400 f/2.8L II IS: Took the plunge...

[bdunbar79]

Well, it's time to upgrade again. I sold my 300 f/2.8L I IS and 400 f/2.8L I IS lenses (because I don't really need the 300 anymore) and bought a 400 f/2.8L II IS for sports all next year.

Anyone using this lens currently? I was really amazed how much lighter it felt vs. the version I and I'm also expecting slightly faster AF with the 1Dx. It'll arrive about September 2, just in time for my first weekend of sports this fall, 9/6-9/7.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Loswr]

Congrats and enjoy!

I haven't used the 400 II, but my 600 II is a joy to use and delivers excellent results.

 

[Click]

Congrats for your new acquisition. The 400 f/2.8L II IS is a great piece of glass.

 

[Deleted member 91053]

Any Canon 400 F2.8 is a great piece of glass if it suits your needs.
I used to have the original EF 400 F2.8 L (a mere lightweight at 6.1 kilos), yes it was an old battered lens but the images were top notch!
The current model is less than 4 kilos and has updated optics - if 400mm is your bag then you will be very happy!
I note you use a 1DX, given it's iso capabilities, I would suggest turning off the IS as auto-focus and tracking will be even faster - if that's possible! Since January I have used IS on one of my lenses only once and then it was only to stabilize the image in the viewfinder, even with my Canon 800 F5.6 I find IS to be more of a hazard than a help most of the time with the 1DX.

 

[rdalrt]

I just got my 400 2.8 IS II a couple weeks ago. Upgraded from the 400 2.8 IS I as well. The weight savings is remarkable.

I also grabbed a Benro CF monopod to replace my trusty 681B. Total weight savings from the old combo to new is exactly 4 lbs. Makes a big difference running the sidelines.

And the AF of the new lens with the 1DX is lightning. Not that the v1 was a slouch, but the new one is faster. Faster with the 1.4x III as well.

You will be happy with the upgrade. I sure am.

 

[expatinasia]

Congratulations, bdunbar79. You are going to love this lens.

It is my favourite piece of glass and is ideal for most sports. It is also works very well with both extenders. Not as portable as your 300 f/2.8 ii but it is imho the best lens for (most) sports you can buy (though I still have not tried the 200-400 1.4X at an event yet).

Enjoy.

 

[Dylan777]

One word for 400mm f2.8 IS II = "SUPER". AF is FAST. Truely designed for sports.

It works very well with 1.4x TC III, still 95% compared to bare. IQ drops quite a bit with 2x TC III at wide open in Ai servo only(still good in One shot mode). Sharpness improve when step down to f7-8 in Ai servo.

See photos here with 1DX + 400mm f2.8 IS II + 2x TC III: http://dylannguyen.smugmug.com/Sports/Surfing#!/

Congrats

 

[bdunbar79]

Thanks so much for all of the input guys, I really appreciate it.

My back and abs couldn't take running the sidelines with the version 1 anymore and I noticed it AF'd slower than my 300. I did also notice the IS making the AF jumpy at times. I'm glad I made the right decision. Thanks guys, great forum.

 

[Tabor Warren Photography]

First of all, I took by the title of your post that you dropped your 400L in the water.

Secondly, congratulations! What a great lens! I look forward to viewing pictures.

Cheers,
-Tabor

 

[scottkinfw]

Nice pics Dylan!

Too bad I'm saving for the 1DX and Africa (plus, maybe something cool from next round of Canon announcements).

sek

One word for 400mm f2.8 IS II = "SUPER". AF is FAST. Truely designed for sports.

It works very well with 1.4x TC III, still 95% compared to bare. IQ drops quite a bit with 2x TC III at wide open in Ai servo only(still good in One shot mode). Sharpness improve when step down to f7-8 in Ai servo.

See photos here with 1DX + 400mm f2.8 IS II + 2x TC III: http://dylannguyen.smugmug.com/Sports/Surfing#!/

Congrats

 

[SoullessPolack]

Awesome lens!! I've used it once, and it was amazing. Very high keeper rate, very fast autofocus. Great for shooting sports even when it begins to get dark, although I hope you have enough $$$ in the bank for a monopod

Congrats and enjoy!

I haven't used the 400 II, but my 600 II is a joy to use and delivers excellent results.

I'm sorry, but this made me laugh out loud as to how it would sound with other lenses!
Person A: I just bought a Canon 35mm!
Person B: I haven't used the 35mm, but my 50mm is a joy to use and delivers excellent results.

There's no relevance there. They are different and separate products. Good performance on one is not the reason the other has good performance. They just both happen to be good performers.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

One word for 400mm f2.8 IS II = "SUPER". AF is FAST. Truely designed for sports.

It works very well with 1.4x TC III, still 95% compared to bare. IQ drops quite a bit with 2x TC III at wide open in Ai servo only(still good in One shot mode). Sharpness improve when step down to f7-8 in Ai servo.

