at the moment i dont see a place for the 400mm f5.6l it needs to become IS and stay the same price unlike the 300mm f4l IS it offers no advantage over the 100-400 (maybe a little IQ) it has same f-stop and no IS don't see why you would buy it unless you use 400mm a lot with a tripod in which case the small saving and increase in IQ would be worth it over the 100-400mm
The price for a 400mm f/4L IS would likely be ~$6000...
recon photography said:
at the moment i dont see a place for the 400mm f5.6l it needs to become IS and stay the same price unlike the 300mm f4l IS it offers no advantage over the 100-400 (maybe a little IQ) it has same f-stop and no IS don't see why you would buy it unless you use 400mm a lot with a tripod in which case the small saving and increase in IQ would be worth it over the 100-400mm
The 400mm f/5.6L does focus substantially faster than the 100-400mm, even with the focus limiter enabled on the latter. It's also about 0.5 lbs lighter. Many people prefer the 400/5.6 for birds in flight, due to the faster AF (and slightly improved sharpness, too, probably). Shooting BIF requires fast shutter speeds, so the lack of IS is not a real problem.
After years and years of rumors, I think the rumor starters have gotten tired of making up stuff. It would be interesting as well as expensive, but I'm sure that a $2,000 lens with IS would be popular. The problem might lie in the ability to make one for that price. The final selling price is usually a multiple of the actual cost to produce, so if cost to produce goes up by $200, the list price might jump by $800.
Consumer primes, especially on the telephoto side seem to be on their way out. I have let a few friends use my 300mm f4 IS when we are out shooting together, and the first question they ask is "Where is the zoom?". I think the current 70-300 is the best we'll see for a while. (Don't hate me, this is not what I voted for, just what i think is happening)
That said, to those dreaming of a 400mm f4 IS, Don't forget, Canon already makes one. The DO. (A green ring for goodness sake, bleh!) Not my favorite either, but do you really think Canon is going to come up with a $2000 400mm f4 IS, to sell next to their $6000 400mm f4 IS DO?
I think they could come up with a $6000 (or maybe $7K?) 400/4L IS to go along side their DO version. After all, the other DO lens is a 70-300mm DO, right? Still the market for such a lens would be pretty small, and a 400/4 would likely be perceived as too close to either the 400/2.8 II or the 500/4 II.
I have this lens and it is very sharp with excellent color saturation and contrast. I disagree that you can't handhold it. With a SS of 1/500 or more, the lens is very handholdable. Adding IS would be nice, but I use a tripod and that's my IS. I think updating this lens is probably on Canon's "nice to do" list and probably will stay there for quite awhile.
I think they could come up with a $6000 (or maybe $7K?) 400/4L IS to go along side their DO version. After all, the other DO lens is a 70-300mm DO, right? Still the market for such a lens would be pretty small, and a 400/4 would likely be perceived as too close to either the 400/2.8 II or the 500/4 II.
With the old 400mm f/4 DO IS selling for $6200 http://www.adorama.com/CA4004ISU.html A new and more modern one would bring maybe $7500 or more. Better to get the 500mm f/4 or the 400mm DO if you want a portable lens.