Canon 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 L Is ii | Wildlife & Bird Field Review
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- Today I'm doing a field review of the Canon 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 L Is ii. This is my goto lens for wildlife photography and bird photography. This lens is a fantastic lightweight option for serious hand-held bird photography, especially when paired with the EF 1.4x III Teleconverter.
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My name is Will Goodlet. I am a wildlife, landscape and astro photographer working in the African Safari business. I spend my time exploring the dusty roads of Africa with my Land Rover, Basil.
I've been taking photographs for 40 years, first in Hong Kong, where I grew up and later to follow my dreams of a life photographing Africa.
#WildlifePhotography #LensReview #BirdPhotography
Has to be said you're one of the more honest gear users that's actually puts gear you review through it's paces properly over a long period of time .. unlike many on here .
Awesomely spot on i stsy in Cape Town using the same setup sold the Mk1 and have the M2 for 3 years now, will never change that 7D since launch Thanks for review
Thanks for such a comprehensive review by someone who obviously knows what they’re talking about. 👍
Thank you for watching it :)
As a wildlife photographer, I have this lens and I love it. Very comprehensive review, thank you.
Great informative video. You sound like a nature documentary voice-over and it's awesome lol
Thank you!
So glad it was helpful
Fantastic review, watching this in October 2024 and still very relevant as looking forward to a used lens. 🥳🥳
Still a great lens, use mine everyday even on mirrorless. Like the option to put a polariser or nd filters in the adapter
Thank you for explaining all this as I have just started using this lens for bird and wildlife photography. I appreciate your factual and clear explanations without all the annoying chit chat favoured by many you tubers!
Glad it was helpful Sarah, thank you for watching!
One of the best product reviews I’ve ever seen. Very comprehensive. Thank you very much!
Glad it was helpful!
A great review! I have recently bought this Canon lens and it really is incredible exactly as you say. I had a "3rd party" 150-600mm MkII version lens and struggled with the focusing and eventually traded I it in and bought the Canon lens. I have been putting the lens through its paces on my 5D MkIV and it really is so fast at focusing with crystal clear images; I just can't put it down! I also have the 7D MkII and haven't tried it with that camera as yet. I just absolutely love it!
You made me go buy one! Perfect review and thank you
@@Ali-bf8ec Thanks for watching and congratulations on the new lens hope you get great shots with it!
Very thoughtful review. I got this lens (used) a couple of months ago to do wildlife photography here in Colorado. It has been stellar to cover everything from birds and prairie dogs, to bighorn sheep and pronghorn (look like antelope). Most of which, are extremely skittish. I’m able to do 95% of my shots from my car, which most wildlife is pretty comfortable with. If you dare try to open your car door….gone! Having 100-400mm lets me cover prairie dogs, which can be right next to the car, and bighorn sheep, which might be next to the car, or on the top of a cliff. I share the lens between a Canon 5d mk3, and 7d mk1 (if I need extra range). No teleconverter. My only complaint is slow autofocus, which is a lot of my photography in order to get good bokeh, with very skittish critters, and being unable to use a tripod due to the critters being uncooperative. 😆
Just bought my R5 and rf100-500. Your videos will certainly help me get started in wildlife photography. Your videos are stellar.
Congratulations on the new camera and lens David! I bet you are enjoying them :) Jealous of your 100-500, sadly I can't justify one yet.
I have this lens paired with a 7DII and often in combination with a 1.4x. It is fantastic in all aspects Will reports. With the 1.4x however AF speed and accuracy is slow, at f/8 you only get centre point focusing (which limits composition). Overall a fantastic lens which I alway bring with me. In my eyes it is better than a 70-200 f/2.8 II+1.4x III (which I also have).
Use the back button focus technique and it won't limit composition any more!
So true about its versatility. I have "macro" as well as landscape shots with this lens.
Yep its great for that, also enjoy stitched panoramas with it too.
Great video Will and thank you for your honest and knowledgeable appraisal of the lens. I wanted one of these when they first came out but it was way beyond my budget. I looked at a used MK I but couldn't get along with the push-pull zoom and I took a serious look at a Sigma 150 - 600 Contemporary but it was heavy, and worse still front end heavy. I finally picked up the Canon used at a very good price recently and I am delighted. Such a lovely piece of kit that seems to be have been designed to go with that Canon 7D MK II that you are (were) so fond of.
Thank you again Will, I appreciate you've had some tough times recently but rest assured that your videos are much appreciated here in the UK. Nick
Great review and mention of other similar competitor lenses that I’ve been considering. Very helpful 💚
Great review! Real world use and explanations instead of theory and studio use. This lens is on my 7DII almost constantly, and that combo is really sharp.
Match made in heaven. Thanks for watching :)
At this time I only have one camera and one lens, which are the 7Dii and 100-400 ii. Having come from using expensive pro equipment in the past (1DX, 500 mm ii, 70-200 ii, 5D3) the "cheap" combo is still impressing me in good light where I can keep the ISO below 3200. Low light is a different matter, the slow max aperture and aging 7Dii sensor aren't a match made in heaven but you can make it work.
I got this lens within a month of it being released and I love it. I agree with most of your evaluation although we part company on the aperture and focal length as I normally shoot in Av mode and use the EV control to adjust from there. As for the focal length: well it IS a 100mm-400mm lens (the FL doesn't alter, it's a function of the construction of the lens, after all). The issue is with the crop sensor changing the Field of View - which to ME is a more accurate term for the metric as it is a combination of what the lens delivers and the sensor captures. When I go out shooting, I use a body for each lens, so I have a FF body with a 70-300 or 70-200, and then the 7DII with the 100-400. I have used the 100-400 with the 1.4MkIII TC, and it produces reasonable results. With the newer DSLR and MILC bodies it offers autofocus and aperture control. I have not been impressed with the 2x TC, either on the 7DIII or the R6. It works fine with the 70-200 f/2.8 MkII IS USM or the f/4MkII units.
There's another thing I love about this lens... herpetology. I have the Canon L 100 macro, Canon 70-200 f/2.8 III, and the 1.4x. I've made all the combinations you can imagine but the 100-400 has a huge advantage compared to the others when you don't want to disturb your subject or need to keep a safe distance from poisonous snakes.
I have a friend who is into herping, he also often has to rescue snakes. I have been wanting to do a vlog on releasing something like a Rinkhals for quite a while. Having grown up in Hong Kong, where there were a lot of snakes, I'm pretty scared of them but confronting fears is good. I also like the idea of using this lens to keep my distance on a release!!
