missing 200-400 and 100-400 announcements?

[AmbientLight]

Yes, yes, make it available!  Severe lens acquisition syndrome is affecting me again.

[vlim]

Yes that's great but it will concern very fortunate ans passionated photographers ou professional ones...

But the majority of us (sports or wildlife photographers) wants a new 100-400 f/4-5.6 or a new 400 f/5.6 or a new 300 f/4

[AmbientLight]

Don't be offended, because of the expected price range.

I was just joking, because of the previous post pointing to end-of-year availability. I don't even know yet, if I will buy it. Perhaps after test results and prices have been published I will still choose a prime. Nevertheless it looks very promising to me.

[dolina]

So Canon changed the MFD from the prototypes?



It is heavier than what I was expecting it to be. I was expecting it to be within 3kg and closer to the 500/4 IS II

$10,000~ price tag wasn't that surprising.

[jthomson]

It is heavier than what I was expecting it to be. I was expecting it to be within 3kg and closer to the 500/4 IS II

I'm also surprised at the weight.  Given the latest canon releases I would expect it to weigh less than the Nikon 200-400mm even with the added extender.

[bk-productions]

Bit too expensive for my pocket

[candyman]

I don't have experience with a lens of 3.6 kG
How is it to work handheld with a lens of this weight?

[GuyF]

I don't have experience with a lens of 3.6 kG
How is it to work handheld with a lens of this weight?

The obvious answer is, it depends on your strength and what you are shooting. Last Saturday I used a 5D3, 300mm f2.8 IS and 1.4x converter all afternoon at an airshow. The combined weight is about 3.6kg and my arms got a bit tired towards the end but not as bad as I thought they might (I'm not the strongest of people). The main problem was trying to hold steading in very high winds. Certainly if I got something heavier, a monopod would be essential. The thing is, you'll never be able to judge until you try - a couple of minutes in a shop is nothing like wielding a heavy lens for hours 

[Kernuak]

So Canon changed the MFD from the prototypes?



It is heavier than what I was expecting it to be. I was expecting it to be within 3kg and closer to the 500/4 IS II

$10,000~ price tag wasn't that surprising.

The prototype I tried out at Focus on Imaging in March felt similar to the 300 f/2.8 IS, so I would expect it to be under 3 kg too.

[dolina]

As the man said it depends on your fitness level.

But what I have seen of photos from the Olympics this lens sends to be attached to a nice sturdy monopod.

I don't have experience with a lens of 3.6 kG
How is it to work handheld with a lens of this weight?

The obvious answer is, it depends on your strength and what you are shooting. Last Saturday I used a 5D3, 300mm f2.8 IS and 1.4x converter all afternoon at an airshow. The combined weight is about 3.6kg and my arms got a bit tired towards the end but not as bad as I thought they might (I'm not the strongest of people). The main problem was trying to hold steading in very high winds. Certainly if I got something heavier, a monopod would be essential. The thing is, you'll never be able to judge until you try - a couple of minutes in a shop is nothing like wielding a heavy lens for hours 

[Hodag]

So Canon changed the MFD from the prototypes?

It is heavier than what I was expecting it to be. I was expecting it to be within 3kg and closer to the 500/4 IS II

$10,000~ price tag wasn't that surprising.

Where did you see a price?

[tron]

Pros could beg to differ but I think a 500mm f/4L IS II is a much better value for money and much more useful.
Of course I compare apple to oranges here but still 10000 is too much for a zoom .... 1 stop better than ... 100-400!
 
Now a 500mm f/4L IS II on the other hand... I stop now! I will think of it in 3-4 years (unless 5D4 is announced oh well ...)

[Daniel Flather]

(unless 5D4 is announced oh well ...)

You're the first to mention 5D4 in passing.  Here we go.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I wondering if the plant shutdowns have anything to do with the 200-400 not being announced?

No, they do not. The lens is under d3evelopment, so sample lenses that are handmade are being loaned  out.  Apparently, Canon is still not ready to produce them.  Growing those large flourite crystals is a expensive and time consuming process, and once the design is finalized, the growing can commence in earnest.

[dolina]

No, they do not. The lens is under d3evelopment, so sample lenses that are handmade are being loaned  out.  Apparently, Canon is still not ready to produce them.  Growing those large flourite crystals is a expensive and time consuming process, and once the design is finalized, the growing can commence in earnest.

My take is they need to produce enough copies before spending on shipping any units out. I hope the copies used in the Olympics gets distributed to our CPS so I can loan them out for a few days.