Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender1.4x !!
- Thread starter KangS
- Start date
Not really... Price-wise the 200-400L is almost certainly in a different league compared to the 100-400L. Probably something to the tune of 8K vs 2K... it'll be for a totally different market.
I don't think the casual hobbiest would want to spend 8K on a super telephoto zoom lens... probably more for sports or wildlife photojournalists using company-owned equipment.
gundamseed84
New Member
It might not be that great for birding due to range. If I were to spend say 8k or above on it for birding, then I might consider sigma 300-800 f5.6 instead (still has zoom for convenience), trading the range for the 1 stop aperture.
However if it is for multi-purpose usage whereby you need 400mm (or 560) then it is great provided it is light weight enough.
limwhow
Senior Member
My wife and I have been testing out the long zooms for a trip in the near future.
And we have been shooting with the 100-400mm + 1.4x TC (the 1.4x TC can still AF on our 1D bodies, but not the 2.0x TC).
Right now I am testing out the 300mm f/2.8 + 2.0x TC.
But this, this 200-400mm is exactly what we are looking for.
For the following reasons:
Of course, there are many other reasons too, being, as I strongly believe, a new line lens of this calibre would have much improved IS and much better optics.
But based on the above-listed reasons, this would be THE lens that each of us would hope to bring along with us for our Safari, in addition to the 70-200mm f/2.8.
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And we have been shooting with the 100-400mm + 1.4x TC (the 1.4x TC can still AF on our 1D bodies, but not the 2.0x TC).
Right now I am testing out the 300mm f/2.8 + 2.0x TC.
But this, this 200-400mm is exactly what we are looking for.
For the following reasons:
- The built-in 1.4x TC is so convenient. Save us the trouble of having to dismount and mount the lens with the TC under dusty sandy conditions.
- In the same line of thought, the flexibility of having a TC on or off according to how close the game is to us - this is wonderful.
- The range from 200-560mm at an aperture of f/5.6 is certainly better than the 400mm end of the 100-400mm + 1.4x TC (f/8.0).
Of course, there are many other reasons too, being, as I strongly believe, a new line lens of this calibre would have much improved IS and much better optics.
But based on the above-listed reasons, this would be THE lens that each of us would hope to bring along with us for our Safari, in addition to the 70-200mm f/2.8.
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dolina
Senior Member
This is my personal assessment of the lens.
Current BHPhoto street price is $6,799 for the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II Lens (3.4kg) and it does not have a built-in teleconverter.
MSRP would be above $7,000 and after the London 2012 Olympic Games around $6,000+. Another indicator for price is that lenses that have a related aperture diameter of 100-107mm tend to sell for $4,500 to $7,000.
Now about this lens.
For whom is this lens for? Sports & Wildlife shooters.
- If you do not have a focal length of 200mm or longer this is a very tempting lens to acquire.
- If you do have a focal length of 200mm or longer but is slower than f/4 this is a very tempting lens to acquire.
- If you only want one super telephoto that fits mostly outdoors application then this is a very tempting lens to acquire.
Extender 1.4x not engaged
- FF crop camera would be 200-400 @ f/4
- 1.3x crop camera would be 260-520 @ f/4
- 1.6x crop camera would be 320-640 @ f/4
Extender 1.4x engaged
- FF crop camera would be 280-560 @ f/5.6
- 1.3x crop camera would be 364-728 @ f/5.6
- 1.6x crop camera would be 448-896 @ f/5.6
Current BHPhoto street price is $6,799 for the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II Lens (3.4kg) and it does not have a built-in teleconverter.
MSRP would be above $7,000 and after the London 2012 Olympic Games around $6,000+. Another indicator for price is that lenses that have a related aperture diameter of 100-107mm tend to sell for $4,500 to $7,000.
Now about this lens.
For whom is this lens for? Sports & Wildlife shooters.
- If you do not have a focal length of 200mm or longer this is a very tempting lens to acquire.
- If you do have a focal length of 200mm or longer but is slower than f/4 this is a very tempting lens to acquire.
- If you only want one super telephoto that fits mostly outdoors application then this is a very tempting lens to acquire.
Extender 1.4x not engaged
- FF crop camera would be 200-400 @ f/4
- 1.3x crop camera would be 260-520 @ f/4
- 1.6x crop camera would be 320-640 @ f/4
Extender 1.4x engaged
- FF crop camera would be 280-560 @ f/5.6
- 1.3x crop camera would be 364-728 @ f/5.6
- 1.6x crop camera would be 448-896 @ f/5.6
limwhow
Senior Member
Thank you, dolina.
This is very well summarised and indeed very handy a chart for all of us to have a quick glance to remind ourselves how far we can reach. :thumbsup:
ManWearPants
Senior Member
I will wait for the Sigma 100-300 f2.8 OS and TCs. 420mm f4 sounds quite interesting. Same with 600 f5.6.
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8k? ???
Dream on... it's more like S$12k
If you can afford it, I'll say go for it. The range is unbeatable for safari and I bet the quality will be groundbreaking as well.
dolina
Senior Member
limwhow
Senior Member
Yupe, ManWearPants. Certainly for that money, we can definitely find alternative 3rd party lenses that have similar or close-to the specifications. Often even better.
But I guess different strokes for different people.
For me it's going to be a Canon and almost nothing else when it comes to the bazookas..
doodah, my whole-hearted agreement with you on your last statement.
A lens like this, especially after Canon messed up a few lenses prior to this, would be that they would've put their worth into it.
I personally believe it is going to deliver mind-blowing performances.
Now, the only thing is... when will it reach our shores?
dolina
Senior Member
After June/July & before December.
raydio
Senior Member
Add the external 2x teleconverter (MkIII) and you've got a whopping 1800mm! Great for moon shots!
raydio
Senior Member
I believe that Canon's innovation will change the entire industry! This is great news for us! I am sure that all the 3rd party manufacturers will eventually introduce their own versions of the built in 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters.
I can just imagine:
The Bigma 50-500mm lens with built-in "dual" 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters! The "dual" teleconverters will work independently of one another so that one or both can be used at the same time.
I can just imagine:
The Bigma 50-500mm lens with built-in "dual" 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters! The "dual" teleconverters will work independently of one another so that one or both can be used at the same time.
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