@@WillGoodlet Nice to meet you! Don't forget to post it here, I'd love to watch it. The golden rule here in brazil is "always keep a distance of at least half of snake size". Still, for vipers I prefer to increase this distance. In this scenario, the 100-400 is perfect. Just zoom in and you can fill the frame with the snake's head.
@@vilson.farias Thanks for the tips! The Rinkhals is the local term for Spitting cobra, so I will be well back and using 400mm!!
Buying this lens today can’t wait to test it out 💚 Along with the 800mm rf
Getting an r6 with this beauty
I've rented this lens many times and it's brilliant. Only thing, the problem you comment around 7:15 doesn't necessarily have to be one, even in manual mode. I don't know about other models, but in the 5Div and R6 there is a many option called "Same exposure for new aperture" and you can set which paramater you want it to change as you zoom in and out and that causes different apertures (I usually set ISO to change). In the 5Div it's in the C. Fn1 Menu and in the R6 it's in the C. Fn2.
Great tip - I have/had older bodies not sure if I had the option but I’m going to look.
Thank you Will this was a very informative video you put together on the Canon 100-400mm. I have ordered one as a result of watching your Video.
Glad to hear it was helpful and congratulations on the new lens
This one of my favorite Canon lenses. Up there with my 400 f2.8 and 600 f4. Compact and very sharp plus the i.s. at four stops, handheld shots 400mm at 1/30 wide open. I eliminated my 70-200mm with this lens
I just spent 2000 of my 2500 budget on this lens (gulp...). Found a good, used 6D for 500. Coming from a T3 and T5 so at least I will be familiar with the layout. I figure I can always update the body later as tech improves (still praying for a 7DMIII). I can't wait to try it out!
Lenses make the biggest difference I thinks it’s a sensible choice :)
I just got the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM and using it on the 1DX MK3 it makes razor sharp images .........
intreasting video recording and i got the CANON 70/30MM F4.5.6L Lens which i had it since 2016
Also a very nice lens. I traded mine for the 100-400 they are very similar
Great info! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful
Thank you for making this video! Very helpful 👌
Thanks for watching Craig glad it was helpful.
Fantastic review, thank you so much!
So glad you liked it!
Fabulous! Thank you
Thank you for watching!
This video got me to subscribe. Thank you for the informative review!
Thanks for watching, thanks for the sub. and great to hear it was useful!
Thanks for the great review... I'll be picking up this lens based on your review!
Thanks William, glad you liked it and hope the lens serves you well!
@@WillGoodlet Got the lens today and already loving it. I snapped some nice Red Shouldered Hawk pix in the backyard that I couldnt have got before this lens! Thanks again!
Hi Will,
Hello from Las Vegas. Great review. I just picked up an EOS 6D ii and am looking for a longer zoom for out in the desert, Wildlife, Birds, and Moonrises. Thanks for help sealing the deal. We have two sites here where I can pick up a used model. Looking forward to learning more about you and your work. Clear skies, Howard
Super review, which echoes my experiences with this lens. Fab wide open (essential) and so versatile. I bought it along with a 7D2 for a trip to Costa Rica a few years ago. So pleased with this combination. I have also started doing some video with it. Especially good on an EOS-R with touch focus because focus pulling is predictable. Your review makes me wonder now about a 1.4x extender 🙂.
I tried a 1.4 + 12mm tube +2x on this lens the other day, just for fun, but it actually works and focuses full frame. Slower obviously. I would consider this potentially for video of distant wildlife maybe.
What a nice review. Thank you! I am hoping it will do a great job on rare hummingbirds (needs good auto focus) and maybe the trogon... Or I would be content with an osprey sharper than the one I got with my canon 75-300mm and the crummy shot (better than none) of the ferruginous mating pair with the 600mm. The tamron I borrow sometimes did well on some vagrant swimming pelicans but not so good on the hawks. A dragonfly at 600mm looks as great as with the 100mm macro I think. I love using the 100mm macro usm on butterflies. I am hoping this lens will be sharp all across the focal lengths unlike the tamron which seems to have sweet spots. I do not see a lot of difference in the weight between the tamron and this lens, but the superior IS means maybe can do without my tripod. I will test it... I tried using some old glass 400mm and 500mm with adaptors, but I ended up liking the 75-300mm better of a spoonbill. I wonder if I am just so comfortable with the 75-300mm is why these shots turn out better. Every time I use teleconverters I notice the less light and less clarity/sharpness.
Hi Melinda, I don't think you are alone in that experience with Teleconverters. They work best on f2.8 & f4 lenses. The autofocus has an easier time too. The 100-400 is a very good jack of all trades I hope you enjoy it!
I appreciate your explanation of this lens.Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Very good use review. thank you.
I bought mine å year ago and the 100-400 is all I use in summertime or daytime. It is crazy superaccurate and unbelievable sharp even wide open. And the best is, since I do all my photography on foot, it is so light to carry, and the stabilization is so good I in most cases can shoot it without a tripod. And that is like lightweight
heaven for me to just leave the tripod at home. But.. I still love my big primes early morning or late evening.
Anyways, nice video Will. And nice to see you are well and keep on doing what we all love doing. Being out in nature!
Regards R.
Hey there Rino, thanks for dropping me a comment and for watching of course - even though you already have one :) yeah it's a fantastic walk around lens, I really enjoy it. I probably use it more than any of the other lenses combined. Sadly, this one was shot back in February but I never posted it. We are still locked up to a large degree over here. I am hoping I can get out one day next week though. Cheers!
@@WillGoodlet ohh. I didn't realise that the video was that old. Anyways, I hope your able to get out and enjoy nature. It is pure therapy.
I know first hand.
I guess I'm pretty lucky living up here in the north with the forest outside my door. And we haven't had any restrictions about going out other than to keep distance from other people.
And where I use to hang out I have met ONE person since the beginning of march.
Hi Will, I have been convinced that the 100-400mm mk2 lens is the one I want to by.
Thanks again as I am watching the video 3rd time.
Good luck with it!
@@WillGoodlet Thanks Will, really looking forward to getting one and using it for my aviation photography.
Thank to you and very much appreciated your review.
Great review I'm also use canon 7d and the first l series 100-400 usM lens
Finally save enought money for Canon EF 100-400 version 2. What size of lens plate will you recommend for EF Canon 100-400 IS II? Will 1/4" screw and 3/8" screw work for the len foot? Thanks
I use an 80mm manfrotto plate - but for gimbals I don’t mind longer plates. The foot is very short so the plate gives you a little extra to hold.
