Rematch

[Julie Kenward]

I am now convinced that the next lens in my arsenal will be a Canon 100-400mm f/4L zoom. I believe I have stretched the 70-200 f/4L about as far as it can go and I'm still not close enough. (BTW, anyone wanting to contribute to the "buy Jules a piece of nice glass" campaign contact me and I'll tell ya where to send the check. :D;):D

Anyway, here he is...bad composition and all. Hey, at least the water was beautiful and he did put on a show!

[Alfred Forns]

Jules do you have a converter for your lens? Would suggest keeping your zoom and getting a straight 400 5.6 !!!

I had problems with my 100-400 with the zoom getting stuck and sucking dirt into the camera. Don't like the push/pull designs. I did get the 70-200 and carried along with the 400 5.6 .... and the 600 !!! ... actually also save for a large pack animal :)

[Julie Kenward]

Al, I'm definitely going to keep the 70-200 as I am totally in love with this lens - it's just that for birding it's been a real challenge as they never seem to be within range. I do have a teleconverter on my wish list - that's the next purchase - but I talked to a BPN'er and another photog and they raved about the 100-400 so I am really leaning in that direction. Buying anything outside of the $1,000-1,500 range is totally out of the question on my budget - getting the 100-400 will take a Christmas bonus miracle...

In the meantime...if you ever get tired of lugging that 600 around, you know where to send it.:D;):D

[Alfred Forns]

Jules IMO there is nothing to rave about the 100-400? When new they had a bad reputation but now they are fine but no great performer.

I had mine rebuilt three times. The zoom would freeze and bearings had to be replaced, just over $300 each time. Price wise the zoom is just under $1400 and the straight 400 under $1000. For birds in flight it is the best hand held lens you could own. Actually since switching to Nikon its the only lens I really miss !!!!

... but it all boils down to convenience vs performance.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Hi Julie,
I am suggesting the 400 5.6 L too. It is much lighter, supposed to be razor sharp. I end up shooting with the 100-400 at the 400 end anyways which is 5.6 at the long end.
If you have the 70 -200 I think the 1.4 teleconverter would be good because you'll still have AF and a good reach. The teleconverter doesn't have AF with the 100-400. Just some thoughts. <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=599 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=601><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#eeeecc colSpan=5>Extender EF 1.4x II Compatibility Chart</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD noWrap width=244 bgColor=#ddddff>Lens Attachment
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle width=93 bgColor=#ddddff>Focal Length
(mm)
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle width=72 bgColor=#ddddff>f-stop
(f)
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle width=136 bgColor=#ddddff>Max. Magnification
(x)
</TD><TD align=middle width=71 bgColor=#ddddff>AF
</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 135mm f/2L USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>189</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>2.8 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>0.27</TD><TD align=middle>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>252</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>4.5<SUP>*1</SUP> ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>1.40</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>O<SUP>*3</SUP></TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 200mm f/1.8L USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>280</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>2.5 ~ 32</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>0.12</TD><TD align=middle>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>280</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>2.4 ~ 32</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>0.22</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>420</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>4 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>0.15</TD><TD align=middle>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>420</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>5.6 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>0.33</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>560</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>4 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>0.22</TD><TD align=middle>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 400mm f/4L DO IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>560</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>5.6 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>0.17</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>560</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>8 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>0.18</TD><TD align=middle>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>700</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>5.6 ~ 64</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>0.17</TD><TD align=middle>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 600mm f/4L IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>840</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>5.6 ~ 64</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>0.17</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>1,680</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>8 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>0.12</TD><TD align=middle>X</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>98 ~ 280</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>4 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>0.22</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>O<SUP>*2</SUP></TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>98 ~ 280</TD><TD noWrap align=middle>4 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>0.24</TD><TD align=middle>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 70-200mm f/4L USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>98 ~ 280</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>5.6 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>0.31</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>98 ~ 280</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>5.6 ~ 45</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>0.31</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>O</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap bgColor=#eeeecc>EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>140 ~ 560</TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>6.7 ~ 54<SUP>*1</SUP></TD><TD noWrap align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>0.28</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee>O<SUP>*4*5</SUP></TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap colSpan=5>
(O =possible X =impossible)


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width=616 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#eeeeee><TD width=20 height=26>*1</TD><TD width=596 height=26>Data based on EOS models with exposures displayed in 1/2 stop increments. It varies slightly with the EOS-1v, EOS-1N, EOS-1 and EOS-3.</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#eeeeee><TD width=20 height=27>*2</TD><TD width=596 height=27>If the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens is attached to an EOS camera having multiple focusing points and an Extender is attached to the lens, only the center focusing point will be usable for AF.</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#eeeeee><TD width=20 height=14>*3</TD><TD width=596 height=14>The autofocusing range is from 0.8m/2.6ft. to infinity.</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#eeeeee><TD width=20 height=14>*4</TD><TD width=596 height=14>AF is ONLY possible with the EOS-1v and EOS-3 cameras, ONLY when using the center focusing point.</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#eeeeee><TD width=20 height=26>*5</TD><TD width=596 height=26>The Image Stabilizer does not operate with the following cameras: EOS 650, 620, 630/600, RT, 700, 750, 850, EOS-1, A2/A2E, 10s, Elan, Rebel/Rebel S, Rebel II/Rebel SII.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
This is a list of compatible lenses from B and H.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Since I have a Nikon Julie I am no help to you but love what you have been doing with your 70 to 200 and I wish you a wonderful Christmas this year. < smile > Thanks for sharing your lovely captures on the GBH.