100-400L Version II ain't comin' either!

[kirispupis]

I think they can definitely improve the optics and AF speed of the existing model. I used to own a copy but found the 70-200/2.8 II + 2x III was close enough in performance to make it unnecessary to carry around two large lenses. My guess is a new version will get rid of the push-pull, improve the optics + AF, and add the newest IS. Ideally it will also function decently with a 1.4x extender on a body that can AF at F8.

I expect the price on such a lens to be about $3k. The current 100-400 and the 70-200/2.8 I both sold at nearly the same price (70-200/2.8 was a bit pricier). Therefore I wouldn't expect a new 100-400 to drastically exceed the 70-200/2.8 II.

I would certainly be in the market for such a lens and am currently holding some of my budget in hopes they will come out with something (I would jump on a 400/5.6 IS if they came out with that instead). I can't afford $11k for the 200-400, nor can I even afford the 300/2.8 II or any of the other big primes. If I had the money I would certainly buy a 600/4 II, but given my current situation a new 100-400 is a reasonable compromise. I suspect there are many other buyers like I.

 

[bjd]

I think they can definitely improve the optics and AF speed of the existing model. I used to own a copy but found the 70-200/2.8 II + 2x III was close enough in performance to make it unnecessary to carry around two large lenses.

I have the 70-200/2.8 II and its not long enough, so I was looking at the 100-400. I'll be keeping the 70-200 anyway. Your suggestion also came up as a possibility.
I'm a pure amateur so a new 100-400 may be too expensive for me anyway. Do you still stick to your guns concerning the quality using the 2xIII? Certainly price, space, weight makes it very attractive as a solution.

Cheers Brian

 

[kirispupis]

To be honest I have since moved away from this combo. I used my 300/4 at the zoo this Sunday and it was far and away better. You can see the photos here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/calevphoto/sets/72157632685342696/

I also have the 400/5.6 now - which I mount on a monopod to reduce the shaking - and suspect it will become the longer term replacement. This is what I will likely take on an upcoming trip to Australia. The nice thing about it is, unlike the 300/4, it takes extenders decently. The quality with a 1.4x is roughly the same as the 70-200/2.8 II + 2x III - so once Canon releases the f8 AF firmware for the 5D3 I will have a longer solution - though I plan to stay mostly at 400/5.6.

 

[kirispupis]

Thought I would just clarify this more. I still find that the 70-200/2.8 II + 2x III is roughly equivalent to the 100-400. The 100-400 is a tiny bit sharper, but nothing very noticeable. The AF capabilities are roughly the same.

However, at 400mm a 400/5.6 smokes both of them - both in image quality and AF quickness. The 300/4 is another possibility. Due to the F4 aperture it focuses much easier. I have had more problems at 400mm with the lens searching and have to often use the focus limiter + spot focus when animals are surrounded by branches that try to grab focus. It obviously has fewer problems when my subject is in the open.

The 300/4 has fewer problems in AF here - presumably because on the 5D3 more focus points are used with an F4 aperture lens. Another advantage of the 300/4 is it focuses much closer - so it's almost like a telephoto macro lens.

For now I have my 70-200/2.8 II and 400/5.6 both always in my bag. I removed my 2x III extender from the bag in favor of my 1.4x. At some point I may sell the 300/4 because the 70-200/2.8 II + 1.4x is very competitive with it, but I'll probably wait for some time to truly see which one I favor. I'll eventually sell the 300/4 when I have enough to buy the new 200-400/1.4x - but both the release of that lens and saving enough money for it are far away.

 

[RS2021]

Native 400 in the zoom is better in my hands than the 70-200II+ 2xIII.

I find with the extender, the image clearly softens and the contrast goes down... Of course it can be bumped up in post but depends on what is acceptable to you. The images can be more than acceptable to some...

 

[bjd]

Native 400 in the zoom is better in my hands than the 70-200II+ 2xIII.

I find with the extender, the image clearly softens and the contrast goes down... Of course it can be bumped up in post but depends on what is acceptable to you. The images can be more than acceptable to some...

I guess that my main worry would be what effect it has on AF in my 5DIII. Of course the straight 400 5.6 is also an alternative. Decisions, decisions.
Thanks for all your thoughts.
BJD

 

[kirispupis]

The AF of the 5D3 + 70-200/2.8 II is blazingly fast. When you add the 2x extender is slows down to about the speed of the 100-400.

So far from what I can tell the AF of the 400/5.6 is very quick - or at least far quicker than the 100-400 or 70-200/2.8 II + 2x III.

In both cases you can significantly improve the AF by using the focus limiter switch.