300mm f/2.8L IS II vs. 400mm f/4 DO IS II ---> price difference
- Thread starter Ming-Tzu
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Protective camo! Have you been wearing gloves to handle it? This is not fair. I will not have a new camera to use!!
Jack
Jack
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My lens coat for the 400DOII is coming from B/H. I think the lens is going to beat it here. I won't be able to wait for the lens coat so I will shoehorn on my 300II lens coat so I can take it out in the kayak and shoot. UPS says it will be here on Thursday so I am hoping to have it for the long weekend. My first shots will likely be at 800mm.
I think I linked to this review earlier but if you haven't seen it Arash compares the IQ between 400DOII and 300II with all the TCs. http://arihazeghiphotography.com/blog/canon-400mm-f4-is-do-mark-ii-review-battle-of-the-light-lenses/
It looks like IQ at 400, 560 and 800 should be very good and 400 and 560 vs 420 and 600 from the 300II is very comparable if not better with the 400DOII.
Now if Canon would only release the 600DO lens my lens collection will be complete!!
I think I linked to this review earlier but if you haven't seen it Arash compares the IQ between 400DOII and 300II with all the TCs. http://arihazeghiphotography.com/blog/canon-400mm-f4-is-do-mark-ii-review-battle-of-the-light-lenses/
It looks like IQ at 400, 560 and 800 should be very good and 400 and 560 vs 420 and 600 from the 300II is very comparable if not better with the 400DOII.
Now if Canon would only release the 600DO lens my lens collection will be complete!!
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its good to see the interest in this lens lately. it seems to have been under the radar for a long time. the first year the supply was very scarce. I got mine a year ago july and the serial number is #52. I am curious to know from those of you getting them now what the number is up to?
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"This really is a niche thread." No,no, no, Alan ...elite! 
I just took the time to reread the Ari 300 vs. 400 review. One reason behind my choice of this lens was that it stood to be an overall good performer at 800 F8; but only IQ was a given.
AF was reported as struggling with 2X except on the 1DX I, II. That, then presents a conundrum relative to the 7D2, 5Ds for BIF and might be reason for me opting for the 1DX II instead of the 5D4.
800 on a 20 MP camera would be a step up from my 6D with 600, hopefully leaving me reasonably satisfied, whereas 1DX II with my 300 X2 would not be much of a step up at all other than of course it's 1-series.
On the other hand the 5D4 (30 MPs) with 300 X2 perhaps would lead to a similar net reach outcome except there is a good chance that 300 X2 would be AF challenged much like it is with my 6D (lose focus, can't get it back, lose shot).
So now I must search out those who have lots of experience with non 1-series cameras and the 400 DO II so I don't end up frustrated with a non 1-series camera/DO combination. Alan can help here. My 6D won't prove anything.
I wonder if we could get some sort of compilation of owners on CR if we tried or do we already have that full information?
Jack
I just took the time to reread the Ari 300 vs. 400 review. One reason behind my choice of this lens was that it stood to be an overall good performer at 800 F8; but only IQ was a given.
AF was reported as struggling with 2X except on the 1DX I, II. That, then presents a conundrum relative to the 7D2, 5Ds for BIF and might be reason for me opting for the 1DX II instead of the 5D4.
800 on a 20 MP camera would be a step up from my 6D with 600, hopefully leaving me reasonably satisfied, whereas 1DX II with my 300 X2 would not be much of a step up at all other than of course it's 1-series.
On the other hand the 5D4 (30 MPs) with 300 X2 perhaps would lead to a similar net reach outcome except there is a good chance that 300 X2 would be AF challenged much like it is with my 6D (lose focus, can't get it back, lose shot).
So now I must search out those who have lots of experience with non 1-series cameras and the 400 DO II so I don't end up frustrated with a non 1-series camera/DO combination. Alan can help here. My 6D won't prove anything.
I wonder if we could get some sort of compilation of owners on CR if we tried or do we already have that full information?
Jack
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Jack,
I will be happy to give my impressions on the 400+2x on a number of cameras. It may take me a little while to try them all out. I currently have a few to many in my possession (7D2, 5DSR, 1D4, 1DX and 1DXII). Arash is a good reviewer and very critical but he does have a strong preference for 1 series bodies. I have used my 300+2x on all of my bodies and I would agree that the 1DX/1DX2 have an edge but the 7D2 and 5DSR do fairly well with it also. Of course the 300+2x is still f/5.6 and going to f/8 combos does get sketchier still. Most of my f/8 shooting is with 600II+2x and 100-400II+1.4 with a small amount of 200-400+1.4+1.4. The 1DX2 is a significant improvement over the 1DX, 5DSR, 7D2 etc for those f/8 combos.
