Canon EF 100-400mm IS lens

QUILLL

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Would buying this lens be a better choice than buying a 2X teleconverter to add to my 70-200mm F2.8 IS Lens? I have 5d Mk II and 7d bodies
Any views please?
 
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It will be very similar and potentially more useful. You would obviously have to buy the canon TC as the optics are that much better. As you have the f2.8 I believe that the 2x will still AF. You will obviously lose two stops of light taking you to to f5.6 at all lengths rather than 4.5 at the low end on the 100-400. The best thing is to buy a second user converter from the forum here or over at TP and if you don't like it then sell it on again without losing as much as buying the 100-400 lens. Hopefully I have made sense :) The 7D will still act the same but your equivalent FL will be 224-640 (Wow). You effectively have a 70-640 f2.8-5.6
Unsure of quality but the 100-400 isn't the best reviewee out there.
Hope this helps :)
 
It will be very similar and potentially more useful. You would obviously have to buy the canon TC as the optics are that much better. As you have the f2.8 I believe that the 2x will still AF. You will obviously lose two stops of light taking you to to f5.6 at all lengths rather than 4.5 at the low end on the 100-400. The best thing is to buy a second user converter from the forum here or over at TP and if you don't like it then sell it on again without losing as much as buying the 100-400 lens. Hopefully I have made sense :) The 7D will still act the same but your equivalent FL will be 224-640 (Wow). You effectively have a 70-640 f2.8-5.6
Unsure of quality but the 100-400 isn't the best reviewee out there.
Hope this helps :)[/QUOTE

Thanks Tommo,
Here is a table for the X2 TC
Can you ( or anyone else) explain the magnification figure (0.33) and AF possibility for the 70-200mm lens and also those for the 100-400mm lenses and their impact on photo taking?
Cheers and good luck




]tender EF 2x Compatibility Chart
Lens Attachment Focal Length
(mm) f-stop
(f) Max. Magnification
(x) AF
EF 135mm f/2L USM 270 4 ~ 64 0.38 O
EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM 360 6.7*1 ~ 64 2.0 X
EF 200mm f/1.8L USM 400 3.5 ~ 45 0.18 O
EF 200mm f/2L IS USM 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.24 O*4
EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.32 O
EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM 600 5.6 ~ 64 0.28 O
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM 600 8 ~ 64 0.47 X*4*5
EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM 800 5.6 ~ 64 0.31 O
EF 400mm f/4L DO IS USM 800 8 ~ 64 0.24 X*4*5
EF 400mm f/5.6L USM 800 11 ~ 64 0.18 X
EF 500mm f/4L IS USM 1,000 8 ~ 90 0.25 X*4*5
EF 600mm f/4L IS USM 1,200 8 ~ 90 0.24 X*4*5
EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM 1,600 11 ~ 64 0.28 X
EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM 2,400 11 ~ 64 0.18 X
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM 140 ~ 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.33 O*2
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 140 ~ 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.33 O*2
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM 140 ~ 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.33 O*2
EF 70-200mm f/4L USM 140 ~ 400 8 ~ 64 0.45 X*4
EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM 140 ~ 400 8 ~ 64 0.45 X*4
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM 200 ~ 800 9.5 ~ 64 0.41 X*5
(O =possible X =impossible)

*1 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.
*2 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.
*3 The autofocusing range is from 0.8m/2.6ft. to infinity.
*4 With the EOS-1D series, EOS-1v and EOS-3, AF is possible, but with the center focusing point only.
*5 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.
 
It will be very similar and potentially more useful. You would obviously have to buy the canon TC as the optics are that much better. As you have the f2.8 I believe that the 2x will still AF. You will obviously lose two stops of light taking you to to f5.6 at all lengths rather than 4.5 at the low end on the 100-400. The best thing is to buy a second user converter from the forum here or over at TP and if you don't like it then sell it on again without losing as much as buying the 100-400 lens. Hopefully I have made sense :) The 7D will still act the same but your equivalent FL will be 224-640 (Wow). You effectively have a 70-640 f2.8-5.6
Unsure of quality but the 100-400 isn't the best reviewee out there.
Hope this helps :)
Excuse my ignorance but what do you refer to as TP? and have you any idea where I can get a second user X2?
 