I also find it is a problem to use on a video head with a battery grip. Can’t be slid forward enough so remains unbalanced- if you use a video head be aware of that.
The foot also has a locating pin at the front which stops any twist. If you also have a plate with a pin.
This is the best review that answered my questions. I will still buy in 2023 for R6. Thanks Will. If you venture for R5/R5 please do make this again.
Thanks Vimal - I use it on the R5 all the time, it works the same.
@@WillGoodlet Good to know that. I am relieved and decided what to buy. I must say your review finally helped me with this lens and that trick of using 5.6 stop without going on Auto ISO.
@@vimalneha don’t forget you will need an adapter for the 100-400 on the RF cameras.
There is also a setting in the menus to turn on constant exposure by adjusting either shutter or iso. So you don’t need to set the aperture manually when zooming like I suggest in this video
@@WillGoodlet Many many thanks. Yes, I have noted your point, Will. This adapter + TC was the only thing that makes me a bit jittery. But very grateful that you took the time to point me /us out. Still, I will buy it as I need that Near Macro capability. I will not need always a TC.
A very informative review. Thank you.
Thanks for watching Buggs01, really appreciated and glad you liked it!
Fantastic review!
I wait mine on 5D Mark IV! I will have it in combination of the 159-600G2 from TAMRON.
32 million pixel allows me to crop a bit so if the image quality of this lens meet my expectations then, I will sell my TAMRON.
I am sure that it is better no doubt! Thank you!
Hi Daniel, glad it was helpful. I'd love to hear your opinion vs the Tamron. I've never tried that lens but it looks like a very nice option for 600mm.
This is my dream lens!!
Great review, thank you. Next lens on my list.
Thanks for watching Terry!
. My being shipped as I write . A very helpful review .thanks
Great! Congratulations on the new lens :)
I just made a test with overcast weather ,terns in flight at 10 to 15m compared with the 300pf Nikon and this 100 400 isii was almost blind ,but I completely forgot the planing IS position, ,but I love it also.
Es verdad lo de la apertura, tengo un 135 3.5 y para lograr un enfoque de un área más satisfactoria igual hay que cerrar hasta 6.3 u 8, incluso 11, y el fondo sigue viéndose borroso, mantiene el bokeh por efecto de la compresión. Diría que un telefoto está especialmente pensado para tomar fotos en el día, con buenas condiciones, así que no sería una desventaja
Excellent, thorough review, Will! This is my favorite lens, if I could only bring one... this would be it! You mentioned all the reasons why and then some. I just wish I was there where you are :D When I hear the Hadida's I think of my Mom. In the early 80's she used to listen to a show on Springbok Radio called "Wolwedans in die skemer" and us kids had to be super quiet so she could listen and of course we would sneak a listen too (it wasn't really for kids as it was a bit scary LOL) "As die hadida oor ’n huis vlieg en sy angs roep oor die vallei, dan sê hulle dat iemand gaan sterf. Dit is dan wanneer die wolf uit sy skuilplek kom as antwoord hierop." Mom always made sure all her chores were done, and she would sit with her knitting and listen, such great memories!
Oh and man, I'll never forget the final episode when they revealed the killer, she let us all gather and sit together to listen. Ahhh I miss her.
I had no idea that Hadeda's flying over were so ominous!! I just think of them as the most annoying birds in the world (my dog Flash agrees :) ). Glad it brings back good memories for you though! It's good to remember the old days. I have fond memories of my mum too. I regret not having a video or tape of her voice to help me remember the sound.
They are SO LOUD! LOL Aw, yes I have some video but it would be so hard to watch right now, her voice is still fresh in my mind but I guess that will fade over time. Just good to have those memories as you say.
Great 👌 Will perfect review
And very informative
Thanks so much Ravi!
Nice review Will - as I mentioned before best lens with a 7D2 great to see it does full fps with the R5 and 6!
Yep!! Just tried it on the R5 it is working beautifully!!
Fantastic explanation Sir.
Very informative thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks Jordan.
Hi, Base on your experience. I have Canon 7Dii, which one would you recommend Canon 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L II vs Canon 400mm F/5.6L? Thanks.
I've owned both - definitely the 100-400 mm Mark ii if it's in budget. It's much more versatile with similar image quality.
@@WillGoodlet Need to think about it since I already got Canon 400mm F/5.6L. Base on your review 100-400 version ii looks great.
I was out in SA last year doing with a guy called Les Brett doing some anti poaching stuff, tracking and wildlife watching, loved it 👍👌 can’t wait to come back and this lens did me proud in vehicles... I’ve one of these lenses it’s a superb bit of kit, that with my 600 prime seems to make a great wildlife photography combo however I’m thinking of getting the 100-500 or the 400 2.8 .... this is the best review of this lens I’ve seen buddy, nice one! Take care JP 😉👍 ... quality name for the Landy by the way lol and that’s landrovers for you when they are going right they are unbeatable but when they don’t 😣😫😂
Thanks JP, it’s a great lens for Africa and travel that’s for sure! That 600 prime is pretty mouth-watering too. Wouldn’t mind one myself! Glad you liked the review :)
I'm getting my lens in two days, Going to use it with my Canon 90D and EF 1.4x III Teleconverter.
Congratulations on the Lens Alex hope it ticks all the boxes and you score some great shots!
Do post how it works with the teleconverter. I have the same setup. Thanks in advance.
@@MrTallicadanny Not bad a little on the soft side which can be corrected in post editing.
I've come from using a 1DX and 500mm ii prime to using a 7D2 and a 100-400 ii (for professional use shooting Youth sports). in good light the combination is very impressive, especially with the 640mm field of view at 400mm. This lens is very impressive, it's obviously not quite as sharp as the prime, but it's sharp enough, even wide open and the versatility can't be beaten. In Africa, in decent light, the 7D2 and 100-400 ii would be a great solution.
Hi, thanks for watching and your thoughts. It's quite a bold move to go from the 1DX and 500 f4 to this combo. But you are right it's hard to beat for versatility in good light. Throw in (for me) that it takes 77mm filters and fits in any aircraft - even small ones and it is a great option to shoot pretty much everything out here and video too.
Cheers!
@@WillGoodlet Hey Will. I didn't have much choice but to sell the 1DX and 500 ii. I needed the money. Letting the 1DX go was easiest but as a photographer owning a halo lens, it was really tough letting the prime go. Going back through old raw files, it;'s still blows my mind how good the files look, especially in comparison with the 7Dii and 100-400ii. Happy shooting :)
@@stubones Oh yes I bet it was hard to let go of that lens - I hate letting lenses go, even if it's technically an upgrade.. so sorry about that. I don't know if it's me being nostalgic and biased but even the older 1Dmark iv and 1D mark iin shots in my catalogue still look special to me - there just something about the 1D series.
