EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x Announcement Tonight

[Halfrack]

I wonder if the flip on/off function can be built into a separate 1.4x TC. That would be a killer accessory.

I think distances would really screw with it, but if Canon wanted to spend the time and engineer the 70-200 2.8 with a built in 1.4x, it would solve a number of issues folks have. Just to have a perfectly tuned set is worth an extra $1k.

Wonder how soon LensRentals and BorrowLenses will get their copies.

I wonder if Roger will do a tear down for us. He might end up being shot at in the process, but lens porn comes at a high cost.

 

[viggen61]

I wonder if the flip on/off function can be built into a separate 1.4x TC. That would be a killer accessory.

I would doubt it. Maybe a 1.4x/2x, but not a 1.4x/0x. Not without redesigning the lenses, too.

How would they account for the length of the empty extender? If the lens is designed to work at the normal registration distance, the "empty" extender would act like an extension tube.

By integrating it in the lens design, the 200-400 f/4L 1.4x accounts for things like that.

 

[DJL329]

Well, they're starting to get it onto their webpage. However, if you click on the link in the banner, it takes you to the 5D Mark III Firmware Update page, which is the next preview that scrolls in the banner.

 

[HoneyBadger]

wow really canon... for a $12k dollar lens, it does not even include a case that costs canon 30 bucks to make....

 

[RGF]

How many people do you think have already pre-ordered the lens. I placed an order with Amazon as soon as I was able to

 

[Alrik89]

 

[RocklandDragon]

Shoot, if I had $12K, I'd get it.

Hell if I had $6K, I'd get an old 400mm Prime f/2.8.

Is it too soon to speculate on a 200-400 f/2.8 with 1.4x? How expensive and how heavy would that lens be?

 

[Alrik89]

Is it too soon to speculate on a 200-400 f/2.8 with 1.4x? How expensive and how heavy would that lens be?

Hmmm... maybe not as heavy as the Sigma 200-500mm 2.8 - but way more expensive ;D

 

[Rienzphotoz]

Holy 5h!t, the lens case alone costs US$ 649! ... well, at over US$ 11000 I can only dream of using this lens, let alone owning it, coz no one rents lenses in this country :'(

 

[Mick]

Fantastic lens but the cost is a lot. USA £7800, UK£ 12000. Over a third more expensive. Ouch!

 

[RGF]

Shoot, if I had $12K, I'd get it.

Hell if I had $6K, I'd get an old 400mm Prime f/2.8.

Is it too soon to speculate on a 200-400 f/2.8 with 1.4x? How expensive and how heavy would that lens be?

Basically everytime you add a stop, you increase the size of glass by 4. So rather than 8 lbs, 32 lbs.

 

[iaind]

Fantastic lens but the cost is a lot. USA £7800, UK£ 12000. Over a third more expensive. Ouch!

Couldn't agree more.

 

[bdunbar79]

I guess the f/4 aperture is the deal-breaker for me. Plus, I already have f/2.8 lenses in that range.

 

[Marsu42]

Fantastic lens but the cost is a lot. USA £7800, UK£ 12000. Over a third more expensive. Ouch!

Canon seems to add 1/3rd of the "base price" as an early adopter's premium, for expensive lenses that is a lot of $$$ in absolute terms while for a Rebel it's just a couple of bucks - the price will drop after the first year on the market and when sufficient quantities are stockpiled.

 

[Hannes]

Fantastic lens but the cost is a lot. USA £7800, UK£ 12000. Over a third more expensive. Ouch!

See it from the bright side, you can do a weekend trip to New York, live in a swanky hotel and eat nice and on the Saturday pick a lens up from an actual shop stocking it while still saving money overall.

 

[Loswr]

Canon seems to add 1/3rd of the "base price" as an early adopter's premium, for expensive lenses that is a lot of $$$ in absolute terms while for a Rebel it's just a couple of bucks - the price will drop after the first year on the market and when sufficient quantities are stockpiled.

I think you overstate. The MkII supertele lenses are widely available now, the 300/400 have been out over a year, and prices have dropped at most ~7%. The 600 II is 1.5% cheaper now than when I bought it last August.

So yes, there's an early adopter premium - but the supertele lenses don't drop all that much.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

Fantastic lens but the cost is a lot. USA £7800, UK£ 12000. Over a third more expensive. Ouch!

See it from the bright side, you can do a weekend trip to New York, live in a swanky hotel and eat nice and on the Saturday pick a lens up from an actual shop stocking it while still saving money overall.

That price differnetial isn't the fault of Canon....they base price to the dealers is pretty much the same. It's juat a bit of blatent profiteering from the UK vendors who are selling at full RRP and think they will sell every copy they can get their grubby hands on.
At the current price differential, get a standby flight to the US and go and get one Stateside. It'll cost you time and energy, but will yeild a serious price saving.

 

[Marsu42]

Canon seems to add 1/3rd of the "base price" as an early adopter's premium

I think you overstate.

Ok, I have to say the figure was based on my personal perception and esp. camera body prices, since I'm not in the market for €10k+ teleprimes I didn't watch price development that closely...so I'll adjust my statement as "up to 1/3rd" :->

 

[zim]

Fantastic lens but the cost is a lot. USA £7800, UK£ 12000. Over a third more expensive. Ouch!

See it from the bright side, you can do a weekend trip to New York, live in a swanky hotel and eat nice and on the Saturday pick a lens up from an actual shop stocking it while still saving money overall.

That price differnetial isn't the fault of Canon....they base price to the dealers is pretty much the same. It's juat a bit of blatent profiteering from the UK vendors who are selling at full RRP and think they will sell every copy they can get their grubby hands on.
At the current price differential, get a standby flight to the US and go and get one Stateside. It'll cost you time and energy, but will yeild a serious price saving.

and good luck with customs on the way back ;D

sorry off topic but as an aside is it correct that unlike bodies lens warrenties are world wide? I seem to remember reading that somewhere but It may have been on the back of a bottle of red :

 

[GMCPhotographics]

Fantastic lens but the cost is a lot. USA £7800, UK£ 12000. Over a third more expensive. Ouch!

See it from the bright side, you can do a weekend trip to New York, live in a swanky hotel and eat nice and on the Saturday pick a lens up from an actual shop stocking it while still saving money overall.

That price differnetial isn't the fault of Canon....they base price to the dealers is pretty much the same. It's juat a bit of blatent profiteering from the UK vendors who are selling at full RRP and think they will sell every copy they can get their grubby hands on.
At the current price differential, get a standby flight to the US and go and get one Stateside. It'll cost you time and energy, but will yeild a serious price saving.

and good luck with customs on the way back ;D

sorry off topic but as an aside is it correct that unlike bodies lens warrenties are world wide? I seem to remember reading that somewhere but It may have been on the back of a bottle of red :

Some Pro photographers have been known to write the journey off against tax...post the empty box and case to the UK and walk though customs with the lens in their camera bag with camo covers over the lens. With very little bother from the customs guys. Not that I would do such a thing because it's illegal. But it's been done many times before.