EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS Replacement Coming in November [CR2]

[Bennymiata]

I'd still prefer it if it had a push-pull zoom.
I love that on my 100-400.

You can zoom and focus at the same time.

 

[Loswr]

I have seen this lens in use in the field this weekend. It is very much like the 70-300L (at first that's what I thought it was), it has the same extend on zoom design as the 70-300L, can be used with convertors, is fairly light (I think lighter than the 70-200) and has the unusual lens hood retractable slot as described by canon rumours. I was told to expect it in November. Cost I would guess around £1,800. It will sell like hot cakes with the 7D II I should think.

Having the zoom ring on the "wrong" side compared to my 70-200 would be a pretty big bummer. I've used a 70-300 once, and didn't like it.

+1

Although I've owned the 70-300L for a while now, I still don't like the swapped zoom/focus ring positions. I bought the Tripod Mount Ring C, and that helps in that it puts my fingertips at the zoom ring when supporting the lens with my hand.

 

[expatinasia]

I have seen this lens in use in the field this weekend. It is very much like the 70-300L (at first that's what I thought it was), it has the same extend on zoom design as the 70-300L, can be used with convertors, is fairly light (I think lighter than the 70-200) and has the unusual lens hood retractable slot as described by canon rumours. I was told to expect it in November. Cost I would guess around £1,800. It will sell like hot cakes with the 7D II I should think.

Having the zoom ring on the "wrong" side compared to my 70-200 would be a pretty big bummer. I've used a 70-300 once, and didn't like it.

+1

Although I've owned the 70-300L for a while now, I still don't like the swapped zoom/focus ring positions. I bought the Tripod Mount Ring C, and that helps in that it puts my fingertips at the zoom ring when supporting the lens with my hand.

I must agree. My 70-300L has not come out of the cupboard for a very long time now. I really should (and will eventually) sell it.

However, I do think the 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L II will sell well if it is not overly priced, especially if it takes TC's. There is quite a market for such quality zoom lengths, although I won't be buying one myself.

 

[dswtan]

My 70-300L has not come out of the cupboard for a very long time now. I really should (and will eventually) sell it.

Strange. The 70-300L is my main default lens on the 5D3 -- I look forward to the new 100-400 and appreciate the potential similarities! Different strokes.

 

[Hjalmarg1]

I only wish the price sould be between the $1,400-1,800 bracket taking into consideration the strong competition from Tamron 150-600mm and the new Sigmas 150-600mm (S & C) lenses.

 

[dufflover]

taking into consideration the strong competition

Canon don't need to care about the competition

 

[expatinasia]

My 70-300L has not come out of the cupboard for a very long time now. I really should (and will eventually) sell it.

However, I do think the 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L II will sell well if it is not overly priced, especially if it takes TC's. There is quite a market for such quality zoom lengths, although I won't be buying one myself..

Strange. The 70-300L is my main default lens on the 5D3 -- I look forward to the new 100-400 and appreciate the potential similarities! Different strokes.

Different strokes, exactly. That is why I said I think the new 100-400ii will sell really well, even more so if it can take TCs properly and is reasonably priced.

For me, it is just not something I need or want, but I know plenty of people that like the original and will surely love this new one.

 

[Steve]

I have seen this lens in use in the field this weekend. It is very much like the 70-300L (at first that's what I thought it was), it has the same extend on zoom design as the 70-300L, can be used with convertors, is fairly light (I think lighter than the 70-200) and has the unusual lens hood retractable slot as described by canon rumours. I was told to expect it in November. Cost I would guess around £1,800. It will sell like hot cakes with the 7D II I should think.

Got any photos of it? No pics, didn't happen, etc

 

[Canon1]

With the Nikon 80-400 priced at $2700, I would be surprised if the canon version is priced south of $3k.

 

[tron]

Well, of course it is coming in November....I ordered the Sigma 150-600S. It will be announced just after my 30 day return window expires.

You can still cancel Canon's arrival. Return your Sigma... ;D ;D ;D

 

[lycan]

400mm? If it was 2012 it would be great. Today? 400mm is too short.

 

[slclick]

400mm? If it was 2012 it would be great. Today? 400mm is too short.

Well there you have it folks, someone call Canon

 

[Lee Jay]

The 100-400 mk II is just going to be late.

In the 100-600mm space, each of Canon, Sigma and Tamron have two serious plays.

Sigma have cleaned up the 150-600 quite a lot (see http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=23384.0) but in terms of size, it's a lot bigger. If Tamron do similar with theirs then arguing a case for the 100-400 will become tricky unless you only buy Canon and can't stand the thought of using a 3rd party lens.

And if you're a birder or interested in becoming one then the 3rd party lenses seem ideal unless someone else (ie company) is buying the lens for you. Now if this lens had of arrived back in 2011-2012, it would have been a very different story however it didn't.

What are you people talking about?

The Tamron focuses slowly and is soft at the long end.
The Sigma S is enormous and not handholdable for long periods by average people.
The Sigma C is a total unknown.
Any Canon is likely to be sharp as hell, and fast-focusing, plus much, much smaller than the 95mm (or 105mm in the case of the Sigma S) filter thread 3rd-party lenses.

I'm in this market. I didn't buy the Tamron because of the soft images above 400mm and the slow down in focusing at longer focal lengths. I won't buy the Sigma S because it's way too big. The Sigma C is interesting, but if the 100-400L replacement is as-expected (sharp and fast focusing, in a small size), I'd buy that over a Sigma C even if the Sigma C is half the cost.

 

[Don Haines]

The 100-400 mk II is just going to be late.

In the 100-600mm space, each of Canon, Sigma and Tamron have two serious plays.