The 5D4 is the mystery as it does have 61 f/8 points which tells me it should be improved over the 7D2, 5DSR and maybe even 1DX for f/8 AF. However, I personally don't intend to purchase a 5D4 as I plan to mostly use the 1DX2 and 5DSR combo depending on my subjects. The 5D4 just sort of sits in the middle of those two.
I will be happy to give my impressions on the 400+2x on a number of cameras. It may take me a little while to try them all out. I currently have a few to many in my possession (7D2, 5DSR, 1D4, 1DX and 1DXII). Arash is a good reviewer and very critical but he does have a strong preference for 1 series bodies. I have used my 300+2x on all of my bodies and I would agree that the 1DX/1DX2 have an edge but the 7D2 and 5DSR do fairly well with it also. Of course the 300+2x is still f/5.6 and going to f/8 combos does get sketchier still. Most of my f/8 shooting is with 600II+2x and 100-400II+1.4 with a small amount of 200-400+1.4+1.4. The 1DX2 is a significant improvement over the 1DX, 5DSR, 7D2 etc for those f/8 combos.
The 5D4 is the mystery as it does have 61 f/8 points which tells me it should be improved over the 7D2, 5DSR and maybe even 1DX for f/8 AF. However, I personally don't intend to purchase a 5D4 as I plan to mostly use the 1DX2 and 5DSR combo depending on my subjects. The 5D4 just sort of sits in the middle of those two.
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arbitrage said:
That'll be great and I'll be watching your posts with great interest, thanks. I can understand you going to your preferred combinations, that's why you have them, to have the choice. Even if I had money to burn I still would want one camera to hike with using as much lens as I can comfortably carry.
So of course here we are; the lens history, I have no doubt I'll be pleased, just like with the 300. So basically it remains to be seen, is 30 MPs/7fps better for me than 20 MPs/14fps and (somewhat/much) better F8 AF. Must have by March/April latest.
Too much time on CR the last week or two!!!
Jack
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Jack Douglas said:
You should have put the tracking number in the image. That way, I could call UPS and have the shipment diverted
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Mt Spokane Photography said:Jack Douglas said:
You should have put the tracking number in the image. That way, I could call UPS and have the shipment diverted
I'm surprised I didn't considering the state of mind I'm in lately. Worse than being in love.
Jack
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Jack Douglas said:Mt Spokane Photography said:Jack Douglas said:
You should have put the tracking number in the image. That way, I could call UPS and have the shipment diverted
I'm surprised I didn't considering the state of mind I'm in lately. Worse than being in love.
Jack
But you are in love - with a lens. At least there won't be a costly divorce if your new partner is not up to expectations.
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Well, here's my first, an ugly flower pot, just to beat Alan with a first photo. No AFMA yet. Can hardly tell I'm not packing the 300 but I love the smaller diameter for my smallish male hand. BTW, will my 300 Jobu foot work on this - seems like it might - I sure like to have a handle.
Jack
Jack
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Jack Douglas said:
Yes. Yours is 42 on from mine. Collectors (books, prints etc) like having numbers below 100. I wonder how many of these have been made? If it's in the low 100s, Canon would hardly have covered the development and production costs.
Mine AFMAs at 0 for 400mm and 560mm and shifts to -5 at 800mm.
Having to decide what to do with the 300/2.8 II. I don't think I can justify keeping it.
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AlanF said:
If you often use 2 cameras then you can use the 300 on your ff body and the 400 on your 7dii. I use the sigma 120-300 on a 6d. I like the wide open nicely blurred background look for close animals like raccoons, squirrels, and cats. The 400doii on 7dii is dynamite for bif.
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candc said:
Alan, Candc, I might be tempted to buy a used 7D2 but I'd rather just have one camera to pack around. I'd say it's about 70%-30% I'll sell the 300. It just wouldn't get enough use, considering the money tied up. Recent steep price increases should allow me to essentially get my money out of it and offset the new camera cost.
The 300 is better low light wide open, no extenders and I use it like that about 5% of the time. It's MFD is better and also with extension tubes for close ups - I'll miss that advantage but again, not more than 5% shot that way. I'm wondering how the 70-200 2.8 II would be with extension tubes as an alternate.
Candc, as you or another mentioned the smaller diameter of the DO will result in less fatigue in the left hand, appreciated. I think us three newcomers are going to really like our lenses!
Jack
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Just in from trying out the lens but it's a cloudy sunset and lots of mosquitoes so ....
First observation, looking through the viewfinder I noticed the difference in bokeh as I panned around, just subconsciously I could tell I had a different lens.
Jack
First observation, looking through the viewfinder I noticed the difference in bokeh as I panned around, just subconsciously I could tell I had a different lens.
Jack
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