Canon 100-400 ii Image Quality Review Posted at TDP

[LovePhotography]

The 70-200 2.8 ii appears to be better at 100mm. Actually almost considerably better all across the board.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=687&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=2

 

[LovePhotography]

The 70-200 2.8 ii appears to be better at 100mm. Actually almost considerably better all across the board.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=687&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=2

Much closer at 200mm f/5.6, but still the 70-200 2.8 ii is better.

 

[LovePhotography]

The 70-200 2.8 ii appears to be better at 100mm. Actually almost considerably better all across the board.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=687&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=2

Much closer at 200mm f/5.6, but still the 70-200 2.8 ii is better.

At 400mm f/6.3 they are nearly the same, but mid-frame advantage goes to the 100-400 and corner is a blowout win for the 100-400 over the 70-200 2.8 + 2.0 TC ii .

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=4&API=2&LensComp=687&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=5&APIComp=3

 

[LovePhotography]

The 70-200 2.8 ii appears to be better at 100mm. Actually almost considerably better all across the board.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=687&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=2

Much closer at 200mm f/5.6, but still the 70-200 2.8 ii is better.

At 400mm f/6.3 they are nearly the same, but mid-frame advantage goes to the 100-400 and corner is a blowout win for the 100-400 over the 70-200 2.8 + 2.0 TC ii .

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=4&API=2&LensComp=687&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=5&APIComp=3

Same situation at 400mm f/6.3 comparing the 100-400 with the 70-200 2.8 + 2X TC iii, although the win is not so dramatic at the corner.

 

[Deleted member 7828]

The 70-200 2.8 ii appears to be better at 100mm. Actually almost considerably better all across the board.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=687&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=2

I think it's more fair to compare to the f4 IS version of the 70-200, being similar apertures:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=1&LensComp=404&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=2&APIComp=0

Here the 100-400 certainly is able to keep up (impressive...considering how awesome the 70-200 f4 is)

 

[Deleted member 7828]

Likewise, compare to the 70-300L (similar f4-5.6 aperture range):

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=972&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=1&LensComp=738&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=1

The 100-400 seems to be outperforming the 70-300 here, particularly at 100mm. By 300mm they are quite close, with the 100-400 winning in the corners...

You know (and this correlates with my real-world use as well), the 70-300 really is a bit weak at its wide end...much better once you get past 135mm. At 300mm it's quite good. Contrast with the 100-400, which is strong throughout its range (my test photos confirm this), softening SLIGHTLY at 400mm but still very good.

 

[jblake]

After comparing the Tamron 150-600 and the new 100-400L II at TDP, I agree that the Tamron 150-600 @ 600mm looks like garbage compared to the 100-400L II @ 560mm.

But something that impressed me even more about the new 100-400L II is when I compared it to the Canon 600 4.0L IS I lens. The 100-400L II + 1.4x III @ 560 f/8 is sharper corner to corner than the 600 f/4 IS I wide open; that is really amazing to me. Canon really delivered on this long awaited lens.

 

[hoodlum]

Bryan has posted the final review.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-100-400mm-f-4.5-5.6-L-IS-II-USM-Lens.aspx

 

[J.R.]

Bryan has posted the final review.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-100-400mm-f-4.5-5.6-L-IS-II-USM-Lens.aspx

Thanks!

User experience is pretty much the same across the board and Bryan sums it up beautifully with the following lines -

The new lens is completely redesigned and offers many advantages (many I've already discussed in this review), but image quality is the biggest. The difference in image quality between these two lenses, especially at wide open apertures, is significant. Also significantly improved is the image stabilization system (4 stops vs. 2) and the rotational zoom is my preference to the previous model's push-pull design. The new lens focuses much closer with a significantly higher maximum magnification ratio.