@@stubones I missed my EF 600 f4 MK2 for about 2 weeks but soon realised it's just not really worth it unless you're making $100,000 a year from photos, requiring the tripod, the weight, the hides, it's tedious, plus in UK our wildlife is nice but probably not worth using something like that, in all practicality. I only lost £200 selling it though.
I’m thinking about buying the lens. My only concern is the reach. But if the image is still sharp with the 1.4 canon extender I’m gonna buy this lens. Great video man
Please just remember that there will only be a single AF point available when using the 1.4 TC and autofocus will not be as fast (not able to focus on birds in flight).
Great review from someone who´s evidently used the lens!
thanks Petr, glad it was helpful!
Great review and info!
Glad it was helpful!
Great review thanks Will. I’ve got the Mk2 on a 90D body and love the combo. Just bought the 1.4 converter and micro-adjusted it. Can’t wait to get back to Africa to use it. So glad I discovered your channel. The bird photos video was gold. Thank you. Tony Johnstone.
Hi Tony, sorry to come back and comment so late. You should have a pretty sweet setup there. I'd love to out a 90D too. Thanks for watching and the encouraging comment :) Take care!
Despite watching your video on microadjustment Will, I still cannot figure out how to do it. But should I, do I absolutely need to do this when I add my 1.4x to the EF 100-400mm? You'll probably say, "Not if it is sharp already", but Tony just did it right off the bat it sounds like. Right Tony?
@@fgb3126 I did it with both the 100-400 Mk2 (-2 and -3 adjustment and with the 1.4 mk3 extender (-4 and -5). Both are now sharper than without micro adjustment. Very little loss of quality with the extender. Glad I bought it.
Hello Will.
I looked at this lens some years ago but opted for the 70-200mm f2.8 mk3 with a 1.4 extender.
Now looking again at it and careful consideration its a brilliant lens.
I will always stay a canon man because they are so good.
I use a canon 60D if I use a 1.4 as well should give me 200-800mm which is perfect for aviation photography.
I would like to hear your comments and thoughts please.
Thanks for watching! You are likely to suffer from inability to auto focus with the 1.4x and 60D. Only certain cameras could focus with the centre point at F8 and I don’t think the 60D is one of them.
The naked lens is likely to do much better and you may find that cropping is a better way to go?
If you use the 1.4x and lens on a mirrorless, they will work very well with good AF. So it’s not a bad lens for the future even though it is EF mount.
@@WillGoodlet Thanks, Will.
I have a canon 5DS it might be better suited maybe, also thinking about buying the R6 ii or the R5 and using my EF lenses with an adapter.
Your thoughts please.
@@GOTOHOBBIES The 5Ds will autofocus at F8 on the centre point.
Any of the mirrorless options will focus very well and much faster. The anti aliasing tech is also (probably as I haven’t tested the 5Ds) better and will be sharper.
The R5 in particular with the extra megapixels is a good birding camera. The R7 might be a contender too? It has excelled AF 15 fps mechanical, more megapixels on target and is cheaper - albeit with rolling shutter in electronic mode.
The R5 is probably better if you intend to also replace your full frame.
Great review. Thanks.
Awesome ! I’m also based in South Africa and this is a lense I’m hoping to get my hands on soon🙌
Hi Miguel, thanks for watching and great to hear from someone here. I think this lens is perfect for our wildlife here!
Save yourself a lot of money..... the tamron 100-400 is just as good
I live near the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the U.S. & want to get into nature photography (primarily a photojournalist/wedding photographer right now). This review talked me out of getting the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary. Although half the price of this lens, I haven't seen any images taken with it that were as sharp as this lens in your presentation. Even in Sigma's promotional material. Between that and the overall build, I think it's probably worth the extra money, even with the lower focal length.
I was tempted to try a non-Canon lens & save some money, but I'm really afraid I'll regret it. I've always used all "L" series glass & I think you talked some sense into me.
Thank you for the review!
I’ve just done a long review of the 150-600 and there are some comparisons between it and this lens and my canon 400mm f2.8.
It’s a very good value lens. It really depends a lot on the camera body with the sigma. Scroll through the comments on that review if you get a chance, you will see how other ppl have experienced it.
I will say that with canon you mostly know what you are getting. This lens also works very well on RF mounts (but does sometimes freeze up).
Sorry to throw a curve on ball your thinking!
If you can try a sigma on your bodies (rented?) it would be worth it to see if it does the job.
Sigma review - m.ua-cam.com/video/gzdKRijKdas/v-deo.html
@@WillGoodlet Thank you for the response!
The Canon is on sale right now for $400 off ($2000) vs the Sigma Contemporary for $899).
Do you think at that price point, the Canon is worth it? P.S. I am shooting will full-frame Canon bodies. Canon 5DSR (extremely high MP camera) and 6D Mark II
It’s a tough one. The canon is reliable, sharp and fast but it is only 400mm.
The sigma is slower AF, cheap and sharp and reliable on dslr.
If you are photographing birds you will be very grateful for the extra reach, if occasionally frustrated with the AF.
If you are shooting larger animals and need a pro lens with weather sealing, longevity and good build go canon.
If you need video go canon the stabilization is better.
The cameras should Af fine with the sigma, the 6d2 especially will enjoy the extra 200mm for wildlife.
I think the 5DSR should be ok but push the lens harder.
If you need to lens to do double duty for paid work for weddings and journalism - personally I’d feel more comfortable with the canon just because it’s solid and a canon.
@@WillGoodlet Thanks for the thoughtful response. I'm thinking the weight/size might make a difference if I am hiking in the backcountry as well. If only I could ride that awesome Land Rover of yours through a thickly-wooded forest! HAHA
Nice review Will. While I don’t have this lens, I’ve really never heard of anyone not liking it. My wife is not very understanding of me perhaps picking this one up, if ya know what I mean.🙂. Take care now and keep those videos coming.
Thanks Terry! I know the feeling don't worry :) We have a sale on over here for them at the moment - maybe it's worth checking the pricing? Also, I suspect there will be many on the used market in the near future as people start to migrate to the RF100-500.
Will Goodlet -I still use my 400 5.6 a lot and one of the 150-600’s. Something like the 100-500, if it is the affordable range, sounds pretty appealing.🙂
I think that 400 f5.6 is a gem.. I loved mine til it broke in half. Just imagine what it could be like on an IBIS body like the R6?
