EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x Availability

[Canon Rumors]

<div name="googleone_share_1" style="position:relative;z-index:5;float: right; /*margin: 70px 0 0 0;*/ top:70px; right:120px; width:0;"><g:plusone size="tall" count="1" href="http://www.canonrumors.com/?p=13344"></g:plusone></div><div style="float: right; margin:0 0 70px 70px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-url="http://www.canonrumors.com/?p=13344">Tweet</a></div>
<p><strong>A light at the end of the tunnel?

</strong>I spoke to someone at NAB last week about the yet-to-be-officiall-announced EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x. I was told that the lens is now “expected to arrive in the fall of 2013. The design and functionality of the lens are set, Canon is now waiting for the manufacturing process to be finalized so production can begin”.</p>
<p>I got to hold and play with the 200-400 a bit last week, and I must say the weight of it shocked me. It’s going to be pretty close to the EF 600 f/4L IS II. I’m sure everything else about the lens is top notch, as we’re still being told to expect a price north of $10,000 USD.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[Canon-F1]

could not care less about when or if this 10000 euro lens is released.

but i want a great 12-24mm lens... !!!

 

[ksuweh]

could not care less about when or if this 10000 euro lens is released.

but i want a great 12-24mm lens... !!!

I want both! Not looking good for my bank account!!

 

[sanj]

Thank you for the information.

 

[RGF]

could not care less about when or if this 10000 euro lens is released.

but i want a great 12-24mm lens... !!!

I want both! Not looking good for my bank account!!

+1 on the lens, +10 on the bank account.

 

[Barrfly]

That's kind of pricey , but on the bright side I'm sure they will knock off a few bucks if you get it as a kit lens with the new 7D mkII .

 

[iMagic]

So over 8 lbs? Yikes.

 

[Marsu42]

So over 8 lbs? Yikes.

Holy cow, not that I'd be in the market for a 10k lens, but I'm wondering what users Canon has in mind - at this weight, most photo-journalistic or quick action shots seem to be impossible?

But probably it's really a small pro sports (and maybe wildlife?) market, and those few people are fine to shell out that money for top notch iq & reach flexibility.

 

[Sella174]

Probably a stupid question, but what is the purpose of this lens ... apart from another look-what-we-can-do lens to divert attention from the fact that Canon cannot make EF-S primes.

 

[RGF]

So over 8 lbs? Yikes.

that is on par with other canon L series lenses - around $1200 / Lb ;D ;D

 

[Drizzt321]

So over 8 lbs? Yikes.

Holy cow, not that I'd be in the market for a 10k lens, but I'm wondering what users Canon has in mind - at this weight, most photo-journalistic or quick action shots seem to be impossible?

But probably it's really a small pro sports (and maybe wildlife?) market, and those few people are fine to shell out that money for top notch iq & reach flexibility.

Until you put it on a monopod/tripod and shoot from the side of a major sports event or out stalking wildlife. Or you're a paparazzi and needs to be able to go from shouting "Hi there" to being so far away as to be unnoticeable.

 

[Loswr]

...another look-what-we-can-do lens to divert attention from the fact that Canon cannot make EF-S primes.

Last time I checked, Canon was doing just fine at making the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro.

 

[Sella174]

OK, let me rephrase that ... "another look-what-we-can-do lens to divert attention from the fact that Canon cannot make a second EF-S prime."

 

[Arkarch]

I also had a chance to play with the 200-400 at NAB last week.

My opinion - its advantage is flexibility; and the optics (at least through the viewfinder) looked very nice. But I have concerns.

If you consider that most will either shoot it wide (200) or long (400) - its a 200 f/4.0 and 400 f/4.0 + 1.4 extender. Is the added convenience worth $10k+ ? For those who need the rapid flexibility not to miss a shot between 200 and 560 (extended + 1 stop), maybe.

The feel was nice - I could handhold it but it is physically long. My biggest gripe was the position of the extender switch. I really would like to be able to flick it while viewfinding but its in the 10:00 position. On a tripod/monopod, not as much an issue.