Sigma have cleaned up the 150-600 quite a lot (see http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=23384.0) but in terms of size, it's a lot bigger. If Tamron do similar with theirs then arguing a case for the 100-400 will become tricky unless you only buy Canon and can't stand the thought of using a 3rd party lens.

And if you're a birder or interested in becoming one then the 3rd party lenses seem ideal unless someone else (ie company) is buying the lens for you. Now if this lens had of arrived back in 2011-2012, it would have been a very different story however it didn't.

What are you people talking about?

The Tamron focuses slowly and is soft at the long end.
The Sigma S is enormous and not handholdable for long periods by average people.
The Sigma C is a total unknown.
Any Canon is likely to be sharp as hell, and fast-focusing, plus much, much smaller than the 95mm (or 105mm in the case of the Sigma S) filter thread 3rd-party lenses.

I'm in this market. I didn't buy the Tamron because of the soft images above 400mm and the slow down in focusing at longer focal lengths. I won't buy the Sigma S because it's way too big. The Sigma C is interesting, but if the 100-400L replacement is as-expected (sharp and fast focusing, in a small size), I'd buy that over a Sigma C even if the Sigma C is half the cost.

I gave up waiting for the 100-400 and got a Tamron.

I expect that if/when the new and improved 100-400 comes out, that it will be so much sharper than the Tamron that it will resolve distant detail at 400mm like the Tamron does at 600mm...or even better! The Tamron is not slow focusing ( I would call it medium), but I would expect the new 100-400 to be at least twice as fast and I expect that it would play well with teleconverters... something lacking on the Tamron.

The Tamron is a good lens, but when you consider what the series 2 "Big Whites" are for quality, I don't expect it to be in the same league as the 100-400 version 2.... but then for twice the price (or more), who would?

 

[Lee Jay]

I gave up waiting for the 100-400 and got a Tamron.

I gave up in 2005, and got a 70-200/2.8L IS, Canon 1.4x TC II and Kenko Pro DG 1.4x. I used that stacked combo for many years. I later sold the two Canon's and bought a 70-200/2.8L IS II and 2x TC III, and have been using that combo.

 

[Don Haines]

I gave up waiting for the 100-400 and got a Tamron.

I gave up in 2005, and got a 70-200/2.8L IS, Canon 1.4x TC II and Kenko Pro DG 1.4x. I used that stacked combo for many years. I later sold the two Canon's and bought a 70-200/2.8L IS II and 2x TC III, and have been using that combo.

up until to 200-400 came out, I regarded the 70-200F2.8IS version 2, as the best zoom lens in the Canon lineup..... and there is no way I can even think about buying a 200-400 I hope a new 100-400 will be in the same class as the 70-200's

 

[brad-man]

As a happy owner of the current 100-400 who actually likes the push-pull design, I wonder if Canon does switch to a traditional zoom design when they update the lens, will lens creep be an issue. The current model has a variable locking zoom ring to compensate for this.

 

[docsmith]

Simply put....there is now decent competition in the supertele zoom marketplace. It is good for us consumers. Two years ago, the 100-400 II would have likely been a no brainer for me. Now, it is not. I have the 70-200 II plus 2x TC. This is now in my bag for almost every trip and for most events as it is a truly great lens from 70-200 and is decent with the 2x tc. It will be tough for a 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 to displace it from my bag for general purposes because of that. So that leaves more specialized purposes, likely when I am specifically going to shoot birds or something else at distance. At that point, is 400 mm enough when you have three zooms that go to 600 mm? As this is becoming more of a niche lens for me, weight is less of a concern.

In the end, I really hope the rumor is true. I'll pick the lens that gives me the best image from 300 mm to 600 mm (and beyond) that I can afford. While I suspect that it will likely be the 100-400II, I am no longer convinced. I wait for the MTF charts. Hopefully I see those before I have to return my pre-ordered 150-600S.

Eventually, I hope to get a big white...but right now I need to be looking at $3k or less.

 

[tcmatthews]

I gave up waiting for the 100-400 and got a Tamron.

I gave up in 2005, and got a 70-200/2.8L IS, Canon 1.4x TC II and Kenko Pro DG 1.4x. I used that stacked combo for many years. I later sold the two Canon's and bought a 70-200/2.8L IS II and 2x TC III, and have been using that combo.

up until to 200-400 came out, I regarded the 70-200F2.8IS version 2, as the best zoom lens in the Canon lineup..... and there is no way I can even think about buying a 200-400 I hope a new 100-400 will be in the same class as the 70-200's

I was saving for the 70-200F2.8 IS II when I decided to try out the Tamron 150-600. If the 100-400L II is actual announced I might cancel my Tamron 150-600 order. I expect that it will be sharper with an Ex 1.4 than the Tamron is at the same focal length. It will likely focus faster as well. I expect it to be at the level of the 70-200F2.8L IS II.

But lets face the facts a new 100-400 has been rumored for years. One reader of Canon Watch suggested it has been rumored sense 2004. I was lurking here during the 2008 rumors. So I am quit skeptical. I think that if it was going to be released this year they would have announced it already.

 

[Nethawk]

If this comes in at about $2k street price it will sell extremely well. There's a lot of excellent competition in this space at reasonable prices, and it's getting better at half the price. The Tamron looks excellent at 500mm and below, it's definitely a contender.

While I'm not crazy about the focus & zoom ring layout of the 70-300mL I've grown accustomed to it. I do like that the new lens carries the beer keg design, keeping it compact.

We shall see. Without a doubt this will have excellent IQ, but at what price? I hope it's reasonable, if so my excellent 70-300mmL will become a victim of trading up.