Dphoto.us Member Reviews - EF 100-400 4.5-5.6 L IS USM

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Canon EF 100-400 4.5-5.6 L IS USM

Reviews	Views	Date of last review
5	195327	Thu October 5, 2006

Recommended By	Average Price	Average Rating
100% of reviewers	None indicated	None indicated

Description:

The first EF lens with a zoom range from 100mm to 400mm, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5- 5.6L IS USM lens offers high resolution, superb contrast, neutral color balance, and Canons original built-in Image Stabilizer function. High zoom magnification is achieved by means of a 6-group configuration with 5 movable groups. Fluorite and Super UD glass completely eliminate secondary spectrum for superb color rendition. Autofocusing is fast and silent with Canons ring USM, and AF speed is further enhanced through an advanced, lightweight rear focusing design that incorporates a floating element for consistent image quality at all focusing distances from 5.9 to infinity. This lens is also equipped with a dual-mode Image Stabilizer suitable for panning as well as stationary subjects.

Author

FredG
Senior Member

Registered: February 2004
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2145

Review Date: Mon January 3, 2005

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: Not Indicated | Rating: 8

Pros:	range, color, contrast
Cons:	push-pull zoom

If you don't need low light or extender capability, this is a great lens. I stepped up to it from a 75-300 and couldn't believe the difference. It is easily handheld for shooting stationary or moving targets. 100-400 makes it useful for a very wide variety of situations in good light. It has been my favorite lens for wildlife grab shots. With the zoom, you can recompose on the fly. There has been much debate about the push-pull. I prefer the twist zoom, but you do get used to this pretty quickly. There have been reports of poor focus beyond about 380mm, but I haven't experienced that.

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Fred

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MatsP
Senior Member

Registered: August 2004
Location: Godalming, Surrey, England
Posts: 1973

Review Date: Thu January 13, 2005

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: Not Indicated | Rating: 8

Pros:	Versatile, Image Stabilizer.
Cons:	Push-Pull Zoom.

This is my "general purpose" telephoto lens. I use it for all sorts of "long distance" shooting, from "macro" (insects and flowers for instance) to sports/action shots.

I've taken a couple of thousand motorcycle shots, most at 400mm, and aside from "user error", they are all good. I'm sure the 400/5.6 and 400/2.8 lenses are sharper, but they don't offer the same flexibility (and in the 400/2.8 case are way out of my budget).

Aside from the Push-Pull zoom (which takes some getting used to), I can't find anything wrong with this lens.

I like the "zoom-lock" that allows you to lock the focal length at whatever length is appropriate (I tend to do most of the motorcycle shots at 400mm, so that's where it's usually locked at, but it's nice to be able to "set" it for say 120 mm or 300mm when that's appropriate). It's not just a lock, but it actually allows to adjust the friction from 'little resistance' via 'firm but still movable' to 'locked down'.

This is a good buy for those that need a bit more than 300mm, and don't have enough money to buy a couple of 300/2.8 and 400/2.8 lenses... Even better with a Digital SLR, as it's got the reduced size sensor that act as an extender, so the lens ends up acting like a 520 or 640mm lens for the 1D and 10D/20D respectively.

--
Mats

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EOS 50D, 20-35/2.8L, 35-135/4.0-5.6 USM, 50/1.8, 100/2.8 Macro, 100-400/4-5.6L IS USM
Go Brad

Anders Östberg
B&H loves me.

Registered: November 2003
Location: Sweden
Posts: 2647

Review Date: Tue February 1, 2005

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: Not Indicated | Rating: 8

Pros:	Good range, image quality, IS
Cons:	A little slow

A great allround nature and wildlife lens. The best and longest semi-affordable option before you move to long primes. Very handy for flying birds as you can aquire the bird at 100mm and then zoom in. My copy is not that sharp wide open, needs to be stopped down to maybe f/7.1 or so. Could be the ultimate "zoo lens". As it is on the slow side it works best with decent light. The push-pull zoom isn't liked by everyone but I find it very functional as you keep the left hand in the same supporting position while zooming.

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Using mostly Canon dSLRs and lenses
Photos: My home page
"May your sensor always be clean."

grizzly
New Member

Registered: November 2004
Location: Campbell River,B.C. Can.
Posts: 2

Review Date: Thu March 24, 2005

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: Not Indicated | Rating: 8

Pros:	The ability to compose shots,packable,affordable[barely]
Cons:	This lens with a 2.8 would be great! As it is a little slow.

I have been using this lens almost exclusively on birds and other wildlife in our pe---- down rain for 18 months now with no problems at all. It is a little slow in the dark green forest but given a little light it works as well as can be expected. Auto focus of course likes contrast and light, I use it on a 10d and will never be selling to National Geo. but, it has taken some lovely semi-pro shots, because it is relatively small and light it tends to get carried off where the animals are.The IS is a great asset.

skagitswimmer
Stephen Schwartz

Registered: April 2005
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Posts: 773

Review Date: Thu October 5, 2006

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: Not Indicated | Rating: 8

Pros:	versatile, "reasonably" priced, sturdy
Cons:	not as sharp as it could be at 400 wide open

I agree with all the above but it isn't particularly sharp shooting wide open at 400. Otherwise it's fine. Note that it has a 2 option panning IS - you can have IS in both vertical and horizontal or just vertical (for horizontal panning) which works quite well. Sturdy feel though I haven't "tested" its ruggedness and hope not to.

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Stephen Schwartz
for my Dphoto gallery click here.

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