Will Goodlet - Ya know Will. I have a hard time picturing that lens just breaking in half. I suspect it wasn’t because of a defect with the lens.😅
You may be right but I'm not admitting to anything.
The Canon 100-400 IS II is very nice but I sold mine due to internal dust. It sucks dust like a vacuum cleaner. I love the lens and I bought a new copy, now I'm much more careful than before. I'm not sure if I agree with the "built like a tank".
The mark i was a known dust sucker, the mark ii is much better. But for my purposes, dust is largely irrelevant. You can't see it when shooting wide open as I do most of the time. I believe that (if you are brave) it is also possible to clean inside?
@@WillGoodlet Maybe my copy was one of the early Mk. II models and the problem has already been fixed, but unfortunately, the issue is still present.
I did some research on lens maintenance before I decided to sell and buy another one. The front element disassembly is very complex and the chance of damaging the glass or losing the calibration is very high for someone with no previous experience (check this if you are curious: photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1428149&page=1).
At that time I was living in San Francisco and also checked for authorized Canon service. Still, the cost of internal cleaning was prohibitive. I sold my lens for the same price I bought another second-hand copy in much better shape.
The problem with the dust is that if you live in a very humid place like here in the South of Brazil, the dust might become fungus after some months/years (interesting, I read that if the particle is organic, it may be the food a colony of fungus needs to grow up).
Today, I also found this very interesting video about the internal cleaning: ua-cam.com/video/qDqn-zXq3bg/v-deo.html
I have an R5 and plan on buying this lens (mostly because I can't afford to buy the RF version). I have found no review that has anything terrible to say about this lens even when using an EF - RF converter.
It works very well on both the R5 and R6 - note the new release of the RF 100-400 - might be worth a look?
@@WillGoodlet My budget says otherwise ;-) I'm praying for the day when 3rd party RF lenses are available. I agree, you really can't beat native RF "L" glass (I have the 70-200 2.8 L IS USM) but for now, I'll have to limp along with a converted EF. And this seems to be my best option for a longer focal length lens). Cheers mate !
@@chriskay3058 the rf 100-400 is a lot cheaper than this EF lens? Like 1/3rd the price ?
It will be interesting to see how the new RF 100-500 which i think is meant to be Canons mirrorless system equivelent of this one compares on my R5. I have one on order .......My only worry is the f7.1 at 500mm. That extra reach will be useful though.
Would like to hear what you think when you get it! Let’s assume it’s sharpest at f8 the R5 probably has a stop of noise improvement so you are probably coming out even? But with an extra 100mm and better IS
@@WillGoodlet It's also significantly more expensive and made of plastic.
Thanks for the video Will, I find that mine is not sharp with a 1.4x on the full frame 5D Mk4...
I think mine is pretty good, but so much will be down to relative perception unless we can test both side by side. I don't doubt that some copies of the lens + adapter will be sharper than others though. Luck of the draw to some degree.
Agreed on all counts, it is a fantastic, sharp and versatile lens. I see you received an R5. Curious how you find this lens working adapted (it got the job done when I adapted to an EOS R) and I'm really curious to learn more about the RF 100-500. That extra 100mm will be nice, and all the new RF "L" lenses have been crazy sharp, super fast on their AF.
Thanks for commenting Roger! I've tried it on the R5 and it is absolutely sensational. I can't tell the difference at all. The R5 AF is something else. It has a few small foibles to work around but otherwise it is already delivering shots that I would find very hard on a DSLR. I look forward to trying it out properly once lockdown ends.
I have ordered, and am just waiting on the new RF 100-500 after having recieved my new R5.....I'm hoping this lens is similar to the previous 100-400 that Will talks about here, but as you say, with that extra 100mm reach. Time will tell, but i'm hopefull.
Really enjoyed the video. You are very pleasant to listen to as you explain your topic. Can you share what body did you used in this video?
great video
Thank you so much Tomasz :)
I have to be honest I have made over 10 videos on this lens and can say that focus is slow limiter 3 meter to infinity is not good enough it needs to be 10 - infinity just like the sigma and tamron lenses. As fast moving birds focus will loose the bird in flight. Don't get me wrong its a sharp lens but some cameras will use more power and drive the auto focus faster for example the 1dx will focus faster than a 7d II because it has a larger battery. I have tested 3 copys of the lens and in poor lighting conditions focus will struggle and focus becomes very slow while testing the sigma and tamron lenses they performed better in low light even in full auto focus modes. I feel the lens is a good all around lens but when it comes to wildlife it can struggle. This is why I use and own a 500mm prime.
Well I think we probably don't agree. But thanks for the comment. 10 to infinity would be essentially useless for my photography. It's too far away. I find the autofocus tracking excellent and have many photographs of fast moving birds. All lenses will slow in low light, especially f5.6+ on DSLRs - this one doesn't seem particularly problematic. I find it a superb general lens for wildlife. Light, fast, sharp, takes a 77 filter and robust. The 500 is a completely different lens especially when trying to pack it into a cessna 206.
Great video! I’m stuck between this lens and a Sigma 150 - 600 sports. I’ve heard the Sigma lens is too heavy to keep steady, and the Cannon is so sharp that you have the same quality of the Sigma after cropping your image down. Do you agree?
I haven’t tried the sigma sport but I did do a video comparing the sigma contemporary with a bunch of lenses and cameras. The sport is very sharp but not as refined as the canon.
There’s a lot to consider. You can get great pics with the sigma and the extra 200mm is of great benefit (it’s actually more like 180mm) but the af speed and accuracy of the canon is much better.
Also it behaves differently than n mirrorless cams, at least the canon mirrorless. It tends to be sharper and some say the af pulses although mine definitely did not. Suggest you watch the review if you have time.
Cheers, Will
@@WillGoodlet I’ll check out your review, thanks!
nice shots
Thank you!
Great video, thank you. I am getting back into photography at retirement age. My slr photography was with film. Never used auto focus except snapshots on my iphone. I'm dating myself. I have to get a new body and lenses. I am leaning toward a Canon R6 body and a good prime or zoom tele for wildlife and birds, probably zoom for now. This lens, and the R version - 100-500 are high on my list. I can find this lens used which is the direction I am leaning to get a start. But, is the new animal eye auto focus going to work a lot better with the R 100-500 lens? Will I want to spring for that? Thanks for any input!
Thanks for watching. No as far as I can tell the eye-af works just as well. The lens is very good on the R5 and 6.
The Rf version is slightly sharper and obviously longer.
If anything this lens is better on the R series than it was on the EF mount.
