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My
Canon EF100-400L IS Lens Review
Pros:
Incredible image quality, image stabilization
Cons:
BIG, HEAVY AND
EXPENSIVE
Recommended:
Yes
This is a lens designed for professional
use, and it has all the benefits and drawbacks of Canon's L series of
lenses. I bought it to replace the Canon 75-300 f4.0-5.6 lens--I was
dissatisfied with the optical quality and lack of image stabilization.
Though it took some getting used to, I am now hooked on the quality.
DISLIKES
Don't buy this lens if you're shy or easily embarrassed. It's WHITE
and 14 INCHES when fully extended and about 17 INCHES zoomed
to 400mm with the lens hood on. This is not a lens for taking casual
photos--everyone will look at your and wonder what you're doing. People
often comment, saying things like, "I bet you can see Jupiter." It certainly
doesn't zoom out that far, but it looks like it does.
Oh, and the lens weighs THREE POUNDS. I had to buy a new camera bag.
Even keeping the camera on a strap around my neck is difficult because of
the size and weight of the lens. My poor, 20 ounce Elan IIE feels like it's
going to break in half when this lens is mounted.
LIKES
You get what you pay for. For this lens, I paid the high purchase price, and
I continue to pay by lugging this beast around. Optical performance is
noticeably better than my cheap telephoto zoom. When used with the Canon EF
14X teleconverter, the maximum focal length becomes about 560mm, and optical
quality is still excellent.
It's heavy, but thanks to the image stabilization (IS), it can still be used
handheld in a variety of different lighting situations. IS can be used in
two modes, one for still photos and one for panning shots. I've had
successful shots handheld at 400mm and 1/45 sec shutter speed--about 10
times longer than I could use without IS.
It
is a professional lens, so it is made of metal, not plastic. That gives it a
great feel, and I know it will last. It comes with a removable tripod
mount--a necessity, since the weight of the lens makes it impractical to
mount your camera to a tripod when this lens is attached. The focusing is
fast and accurate, and it focuses close enough to take pictures of small
animals like chipmunks and birds.
I thought seriously about returning the lens because of its size, but after
one trip to the zoo I knew I couldn't give it back. Even in overcast and
shade, the lens was able to take clear, close-up pictures of distant
animals. As big as this lens is, it's a lot smaller than a tripod. It's also
much smaller than the faster 400mm f/2.8 prime lenses.
SUMMARY
A big, heavy, expensive lens that can take photographs almost no other lens
could take.
| Sorry, but what is kimerikas? Jane. (3/25/2008, 8:44 PM) |
| Bought the lens, use it on my 40d, WOW! Expensive but worth the bucks for th3e quality you get! (10/21/2007, 5:06 PM) |
| Hello! great idea of color of this siyte! (8/8/2007, 6:00 AM) |
| Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! kzflyzbujwisa (6/22/2007, 8:30 PM) |
| hi tony i am thinking of buying the 24-105L canon lens is this a good alround lens thankyou norman (11/24/2006, 5:19 PM) |
| Ahhhh sooooo cute!!!! (10/23/2006, 5:32 PM) |
| I love your pictures! They're so great!!!! (3/10/2006, 8:52 AM) |
| wow, these are nice. (1/16/2006, 11:40 AM) |
| you take very nice pictures (11/25/2005, 9:44 PM) |
| I`d try this lens at local shop, it`s too heavy, my EOS 350D body looks like a kid toy, this lens looks like Rocket Launcher. (8/24/2005, 8:03 AM) |
| thanks for your VERY USEFULL review. I`m using 28-135 IS USM and now I`m sure that your monster lens is my dreaming lens. (8/24/2005, 7:58 AM) |
| SORRY, I DID NOT REALIZE THE 1.4X TC IS READ AS 1-4X. I'M JUST LEARNING HOW TO USE A CAMERA (AND MY KEYBOARD). (6/7/2005, 12:03 PM) |
| I DID NOT KNOW THEY MADE A 14X TELECONVERTER? A NORMAL ONE IS A 1.4X. (5/12/2005, 1:04 AM) |
| i have seen bengal and siberian tigers in many parts of africa.From mustafa naleie (1/25/2005, 4:07 PM) |
| Your photos are wonderful and thanks for the great review! I hope someday to buy one of these lenses. Valerie (1/17/2005, 10:38 AM) |
| thanks for some clear and honest advice without arrogance. Shame i cant afford the darn thing. (12/29/2004, 5:28 PM) |
| the pictures you take are very unique R.E.L. Gibbs (11/18/2004, 4:56 PM) |
| Great Job Dude (11/4/2004, 5:41 PM) |
| you take really good pics tony you have a talent (10/12/2004, 10:45 AM) |
| geeeeez :D (7/21/2004, 1:23 PM) |
| People comment on the size of my lense too, a sigma 50-500 zoom. The most common is "do you have a licence for that", the really funny thing is that they each think they are the first one. Anything that gets people talking to each other can't be that bad thouigh (7/14/2004, 6:03 PM) |
| btw that comment down there!!! its from me...will some1 email me? amandadanny14@yahoo. com cuz i love you all!!! (5/4/2004, 12:25 AM) |
| i bet you did see jupiter! (3/21/2004, 1:10 PM) |
| I'm suprised the animals didn't get u when u took the picture of them. (1/28/2004, 11:40 AM) |
| i love midgets... (8/1/2003, 7:10 AM) |