Down in some thread (I'm too lazy to dig it out) Jim Keener was asking my impressions of the 400 DO II. I got it 2 days ago and love it! All it takes to judge optimal image quality is a look at the MTF charts -- outstanding. But the real test is real-world handing, and I'm finding it delightful with the humble 7D2. After about 5 shots I put the 1.4X on it and may never take it off. Autofocus response is fast and accurate, with all the focus points available, and hand-holdability is very manageable for a small woman. (I may be mean but I'm not very strong.) And it does AF with the 2X TC, although I haven't shot anything meaningful with it. May need a tripod for that.
I've only had a chance to shoot birds in flight in soupy ground fog, and although the pictures are very low contrast, they appear very sharp -- another tribute to the AF. I think I'm getting faster and better AF than I was with the 300 f/2.8 IS with a 1.4X, which surprises me. (Maybe there is less mass to be driven?) That is an opinion I'll keep watching, though.
I shot 14 of this swan (which was not sitting still) in a variety of poses at close range and all but two were tack sharp.
The 100-400 II is also very sharp but a little "slower" at f/5.6 at 400. My initial impression is that the 400 DO II and the 7D2 were made for each other. I'm sure the 1DX would do even better but you'd need to crop more.
This is 30% of the original frame. ISO 800, f/8, 1/5000 sec. Could have easily gone to ISO 400 and still had plenty of shutter speed but I was stalking some darker ducks. No sharpening except the LR default, and no NR here - just Shadows brought up and Highlights down, then Whites up a little.
It won't replace the 600 II but will find uses that aren't practical for me with either the 600 or the 100-400 II.
Hi Diane. Looks nice and sharp. Thanks for the review. How do you think it compares to the 100-400 Mk2 with a 1.4 extender on for BIF? In terms of AF I mean.
I haven't had a good opportunity to do BIF in decent light, but my impression is that the 400 is way better, at least on the 7D2. The 1DX may be better, but the 100-400 is f/5.6 at 400 and a stop slower with the 1.4X, limiting it to the center focus point (with four helper points) on the 7D2. I spent a lot of time last spring/early summer at an osprey nest and didn't have good results with the 100-400 + 1.4X. It was much better bare at f/5.6. And that's where the 400 f/4 is with the 1.4X.
The zoom on the 100-400 is wonderful to have, and it is a wonderful macro lens with the 1.4, so I will be keeping it, for sure. But for BIF the 400 DO will be my choice, or the 600 III, but that will require a tripod for me, which limits usefulness somewhat.
Agree entirely about the 100-400 for bare lens BIF and macro with or without the extender, but have not found it to be of any use with the 1.4x for BIF on the 7D Mk2. The need to get that little bit closer optically is very enticing.
With the 100-400 and 7D2, I've had better luck going to all the focus points and letting the camera decide. (It is fun to watch them dance around.) But then it's going to focus on some sort of detail it likes, such as wingtip feathers, and the head may not be in sharpest focus. But that way I get more shots where at least something is sharp. More DOF will help a little there, but that usually means both more light and higher ISO, and more light means more shadows. Frustrating.
Diane, whatever you used, that's a wonderful photograph. And I'm glad you got to play with different gear configurations. Thanks for sharing the results. I'm going into the lens experimenting business for awhile, too. I've just requested the 800mm from CPS, and want to test it with the 1DX and 7D II on birds on the ground at Bernardo.
And the 400mm DO after that. But with the 400 DO, I'll include BIF.
Keep us posted!! I'd think the 1DX and the 600 + 1.4X would be hard to beat compared to the 800.
At some point, the amount of air in between you and the subject will degrade an image more than any magnification can make up for. But as dry as it is there, I'd think you could do well.
Your post is about gear, but you illustrate it with an extraordinarily beautiful photograph. Makes me wish you posted more. It affirms once again that I'm in the right place.
Canon 400mm DO II
Not a bad image for someone posting in the ETL! (in fact, it's very beautiful)