You should also consider that the extenders both work on this lens but only 1 can be mounted on the RF 109-500.
Both lenses are good
@@WillGoodlet Thank you. I'm leaning toward finding a good used example of this lens on the theory that I am just getting back into this stuff and it seems I can get nearly the same performance for less $. I am expecting a bit of a slog learning how to use these newfangled bodies in anything other than manual mode. I'm blown away by the fact that I can change ISO shot to shot. I used to have to change film - or carry multiple bodies with different film - to do that. Changes the whole mindset about what you can do to get the best shot. Of course, I couldn't carry on a conversation with a photographer in So. Africa while sitting on my living room couch back then either. (Rob - from Vermont in the US - my idea of paradise - although there are many places that would fit in the Paradise category).
The principles remain pretty much the same. I used to shoot film too and it’s definitely not as hard as it used to be! Just quite a lot going on in the camera and lots more options .
Shooting manual is still my preference for wildlife!
@@WillGoodlet I'll probably spend weeks/months/years learning how to use all the features and then in the end use manual all the time. :) But, it will keep me busy.
Thanks for all your videos Will! How do you compare the 100-400 with Tamron's 150-600 in terms of reach on safari? Isn't it too short without TC?
Thank you for taking a look! I rarely have a problem with it. I use the crop body on it. But I also shoot the 400 2.8 and if I need more reach I bang 2x on that. I think the 150-600s are a nice option. But I also tend to shoot wider than some so I don’t really always rate extra reach as highly as extra aperture.
Would you please tell me your opinion of how this might match up with a M6 mkii and using an efm-ef adaptor.
I haven’t used the M6 mark ii. But there will undoubtedly be some handling differences due to the small size of the body relative to the lens. Other than that, the lens generally works very well on mirrorless systems using adapters, even if it doesn’t perform quite as well as it could mounted on cameras with large batteries to drive the focus system and capacity to power stabilisation for longer through the day.
6:00 it's built like a tank, but I do not recommend strap it like that, well at least not mine :D Great video!
Thanks Susi - its not often I need to do that thankfully :)
Hi Will. I am using this lens next week in the KNP with my 5Diii. What would be the best (max) ISO in darker conditions seeing we had a lot of cloudy weather the last few weeks? I am also considering the 1.4 Mkii extender on some shots depending on where the game are
This question doesn't necessarily have an easy answer given that noise is not just dependent on ISO but many other factors too.
Probably around ISO3200 - but this will depend on background, exposure compensation, temperature, in camera noise reduction settings, degree of cropping, and focal length.
@@WillGoodlet thanks. The main aim is a tact sharp image. Just scared that the noise might counter the goal. Not having a Mkiv or newer body frustrates me :) But I Love my 5Diii.
The 1.4x is only going to work with autofocus on the centre point. It will be f8 wide open and sharpest around f9 or f10.
The pairing is not always sharp - it depends on the lens and the extender tolerances.
Mine happens to be sharp but lots of people report theirs is not.
Would it not be prudent to rent a 200-400 or 500mm f4 if you want the best possible results? These are great if you are self driving (not so great if you are on a safari vehicle in which case the 100-400 is easier)
@@WillGoodlet Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately I can only get a 100-400 to shoot with. All good. I'll adapt to the situation and use the extender when really needed.
Hi Will, please tell me what you were using to keep your camera steady in the car. I've been looking everywhere for some sort of clamp on a window but cant seem to find one.
Hi it’s a Gimprogear door mount: ua-cam.com/video/zhn_9Tik3xw/v-deo.html
Great review. Would like to know is this better or 70-200 f 2.8 with 2x extender
Hi Ameya, I think that depends on what you do with it. If you are also shooting portraits of people, the 70-200 f2.8 will be more versatile, especially in poor light without the converter. If you are shooting larger mammals close by, it could also be better (without the converter). But if you are shooting birds or smaller subjects, perhaps those moving fast, the 100-400 is likely to be better as the converter will not focus as quickly and the image is likely to be a little less refined.
Hi Will. Awesome review! Do you have any experience with the 100-400 mkii on a R5?
Hi Helgardt, yes, it works beautifully on the R5. I use it all the time for stills and video. Very good combo.
Hello Will, really enjoyed your review, very informative and exactly what details we need to know. I currently have the 750D, and looking to upgrade this year. Would you recommend staying APS-C, like the 90D, or 7D / 6D II, or should I look at full frame. I currently shoot with the 100-400mm L II (same as this). I also have no teleconverter at present. Many Thanks, Alan.
Hi Alan, it depends very much on what you want to shoot and where you do it (light levels). Each option has different advantages depending on your mix of photography. It's often a good idea to list out the main subjects you want to shoot and then list the specs that will help you achieve those shots - forget about what you already have while doing this! You should then be able to match up a camera and lens to these. In most cases it's lenses that really transform ones photography.
The only really meaningful advantage these other cameras will offer over your 750D is autofocus and frames per second (field of view too in the case of the full frames). Perhaps better noise performance (but this is more easily achieved with an f4 lens than a camera body!)
Autofocus and frame rate can make a very big difference - but only if you shoot fast moving small birds or sport. If you photograph landscapes it's a waste of time! Wildlife and larger animals run the gamut between these two extremes.
Hi Will, You have a natural talent to explain such complex things. Thank you so much. I am wondering whether 1.4x version II (rather than version III) is a good combo for the 7D Mk II + Canon 100-400mm IS II lens? I am mostly doing wildlife photography and am not sure whether the extra money spent on 1.4x version III is worth it? Any guidance you can provide will be very appreciated.
Hi Shivam, thanks for watching and I appreciate your kind comment too!
Personally, I don't think the teleconverter is useful on this lens for stills photography of moving subjects and wildlife. This is because the combination will become F8 and only the centre focus point will work on the 7Dii.
Additionally, as an APS-C camera, the 7Dii is already somewhat challenged with noise. Shooting at F8 will make this worse. Also, to get the best sharpness from the combination of the 100-400 ii + 1.4 TC, you will need to stop it down to F9 or F10 for the sharpest image.
With regard to the 1.4 Mark ii vs the 1.4 Mark iii, the mark iii is thought to be much better.
I feel that the only real use case for the 100-400 Mark ii + 1.4 TC is sometimes for video, which where the resolution will not be a big problem and the lower frame rate will allow for lots of light entry to the camera.
Alternatively, the combination can work reasonably mirrorless cameras because these are able to focus at higher than F8 and you can get reasonable results with these. This is also true for the cheaper mirrorless, like the M50, not just the expensive R6 and R5.