He is talking about the Talkphotography forum

Do you have the 70-200 2.8 IS MKII or the original if its the MKII it works a lot better with the Canon 2xTC than the MkI 70-200 which was always a bit lackluster with a 2xTC

Have a look at the thread below, there are some interesting comparison shots in Post #13 of the 70-200 2.8 II with a 2xTC compared to the 100-400

Compare Canon 100-400 L to Canon 70-200 2.8 II + 2X TC - Talk Photography
 
He is talking about the Talkphotography forum

Do you have the 70-200 2.8 IS MKII or the original if its the MKII it works a lot better with the Canon 2xTC than the MkI 70-200 which was always a bit lackluster with a 2xTC

Have a look at the thread below, there are some interesting comparison shots in Post #13 of the 70-200 2.8 II with a 2xTC compared to the 100-400

Compare Canon 100-400 L to Canon 70-200 2.8 II + 2X TC - Talk Photography
Yes its the MkII. I think I will go for the 2X III TC combination if I can get a used one, and I still don't understand what the magnification value (0.33) stated earlier means?
Thank You for you advice.
 
Not sure you'll find too many second hand yet... But it's probably the better option with the Mk II. The 100-400 is better than the MkI with a 2x TC, but even then buying a 100-400 would depend on how much you use the 200mm+ range really.

If you find yourself at 400mm a lot, then a 300 f/4 with a 1.4x TC or the 400 f/5.6 might be the better options. The 300 with the TC would also give you a few more options on the 70-200, and has IS as well.
 
Thanks for the advice. Will the 2x converter actually produce a 2x magnified image?
 
Thanks for the advice. Will the 2x converter actually produce a 2x magnified image?

(Where the 0.33 magnification comes in is in Macro, what that is say is that with the 70-200 and a 2x you will be able to generate a maximum 0.33 Life Size Image on the sensor), a proper macro lens will produce a minimum of a 1x (ie Life Size image on the sensor), so at 0.33 its not great for macro, but to be honest not really a lens combo you would be using for macro, although have seen some good dragonfly shots with this combo!


Yes the 2x Convertor doubles the Image size and loses you 2 stops of light and some contrast.

So on a FF Body like the 5D II, the 2.8 70-200 becomes a 5.6 140-400
and on a Crop 7D Body the 2.8 70-200 becomes a 5.6 224-640

I carry the 2x TC in my bag for work as I rarely need anything more than a 70-200, but for the odd occasion I need the extra reach the 2x TC does the job nicely and saves carrying a hefty 400mm around

I normally carry

1x Canon 1D Mk4 with a 24-70 2.8
1x Canon 1D Mk4 with a 70-200 2.8 II
1x 5D MKII with an 85mm 1.2

along with 3 580EXII Flash units and the 2x.

Adding the 400mm would be straw that broke the old mans back!
 
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(Where the 0.33 magnification comes in is in Macro, what that is say is that with the 70-200 and a 2x you will be able to generate a maximum 0.33 Life Size Image on the sensor), a proper macro lens will produce a minimum of a 1x (ie Life Size image on the sensor), so at 0.33 its not great for macro, but to be honest not really a lens combo you would be using for macro, although have seen some good dragonfly shots with this combo!


Yes the 2x Convertor doubles the Image size and loses you 2 stops of light and some contrast.

So on a FF Body like the 5D II, the 2.8 70-200 becomes a 5.6 140-400
and on a Crop 7D Body the 2.8 70-200 becomes a 5.6 224-640

I carry the 2x TC in my bag for work as I rarely need anything more than a 70-200, but for the odd occasion I need the extra reach the 2x TC does the job nicely and saves carrying a hefty 400mm around

I normally carry

1x Canon 1D Mk4 with a 24-70 2.8
1x Canon 1D Mk4 with a 70-200 2.8 II
1x 5D MKII with an 85mm 1.2

along with 3 580EXII Flash units and the 2x.

Adding the 400mm would be straw that broke the old mans back!

