I noticed today that the EF 400mm f/5.6L is no longer available at Adorama or the Canon store. It seems B&H still has it. Is it going away? Anybody heard?
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L going away?
- Thread starter Ozarker
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Canon store shows it out of stock. I don’t know how it works with a low volume item like that. Maybe Canon makes a bunch every few years and then switches the line to something else until stock is depleted. Doubt that it has anything to do with RF lenses. More likely it can’t compete with the 100-400 zoom.
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I'll be curious to see how much benefit you get with IBIS on that lens. If I could just get 2 stops for stationary subjects that would be a big improvement. I've used it on my Fuji XT3 with some success recently. It focuses great, balances better than the 100-400 and IS can be a bit wonky with adapted lenses. I've never been offered enough for mine to justify selling it.
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Canon Germany webshop has it still listed but marked out of stock.
Several German webshops have it on stock, some out of stock.
(links in German)
Several German webshops have it on stock, some out of stock.
(links in German)
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Those lenses don't fit the same cameras and are not replacements.
The lens has been rumored to be going away for at least 10 years.
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With an EF to RF adapter, the EF 400mm will mount on RF cameras.
But it didn't go away 10 or 5 years ago.
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But it has disappeared from stores and Canon website at times. That starts the rumors.
Sales is the key to finally retire a lens. Sales of both cameras and lenses has been dropping, so some will go away. Canon is going to shrink, they continue to reduce staff, so it is plausible that slow selling lenses and bodies will be discontinued. There are a few in that category that are good lenses but are dated and unpopular now.
I hate to see them go, they are a way for someone to get a excellent lens at a reasonable price.
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I had one, my complaint was the lack of IS, and the length. It was too long for my camera bag.
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I tried selling mine a couple times without getting much interest. Maybe if it’s discontinued I’ll get a fair offer for it. The lack of IS makes it a bit of a niche lens. Difficult to get a sharp photo much bellow 1000/s on APSC. It’s long but mostly air and I find it handles pretty well. I also like the built in hood.
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Its been a long time since I owned the lens, I searched and found a handful of test shots, none of which were memorable. My old Tokina 400mm f/5.6 was good by comparison. These were 1/1000 sec exposures but still not as sharp as I'd like.
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Mine is sharp for an older lens and I think the bokeh is pretty good for an f5.6L but I agree that it's nothing special compared to modern lenses. It definitely has a bit of a vintage telephoto draw. Modern lenses are just better in most regards.
It's a fine lens for shooting birds in flight If they are close and the light is good but that alone probably doesn't make it worth owning. I think the MFD could be a little better. The mag factor, even compared to the old 100-400, is pretty weak. That always annoys me. I wouldn't buy one today but I don't mind owning it. IBIS might breath a bit more life into it.
As I said previously, it's snappy on the XT3 where it's more like a 600 f8. The 100-400 zoom is too front heavy for that body. Whenever I'm ready to let it go I always seem to find a new use for it.
It's a fine lens for shooting birds in flight If they are close and the light is good but that alone probably doesn't make it worth owning. I think the MFD could be a little better. The mag factor, even compared to the old 100-400, is pretty weak. That always annoys me. I wouldn't buy one today but I don't mind owning it. IBIS might breath a bit more life into it.
As I said previously, it's snappy on the XT3 where it's more like a 600 f8. The 100-400 zoom is too front heavy for that body. Whenever I'm ready to let it go I always seem to find a new use for it.
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My Canon DSLR was a 30d 8.1 MP at the time. the lightroom page is almost 1:1. Still, other lenses looked very sharp on that camera body., so I think that the autofocus needed adjustment on the 400. I just looked at images from non l lenses used on that body and they were sharper by far. I had just bought the 30D and loved it, but then the 40D arrived with live view which was exactly what I wanted, so I sold my 6 month old 30dD and bought a 40D.
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My 400 5.6L is my oldest lens. Bought it second hand in predigital days. Great with the 5DsR for windsurfing photos usually in good light, where cropping gives me an effective lens of 400-600mm. I shoot it wideopen, although it sharpens a little more at f/8. Has given me more memorable photos per $ than any other lens.
Sure, I'd like the latest 100-400 but for the amount I use 400mm, i'll keep. For most of my photos, I'd shoot the 100-400 at 400mm anyway.
I'd really like Canon to produce an equivalent to the Nikon 500/5.6.
Sure, I'd like the latest 100-400 but for the amount I use 400mm, i'll keep. For most of my photos, I'd shoot the 100-400 at 400mm anyway.
I'd really like Canon to produce an equivalent to the Nikon 500/5.6.
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