See photos here with 1DX + 400mm f2.8 IS II + 2x TC III: http://dylannguyen.smugmug.com/Sports/Surfing#!/

Congrats

My mkI 400 f2.8 LIS behaves pretty much the same...but I've noticed that it's AF inaccuracy which shows softness with my 2x converter and not the lens resolving capability. If I focus using live view...I get amazing sharpness from it.

100% crop from this image:

 

[Maiaibing]

I sold my 300 f/2.8L I IS and 400 f/2.8L I IS lenses (because I don't really need the 300 anymore) and bought a 400 f/2.8L II IS for sports all next year.

May I ask what was your rationale? I would never have gone from the 400 f/2.8L mrk I to II myself.

I did this with the 300mm f/2.8 L and while its nice in many ways - weight, handling, faster IS etc - it was really a luxury upgrade as IQ differences are so negligible that I doubt anyone who has not owned both would be able to spot the difference.

I don't regret my upgrade as I can easily afford it and splash a little extra on my hobby. But for a working tool I would not even have considered it.

 

[YuengLinger]

One word for 400mm f2.8 IS II = "SUPER". AF is FAST. Truely designed for sports.

It works very well with 1.4x TC III, still 95% compared to bare. IQ drops quite a bit with 2x TC III at wide open in Ai servo only(still good in One shot mode). Sharpness improve when step down to f7-8 in Ai servo.

See photos here with 1DX + 400mm f2.8 IS II + 2x TC III: http://dylannguyen.smugmug.com/Sports/Surfing#!/

Congrats

Beautiful shots. I'm sure the surfers would love #17 and #70 especially. Do you ever share the images with them?

Now here is a dream lens.

 

[eml58]

Bdunbar you are going to simply Love that Lens, I had both the Mk 1 then the Mk II, both superb lenses, the biggest advantage with the MK II is the weight loss over the MK I.

I did sell my 400MK II and at times I've regretted it, that f/2.8 is just amazingly useful, I now use the 200-400f/4 and although it suits my wildlife well, I've compensate for the loss of the 400f/2.8 II by always having the 300f/2.8 II with me & hope I'm close enough to use it when needed in low light.

Great Lens, reasonably sure you'll have no regrets, have fun look forward to seeing some Images.

 

[Menace]

Congrats - you'll LOVE it.

There is no way I could hand hold the previous version but its so much easier with the II - even with the 1.4x III attached.

Really looking forward to seeing some of your shots soon as you get this beauty.

Well done again

 

[Northstar]

I sold my 300 f/2.8L I IS and 400 f/2.8L I IS lenses (because I don't really need the 300 anymore) and bought a 400 f/2.8L II IS for sports all next year.

May I ask what was your rationale? I would never have gone from the 400 f/2.8L mrk I to II myself.

I did this with the 300mm f/2.8 L and while its nice in many ways - weight, handling, faster IS etc - it was really a luxury upgrade as IQ differences are so negligible that I doubt anyone who has not owned both would be able to spot the difference.

I don't regret my upgrade as I can easily afford it and splash a little extra on my hobby. But for a working tool I would not even have considered it.

Did you notice faster/better AF on your 300 i to 300 ii upgrade?

 

[Northstar]

Well, it's time to upgrade again. I sold my 300 f/2.8L I IS and 400 f/2.8L I IS lenses (because I don't really need the 300 anymore) and bought a 400 f/2.8L II IS for sports all next year.

Anyone using this lens currently? I was really amazed how much lighter it felt vs. the version I and I'm also expecting slightly faster AF with the 1Dx. It'll arrive about September 2, just in time for my first weekend of sports this fall, 9/6-9/7.

Thanks for any input.

Congrats Bdun! I'm curious, did you consider the 200-400 for about the same price?

 

[Maiaibing]

Did you notice faster/better AF on your 300 i to 300 ii upgrade?

No. I have read some claims of this - but none convincing. I shoot lots and lots of moving subjects with the 300mm and have exactly the same keeper rate as before. I take three and almost always at least one will be spot on.

If you look at the old reviews of the mrk.I lens they already considered the AF as being "lighting fast" etc. That's hyperbole, but it was - and is - impressively fast for all the glass that needs to move around.

If you use an extender it may however be different due to Canon's new extenders.

 

[scyrene]

Any Canon 400 F2.8 is a great piece of glass if it suits your needs.
I used to have the original EF 400 F2.8 L (a mere lightweight at 6.1 kilos), yes it was an old battered lens but the images were top notch!
The current model is less than 4 kilos and has updated optics - if 400mm is your bag then you will be very happy!
I note you use a 1DX, given it's iso capabilities, I would suggest turning off the IS as auto-focus and tracking will be even faster - if that's possible! Since January I have used IS on one of my lenses only once and then it was only to stabilize the image in the viewfinder, even with my Canon 800 F5.6 I find IS to be more of a hazard than a help most of the time with the 1DX.

This is very interesting. I've never heard that before. Does anyone else find IS interferes with AF? Is this just a 1Dx issue?