Many thanks Prestogg,
That is a brilliant summary which answers all of my questions perfectly.
Now off to buy a 2x converter.
 
In al the tests I have seen the 100-400L is better than 70-200f2.8+2.9TC except the 70-200mkII and 2.0tc mkIII which is at least as good.
|Thanks Rob,
It seems that I will be buying the MKII and MKIII lens and TC combination as it seems to be the most cost effective with good results as well.
Cheers again
 
|Thanks Rob,
It seems that I will be buying the MKII and MKIII lens and TC combination as it seems to be the most cost effective with good results as well.
Cheers again
I thought you already had a 70-200 (mk1 presumably) ?

If you do, then selling it to get a mkii plus a TC whilst may be a good solution certainly won't be the cheapest, by a long way.

I would say if you already have the mki 70-200 then the choice between adding a 100-400, or selling it to get a mkii + TC is really too close to call and will boil down to personal preference on how much cash you have to burn, how many lenses you are willing to carry round etc. etc. I don't think there is any clear winner between the 2 scenarios.

Cheers,

John
 
I thought you already had a 70-200 (mk1 presumably) ?

If you do, then selling it to get a mkii plus a TC whilst may be a good solution certainly won't be the cheapest, by a long way.

I would say if you already have the mki 70-200 then the choice between adding a 100-400, or selling it to get a mkii + TC is really too close to call and will boil down to personal preference on how much cash you have to burn, how many lenses you are willing to carry round etc. etc. I don't think there is any clear winner between the 2 scenarios.

Cheers,

John


Sorry to mislead, I am waiting delivery of a 200-700 Mk II so I will jusy purchase the X2 TC
Cheers
 
Oh I see - in that case I would say definitey go with the TC.

Hope you like you 70-200 - it is an amazing lens.

Cheers,

John
 
Oh I see - in that case I would say definitey go with the TC.

Hope you like you 70-200 - it is an amazing lens.

Cheers,

John
Thanks John,
Are there any top tips for this lens using it with a 5D MkII ?
I can't wait.
 
Thanks John,
Are there any top tips for this lens using it with a 5D MkII ?
I can't wait.

Just remember sometimes it can be too sharp!

TracieBennett1.JPG


TracieBennett1s.jpg


And As I was always taught, At 2.8 if the tits are in focus the eyes won't be

JessicaAlba2.jpg


TalulahRiley2.jpg
 
I have both 70-200L mkII and the 100-400L for my 5dmkII.
Now if i only had a 2xTC, i would have 200-800 ;-) (would only be any good in bright sunlight though).
 
I have both 70-200L mkII and the 100-400L for my 5dmkII.
Now if i only had a 2xTC, i would have 200-800 ;-) (would only be any good in bright sunlight though).

Yip,
I've just bought a 7D body cos I like sports photography, so with my 70-200 and x2 III I should be OK, hopefully
 
Sorry, just got back to this thread, (very busy at work :)) Hope everything is sorted now. You have bought the lens (70-200 mk2) that myself and a lot of people would like. Hope you get some cracking images and it would be very interesting to see how you do and what you think.
Again, good luck with it and enjoy.
 
Sorry, just got back to this thread, (very busy at work :)) Hope everything is sorted now. You have bought the lens (70-200 mk2) that myself and a lot of people would like. Hope you get some cracking images and it would be very interesting to see how you do and what you think.
Again, good luck with it and enjoy.

Thanks Tommo,
I'll post an image or two when I get going. Luckily, I've managed to sell more than half of my Olympus stuff but I still have some lenses I need to shift or the credit card interest will hurt a lot.
 
Thanks Tommo,
I'll post an image or two when I get going. Luckily, I've managed to sell more than half of my Olympus stuff but I still have some lenses I need to shift or the credit card interest will hurt a lot.

What are you selling as a couple of people at my club have Olympus?
 
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Hi there,
Oly Zuiko
35mm Macro Prime
11-22mm
70-300mm
EC14 Teleconverter.

Thanks for the help
 
Any sales need to be kept to the classifieds and not in these forums thanks:)
 

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