Well, the loooong awaited update to Canon's 100-400 L lens seems to be imminent. This may be the perfect lens for zoos. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II Specs Emerge Canon Rumors
Minimum focusing distance of only 0.98 metres! Wow! And by using the rotational zoom they can dust and weather seal it. Any rumours about the price? Hix
Umm... the rotational zoom is a huge step up, but it's a shame it's not a bit faster, f5.6 at the long end is troublesome when the light isn't great.
Faster would be great, but that is just not possible without making the lens a lot larger and heavier (and, if you look at the 200-400, MUCH more expensive). A lens over 1,5 kg is useless for me, which is the reason why the new 150-600 lenses from Sigma and Tamron are no options. I am very glad that Canon keeps the 100-400 compact enough for backpacking/hiking.
The perfect zoo lens? There's no such animal Alan PS . . . and another thing, where is the perfect zoo to use it at?
Looks like CanonRumors got a sneak peek at the official release (which will not actually be official until Tuesday apparently). Introducing the Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II Canon Rumors Price is 2199 US dollars.
That's expensive, but obnly a few hundred more than the current model. Is this the one with the built in 1.4X teleconverter? Hix
No. The one with the built in extender is a constant f4 and lists for just under twelve thousand US dollars. Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X So in comparison this new one is small and cheap. To low wage workers like me, over two thousand dollars for a camera lens is not cheap. But it is funny when you read the photo forums about how everyone is so happy that it is so cheap. Either they are comparing it to the one above or they have much better paying jobs than I do. I suspect both are true, although the latter is not hard to achieve.
It is now officially "official." Canon USA Introduces New Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens, The Compact & Highly Mobile Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Canon Rumors I think I must get this lens. I also like the lens hood, how the end is a normal shape and not the dorky looking tulip shape of my 70-200 where the longer rounded ends stick out way too far. Interesting innovation to put a sliding door on the hood for rotating a circular polarizer. Canon is going to sell a ton of these lenses.
If it's anything like the 70-300L and it's obviously based on the same design then it will be sharp, very sharp, and fast. It plus a 7D Mk2 is as good a zoo lens combo as you're likely to get. Can't wait.
I think many people will compare this lens with, say, very good Sony 70-400, and Canon hardly wants to lose before fight.
Based on their recent track record with L lenses, I guarantee it is going to be very sharp. If I had the money, I would pre-order one today. (I don't have the money, though, so I will have to wait until next year).
Here is an interview with it in use by a wildlife photographer. Of course the interview is by Canon Professional Network, so it is obviously a positive bias. Canon Professional Network - Getting closer to nature with the new EF100-400mm super-zoom (Still, I wish I had one for my trip to San Diego next week. Man, would this lens be perfect.)
That's not entirely true. If the lens is good, then a better combo would be to put it on a 5D Mk3 or a 1Dx.
While the crop does give an artificial zoom, the 5D Mk.III has a higher resolution count, so that evens things out a little. The biggest difference in practice will be the limited depth-of-field from the 7D's crop, which can be very useful in a zoo environment.
I love my 100-400 L, the mark 2 promises an improvement and I'm sure it will deliver. All I would add to mine to make it the perfect zoo lens is closer focussing (done) and the latest standard of IS (done - with added mode 3 for action photography). My only disappointment is the loss of push-pull zooming. Its great to be able to zoom without altering your stance with an awkward wrist twist. I don't buy this 'dust pump' thing either. The elements and air still have to move regardless of the user interface. As for the price, I'm sure it will drop a little once the preorders are fulfilled, but the mark one didn't drop much throughout its life. L series lenses retain a lot of value and have a long life, so taking their superior quality into account aren't really bad value at all. Probably the nearest thing to a perfect zoo lens I'm sure. If anyone out there is going for one, I'm looking forward to seeing how it performs.
