Canon 200-400/1.4x vs. 600/4 II

[FarQinell]

Just a gut feeling that the 600/4 will be significantly sharper than 560 on the new zoom.

Another gut feeling is that you will need to stop down the 560 perhaps to f8 to get the sharpness of the 600 wide open. If that turns out to be the case it will mean that the whole design concept is wrong.

Price wise they will be comparable but I guess the new 600/4 will still be 50% heavier than the 200-400.

If the new zoom concept works than perhaps future 500/4s and 600/4s could all have an integral TC rather than having to rely on the bog standard TC as you do now?

All will be revealed in a couple of months!

 

[Wass]

I would say definitely the 200-400 1.4x. I went on safari in Botswana and had a 300mm 2.8 with a 1.4x TC. There were times that was too long and I had to try to quickly take the TC off. I think especially for safari and wildlife, you will have way too many times where the 200 end of your 70-200 is too short and the 600 is way too long. The 200-400 1.4x will give so much more flexibility.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Still, most of my bird photography is not done on vacation but is done almost every day. My office is within walking distance of an area that has quite a few birds and I take walks there every day during lunch. Therefore, whichever lens I pick up will likely be used at least twice a week.

Ok, I can't imagine you taking either of these lenses to work twice a week, especially the 600/4. I think the 400/5.6 might be lighter, add the 1.4 tc or 2.0tc and boom. Plus you have the 70-200.

+1. That was exactly my thought. Getting one out and setup would take your lunch hour. I sold my 600mm f/4 because it became a big expedition to haul it around and use it.

 

[briansquibb]

The 600 is lighter than the 400f/2.8 so I often handhold it especially in strong light when shooting at 1/1000 or higher