I think this is going to be a very hot lens and very popular with wildlife and daylight sports photographers. High on my wish list but most likely I'll focus on the prime 2.8's first.

 

[Sella174]

So basically this is a 200-560mm f/4-5.6 lens? Now, due to the IS, if it is a highly portable (hand-holdable) lens ... great for sport and stalking game. If not, still, what's the point?

 

[Random Orbits]

So basically this is a 200-560mm f/4-5.6 lens? Now, due to the IS, if it is a highly portable (hand-holdable) lens ... great for sport and stalking game. If not, still, what's the point?

It's not made for you, and it's not made for me.

But there must be enough people out there or a big enough market for Canon to think it can make money with this lens. If it can compete with the 70-200L f/2.8 IS II at 200, and come close to matching the performance of the 300, 400, 500/600 primes while losing a stop, then it will be worth that much to sports photographers, who often use multiple lenses on multiple bodies.

 

[sagittariansrock]

So basically this is a 200-560mm f/4-5.6 lens? Now, due to the IS, if it is a highly portable (hand-holdable) lens ... great for sport and stalking game. If not, still, what's the point?

I believe the IS in super-telephotos are not necessarily for hand-holding- at those focal lengths minor movements such as mirror slaps are exaggerated greatly, so you'd need it even on a tripod (which is why they HAVE either a tripod mode or tripod-sensing tech.)
Plus, hand-holdability is somewhat relative up to a point. Reportedly, Neuro handholds (and sometimes runs with) his 600 II.

 

[Sella174]

It's not made for you, and it's not made for me.

Yip, and I hope Canon is reading this thread, so they know to make two less on the first production run.

 

[preppyak]

So basically this is a 200-560mm f/4-5.6 lens? Now, due to the IS, if it is a highly portable (hand-holdable) lens ... great for sport and stalking game. If not, still, what's the point?

Well, a 400mm f/4 lens will cost you $6000+ from Canon. A 500 or 600mm lens from Canon will cost you $10k (though, they will be f/4, not f/5.6). A 200mm lens is another $750, and a 300mm f/4 is another $1000. So, in pure focal length you are getting a 50% discount. And of course you'd have to change between all of those. A 100-400 would presumably be an alternative, but, its an older design and you need to add a teleconverter to get to 560.

The point is that you get 200-400f/4 and 280-560 f/5.6 while not having to take a lens off the camera. In rough conditions (rain, snow, sand, etc), that's a big advantage. And in sports where the action moves from end to end quickly, you don't need one camera with a 200mm and one with a 5-600mm lens. Plus, with how the 1DX handles high iso, f/4 isn't too bad.

Definitely a very niche product, but, makes sense from a design standpoint if it's as sharp as the primes

 

[Arkarch]

So basically this is a 200-560mm f/4-5.6 lens? Now, due to the IS, if it is a highly portable (hand-holdable) lens ... great for sport and stalking game. If not, still, what's the point?

Well, a 400mm f/4 lens will cost you $6000+ from Canon. A 500 or 600mm lens from Canon will cost you $10k (though, they will be f/4, not f/5.6). A 200mm lens is another $750, and a 300mm f/4 is another $1000. So, in pure focal length you are getting a 50% discount. And of course you'd have to change between all of those. A 100-400 would presumably be an alternative, but, its an older design and you need to add a teleconverter to get to 560.

I dont see the discount - I see a premium.

By your numbers,
200mm f/4 = $750
300mm f/4 = $1000
400mm f/4 = $6000
TC 1.4 III = $500

You get the 500/600 f/5.6 via the 1.4 that is also part of the 200-400 mechanism.
(edit - assuming the 1.4 works on a 400 f/4.0)

I total roughly $8250 done via components versus $10000+ as a single assembly.

This is by no means a bad deal. For the 25% premium you get an all-in-one that saves you swapping time or additional bodies so as not to miss the shot. But still its all f/4.0+.