So in conclusion, my feeling is that neither is a good purchase for wildlife stills photography with the 100-400 Mari ii. They are better used for F4 and F2.8 lenses.
Hope this assists!
@@WillGoodlet Thank you so much for your detailed and quick response. I am so happy that I found your channel. My plan is to go through as many of your videos as I can. Appreciate you putting all this out there. I can understand the hard work that goes into all this.
@@ShivamRajdev It's a pleasure, hope you enjoy them :)
Well stated on the review of EF 100-400 ii. I owned it for over 2 years and the images I got from this lens with 1.4x iii were incredible. Most of my friends also bought it due to its super sharpness and versatility. You nailed on its weakness of f4.5-5.6 IS and I could only use a small portion of focus points in f8 using 5D4. But, the cost probably goes a lot higher if this lens is a fixed f4. Can't wait to use this wonderful lens with my incoming R5. One thing I don't like is the door on the hood may open unintentionally.
It should work really well with the TC on the R5. Interested your door is loose, mine is stiff and takes effort to open.
@@WillGoodlet It was tight when I bought it 2 years ago. Now, the locking ring also kinda loose too. It does not affect the lens performance anyway. Do you know how to tighten the ring down? Or, this has to be done by the Canon services center?
No idea sorry. Best let canon do it maybe
@@WillGoodlet Thanks, Will. Happy BIF photography ...
Rifle scopes have zoom expressed in _times magnified_ , I assume it's an angular expression. There are 10x fixed scope (primed lens analog) and variable zoom scopes. How many times would 400mm lens magnify the target?
Hi, there's a rough rule of thumb - you can divide the focal length by 50 (more accurately 43) to get an idea of magnification (this applies to 35mm full frame cameras). So a 400mm is roughly 8x and a 500 10x
Been meaning to ask, what is the bracket that you show using from the window of your truck, looks as if it beats a pool noodle ?
Hi Jerry, it's a Gimpro door mount I've done a video on it in the past.
How would this compare to the sigma 60-600? I've heard amazing things about the new sigma
Sadly I haven't been able to try out the sigma - I have only reviewed lenses I own so far.
Junk. Get the 150-600 instead. The main advantage of this 100-400 is for being able to handhold it all the time and be on the move. Huge advantage over 400 f2.8 which is a bit of burden. Great for walking around the bird wetlands.
@@KandiKlover but i've heard the 60-600 is sharper than the 150-600...
Hi...I bought this lens as I got inspired about seeing many reviews. However I am disappointed now as I see my photos are soft, not crisp as you have shown in your review. I use it on my EOS R. I am not sure if it is an issue with the copy of this lens or my camera settings. I seek your kind advice here. Please help me.
Is the lens new or second hand? If you set up the lens and camera on a tripod. Use a target (like a cereal box with text) about 10 m away and set your camera up with a 2 second timer in good light and focus on the target.
How does the text look in the photo?
If you are not satisfied take it to a canon technician to test for problems.
Thanks Jamie Oliver. I kept waiting for you to cook something.
Hello Will !! How will it work with 80D ?I am currently confused between this lens and Sigma 150-600 sports..Which is better ? Your answer will help me...Waiting for your reply.
First, thank you for explaining the details of photography and using different pieces of equipment. I recently retired and took up photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying the learning and practice. I do have a question about the lens you explained today. I have a 5D Mk ii and a R6, so I purchased this lens to be used on both cameras. I took it out today and used it on the R6. Even with a 2X converter, it auto focused just fine at F11, but I didn't try the animal eye AF. I have my cameras set up for back focus and noticed this lens would try to focus as I moved the camera around with no buttons pushed. Is that typical? It would seem the motor constantly adjusting focus would eat up batteries, but not sure as I only used it for a few hours and turned it off when not taking pictures. I haven't noticed that with my other lenses but they are not this big. Thank you again for the great teachings.
Hi Richard, thanks for watching and for leaving a comment.
On the continuous focus - there is a setting on one of the menus ‘continuous AF’ it’s on the first AF menu, second from bottom - you need to set it to ‘disable’
Hope that helps and congratulations on the new camera!
@@WillGoodlet that was it. Thank you
Hello Will...i have been watching your videos. Very informative. I use the Canon 90d with the Canon 100-400 USMii . I am in Pretoria, S. Africa. Where would you reccommend one go for some good wildlife to photograph? Also, do u give tips of using the camera with above mentioned lens? Hard to find someone here to connect with.
I just got the R6 need a lens for wildlife photography this might be a good choice?
It's a very good lens yes but not necessarily the right lens for you.. the lens is a massive choice. You really need to factor in what your main subjects will be not just what camera you have. Ideally, the lens camera combo should match. The R6 is a full frame camera it has a wide field of view and a lower resolution sensor. This confers both advantages and disadvantages.
If you take a moment to look at focal length equivalents for full frame and crop sensor cameras the 100-400 vs 150-600 will make much more sense.
On a crop sensor camera (Canon 1.6 and Nikon 1.5 crop) if you take the 100-400 the equivalent focal length on a crop sensor is (100x1.5 Nikon) = 150mm (400 x 1.5 Nikon) = 600mm
So the 100-400 has an equivalent focal length to a 150-600mm on a crop camera.
From that it should now be obvious why we suddenly started seeing all these 150-600s appearing on the market a few years back. It's because at that time full frame cameras became more affordable and 100-400 was actually too short a lens. These cameras suited 150-600s to give them equivalence to a 100-400 shot on a crop sensor. Additionally, the full frames generally had better noise characteristics than the crop sensor cameras. So they could afford to lose a some light, hence the 150-600s are often f6.3.
I hope it makes sense from the explanation above that the design intent of the 100-400 was for crop cameras and the intent of the 150-600 is for full frame cameras. Of course, many people choose to ignore this or don't realise it.
Using a 100-400 on the full frame R6 will be a great experience, but because the R6 is full frame, the results from a 100-400 on a 7D markii are likely to be better for small wildlife subjects. Whereas the results from a 150-600 on a R6 would make the focal length more comparable to a 7DMark ii with 100-400.
If your subjects are elephant or cape buffalo 100-400 on a R6 will be great. If they are really small songbirds, you will get better results with a 150-600. If they are a range of subjects of all sizes you should factor in how fast and active they are (fast favours the brighter 100-400) how distant they are (favours the 150-600) how dark it is (overcast and forest favours the 100-400 or even 300 F4) bright and sunny favours the 150-600.
I'm sorry for the long answer, but the internet is so often full of bullshit black and white better or worse comparisons. I always start with a blank slate and work backwards from the photograph I want.
