Canon 400mm DO questions

[Scott Leslie]

I am interested in this lens for several reasons. It would fit my needs perfectly, however, I have read contradicting reviews on the lens. Can anybody who had experience with this lens please let me know how they've found it for sharpness and contrast in particular, and overall performance and durability in general. I am looking at a used one one that is a good price and from 2009 (code UX). Unfortunately, I can't try the lens (he's about 1500 miles away) and can't find one to rent here in eastern Canada. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks!
Scott

[Roger Clark]

Scott,
Why not the 300 f/2.8? Canon's MTF charts show the 300 2.8 with significantly better performance than the 400 DO. And the new 300 2.8 II has significantly better performance with a 1.4x and even 2x TC than 400 DO with no TC. You then also have the advantage of an f/2.8 lens.
http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/

Roger

[Tony Hansford]

Thanks for asking this question. I sent Art Wolfe more or less the same question because in Travels To The Edge I noticed he used one with stacked 1.4x & 2x extenders.
Roger, I think if he's asking about the 400 he's interested in this lens and not the 300.

[Chris Brennan]

I used to own a 400mm DO. It is a spectacular lens but with a set of quirks which you must know about going in. Yes, it's very light-weight, and yes it will deliver some superb images. The caveat is that because of it's unique optical construction, images from it tend to be low contrast so you need to be prepared to bump up the contrast in post-processing. I would advise you using it with a camera which has micro-focus adjustment because in order to get absolutely the best the lens has to offer, MFA needs to be done. It does take a 1.4x converter very well, albeit with slightly slower AF acquisition. However, I would strongly advise to NOT buy it sight unseen, and at the very least, make sure the seller will let you return it if it's not what you want. It's a popular lens among users on this site, and in fact, Art Morris used to use one all the time until he switched to the new 70-200 Series II with converters. I'm sure, of all of the people on this site, he can give you the most info on the DO.

[Roger Clark]

Roger, I think if he's asking about the 400 he's interested in this lens and not the 300.

I had a similar thought (a 400 f/4 would be an ideal light lens) a number of years ago. After looking at the 400 DO (which is pretty expensive), I decided that the 300 f/2.8 was a better choice and went that route. I would do the same thing today. The 300 f/2.8 is still a pretty light lens, relatively speaking, and the new version even lighter.

There are several reasons. The 400 f/4 is 100 mm aperture; the 300 f/2.8 is 107 mm, so about 15% more light. The 300 is sharper with higher contrast. If one needs to boost contrast with the 400 DO, that means increase in noise and artifacts, and reduces how much sharpening one can do. The diffractive optics are more prone to lens flare, limiting imaging possibilities. All for a modest reduction in weight. Plus the f/2.8 gives new imaging possibilities of narrow depth of field. Seems like win win to me with the only downside a very small increase in weight.

Roger

[Tony Hansford]

Here's Art Wolfe using the lens with stacked extenders.

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/833/tttel.jpg


Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[Roger Clark]

Here's Art Wolfe using the lens with stacked extenders.


Tony,
That video does not seem to work for me. How about a url?

Roger

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Tony I know Art Wolfe is an extraordinary photographer but I would like to see some of the images he shoot with the stacked TCs... please.

[Tony Hansford]

Roger that is a screen grab of the video that I had paused on my computer. I posted it so you guys would know that I wasn't bullsh****g about him using the stacked extenders with the 400 DO lens.
You can get the video here or if you know what to look for you can find some of them on ddl sites.
http://store.luminous-landscape.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=32&products_id=252

[Tony Hansford]

Tony I know Art Wolfe is an extraordinary photographer but I would like to see some of the images he shoot with the stacked TCs... please.
And how am I supposed to do that?

[Roger Clark]

Roger that is a screen grab of the video that I had paused on my computer. I posted it so you guys would know that I wasn't bullsh****g about him using the stacked extenders with the 400 DO lens.
[/URL]

Tony,

I do not think anyone questioned that Art or other people stack TCs. I do occasionally. Here is one such image made with a 500 f/4 + stacked 1.4 and 2x TCs:
[url]http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.moon/web/moon.c07.19.2010.c45i1027.1400mm.d-923.html (http://store.luminous-landscape.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=32&products_id=252)

Roger

[Steve Canuel]

People often talk about my photography in the same breath as Art Wolfe's. They say "That Steve Canuel, he's no Art Wolfe" With that disclaimer, here's one of my more successful results with stacked 1.4x and 2x TCs on the 400DO. IIRC, this was taken at 1600ISO with the 40D. Tripod, cable release, MLU, full frame (or nearly so). Just sharing a hobbyist's POV.

[Tony Hansford]

Tony,

I do not think anyone questioned that Art or other people stack TCs. I do occasionally. Here is one such image made with a 500 f/4 + stacked 1.4 and 2x TCs:
http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.moon/web/moon.c07.19.2010.c45i1027.1400mm.d-923.html
Roger

Nice shot but it has nothing to do with the 400 DO lens.

[Tony Hansford]

People often talk about my photography in the same breath as Art Wolfe's. They say "That Steve Canuel, he's no Art Wolfe" With that disclaimer, here's one of my more successful results with stacked 1.4x and 2x TCs on the 400DO. IIRC, this was taken at 1600ISO with the 40D. Tripod, cable release, MLU, full frame (or nearly so). Just sharing a hobbyist's POV.
That looks ok to me Steve. I have a friend who is seriously considering this lens and I have given it more that a passing thought. It would be great to see more photos from and opinions about this lens.

[Roger Clark]

Nice shot but it has nothing to do with the 400 DO lens.

Actually it does. It shows what a high performance lens can deliver with stacked TCs. Here is another one with the 300 f/2.8 + 2x + 1.4x TCs, see Figure 6:
http://www.clarkvision.com/articles/telephoto_reach/

It would be nice to see a Moon image with the 400 DO with stacked TCs (and bare and with 1 TC). The Moon is a tough target as the high contrast will show flaws that standard test targets will hide.

Roger

[Scott Leslie]

Thanks for everyone's comments. I just bought a 300mm f2.8IS and new TC's.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Congratulations! I'm sure that's a pretty good lens. :S3: