced ?

It was kind of a joke since a new version of this lens is almost announced every year   But 2012 will be the year !

[KyleSTL]

If it's sharper, faster focus, lighter, smaller, I would look at it. Maybe cheaper too.

I hope that was sarcastic. Have you seen Canon's recent releases?

[BeenThere]

I use the old 400/5.6 mostly to shoot birds in flight.  Being unpredictable, the pan motion can be side to side, up and down, or anything in-between.  So, IS is not that useful for these shots.  Setting IS to horizonal pan mode would sometimes be applicable, but not predictable in the field from shot to shot.  I have found the old 400 on 5D II to focus fairly quickly.  You usually have to follow the flight path for a few seconds in AI servo before getting framing right in any event.

[neuroanatomist]

But 2012 will be the year !

Sure.  Announced in 2012.  Announced availability 2013.  Actual availability 2014.  Go Canon!