If I want a small flying kingfisher - I need a very specific set of equipment. If I want a perched kingfisher I can get away with less exotic equipment. If I want a lion or a springbok, much less exotic and if I want a great landscape, completely different equipment.
You have a great camera in the R6. It's fast, has accurate autofocus, great low light performance. But it has that because of the lower resolution sensor.
It's always easy to characterise lens choices purely on focal length or reach and that would be fine if they were equivalent in sharpness, handling aperture and speed of focus but they aren't.
The 100-400 offers a brighter, faster lighter and shorter option. The 150-600 is larger, slower, slower to focus but longer - and this may be crucial on a full frame camera.
My best advice would be to rent a 100-400 and one of the 150-600s and try each out on your intended subjects and decide what's best. Additionally, just to confuse the options further - you may find that the 300 F4 + 1.4 TC is an exciting combination for deep forest light. Or the 400 F5.6 (grab one second hand) if all your subjects are small birds and you walk to find them.
Really hope that helps.
@@WillGoodlet Very thorough and detailed response, Loved every bit of it, Appreciate that very much very rare people respond that to any stranger on internet to help, very generous of you and God bless you 👍👏👏❤️
@@WillGoodlet Very detailed answer. Discovered you channel only recently but already do appreciate your videos very much. You know what you are talking about. I am a wildlife/bird photographer and owning a Canon EOS R, 100-400 II lens and the 1.4 III and 2x III teleconverters. Thinking of buying the R6 but not quite sure regarding the smaller MP sensor. Any advice from you will be appreciated ! Does the above answer you have given also counts for the R/R6 with the 100-400 II and the 1.4 or even 2x extender attached. Would it still be better looking for a Sigma 150-600 lens ?
@@usmandwe Thanks Muhammad! A great pleasure :)
@@DavGilmPF Hi, thanks so much for watching and commenting. You have to factor in that I haven't used the R or R6 (or the sigma 150-600 for that matter!) so please treat my answer with caution.
I think the R6 gives you something different - it's the same thing the R5 delivers, it's the handling and focus for really fast moving subjects - things like hunting cheetah and small birds in flight.
If that is the shot you want most of the time or most of all, then the R6 paired with the fast focusing canon is a good option. You can compensate for the resolution loss by getting closer, stalking, using blinds etc...
If you don't photograph those subjects, then I doubt the R6 will offer an improvement over what you already have. But I'd urge you to try it out and not listen to me - try it on what you shoot.
Ive just watched your video and have a couple of questions... 1. can you use a 1.4x converter on the Canon 100- 400 lens with an aps-c 90D camera... 2. I had a fall the other day and smashed my Nikon D500 & nikon 80-400 lens and now have to decide do I buy the same gear or move to Canon ... do you know which lens is better for bird photography ..Im in Australia and birds are often high up ... Im a shorty and the weight of the Nikon gear was getting to its limits in what I can lug about on our walks ... interested to know your thoughts... oh for my Kuger Park days wish we had dlsr back them Lol CHEERS
Hi Brenda, sorry to hear about your fall and smashed gear. I hope you are alright at least!?
You can use a 1.4x teleconverter on this lens but on the 90D (DSLR) it may only have the centre point active (at least that is true for my 7D mark ii) You should double check this is true also for the 90D as I haven't used that camera and am 90% sure.
I haven't used the Nikon 80-400 either but I did find the following on DPreview from a fellow owning both the Nikon and the Canon - I have to agree that the Canon, is a beautifully built lens. Very solid.
"I have both, the canon 100-400 mark 2 is the better lens.
its better built, being mostly metal where's the Nikon is mostly plastic. Lens rentals did a tear down and he said the canon 100-400 is the most overly engineered zoom lens he has ever taken apart and he has taken apart all of them.
they are both variable zooms but the canon holds onto lower f stops further into its range.
the canon is optically better and even takes a 1.4x tc very well. Whereas the Nikon falls apart if you add a tc
depending on the camera used the Canon has faster autofocus.
if you have both systems and are looking for a lens for one of them get the Canon.
both lenses are very good, it's just the Canon is better."
You may also want to have a look at the Olympus OMD-EM1 Mark iii paired with the 300mm F4 Pro - this is a similar price but lighter and smaller and an incredible walk around combination with an extra stop of light and effective focal length roughly the same at 600mm. It also takes a TC and by all accounts converts well. If a zoom is more your style, they have released a 100-400 (and not to forget that Micro 4/3 cameras all share the same lens mount - so any of the other manufacturers lenses can work). Not trying to push Olympus, but they should definitely be on the same playing field. Have a look at Petr Bambousek's pics. www.sulasula.com/en/home/
@@WillGoodlet thanks for all that info will have lots to research and think about... by the way my nikon lens wasnt plastic hence its weight more than the canon one... a friend suggested the 90D so will see if he will trust me to hold it and see what its like although it seems to be marketed at video and Im not interested in that side of a camera.. I take bird photos for my art work ... cheers Bren
Really enjoy your videos. Seriously consider getting the 100-400. dont mind used lenses. any suggestions of where I can look? Probably can also get it from overseas. I have a D5 Mark II and III and also an old 40D body. Have consider getting a prime lens. but it is just so expensive especially if you go to 2.8 Would I be able to use a x2 III extender with this lens on any of my bodies. Plan to explore South America on a 4x4 trip Sorry I am a landcruiser 80 man TRavelled from Germany to Namibia down the east coast in 2011. Lives in Swakopmund
Hi Willie, running into another comment - sorry for the late response! I need to answer these from bottom to top!
I bought a lot of my lenses used in the past. Normally you can get a 6 month warranty from retailers and many also do collimation checks etc... Where are you? Namibia? Not sure what's available there but in SA, Outdoorphoto classifieds section has been my go to place for years.
I don't think the 2x TC will work for you - F11. The max I would consider is 1.4TC but even then, I reckon you would be better off with a 150-600 if you really need the focal length because the focus speed at 600mm will be better than the Canon 100-400 + 1.4TC.
If 400mm is enough - then the Canon is a better bet.
For exploring and travel - the Canon 100-400 Mark ii, the Tampon 150-600 G2 are very good options - light and compact lenses.
If you are in dark forests in South America, you will struggle with light - for birds - consider a flash setup as well.
Sorry to hear about your Landcruiser addiction, I know you can't help it ;) No, I like the Landcruisers too - I love all cars pretty much - especially big, comforting overland 4x4s - just love the fact they can go anywhere! Like the 76 myself and 79 - but why can't they make the rear axle the right size!