Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender1.4x !!


If I'm the boss of Canon, I would prefer to sell more with lower margins. Price it below Nikon's 200-400mm to kill the competition. Like how Nikon's tiltshift cost almost twice the Canon's

If only every manufacturer thinks that way, the world would be a much better place for us consumers. :)
 

3kg lens + 800g camera body is just like the weight of the loaded SAR-21 rifle... with a strap, it is portable for long hours on end and definitely usable for hand-held shooting, be it in the standing shoulder, prone or squatting positions. :)

Glass like this would be mounted onto a 1.2kg pro body like the 1Ds or 1D.
 

Glass like this would be mounted onto a 1.2kg pro body like the 1Ds or 1D.

Not necessarily... In fact to get more reach, I think bird and wildlife shooters may prefer to use this lens on a 1.6x crop sensor body..
 

Hi Limwhow, sounds like you are off to a safari in the near future? If you are, i can roughly tell you what sort of lens you need.

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:
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
__________________
 

HI LimwHow, well if you are heading for the safari, honestly, you dont need such a long lens, usually a 70-200mm is more than sufficient and pls dont change lens at the safari, thats what i did previously and it got jammed by dust. SO bring 2 cameras instead and have those 2 lens affix to it all the time. One of them definitely needed is a 70-200mm 2.8 or f4, you cant go outdoors anyway if the light is too low, and the other, surprisingly you need is more of a regular lens like a 24-70mm. Reason being is because the safari rovers will go very up close to the animals itself, so you dont really need a long zoom. Only time i felt long zooms are needed if you are looking out for jaguars hidden in the trees, and they are very shy, or if there is a hunt going on, then you will need something like a 200-400mm range, otherwise, stick to the 24-70 and the 70-200mm instead. Also depending on when you are going, if you are going during the migration route of july to sept, chances of you gettting a hunt shot with the 200-400mm is alot higher, if you are going out of these months, hunting are more rare and regular lens like 24-70 and 70-200 is more than sufficient. Hope it helps.


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:
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
__________________
 

HI LimwHow, well if you are heading for the safari, honestly, you dont need such a long lens, usually a 70-200mm is more than sufficient and pls dont change lens at the safari, thats what i did previously and it got jammed by dust. SO bring 2 cameras instead and have those 2 lens affix to it all the time. One of them definitely needed is a 70-200mm 2.8 or f4, you cant go outdoors anyway if the light is too low, and the other, surprisingly you need is more of a regular lens like a 24-70mm. Reason being is because the safari rovers will go very up close to the animals itself, so you dont really need a long zoom. Only time i felt long zooms are needed if you are looking out for jaguars hidden in the trees, and they are very shy, or if there is a hunt going on, then you will need something like a 200-400mm range, otherwise, stick to the 24-70 and the 70-200mm instead. Also depending on when you are going, if you are going during the migration route of july to sept, chances of you gettting a hunt shot with the 200-400mm is alot higher, if you are going out of these months, hunting are more rare and regular lens like 24-70 and 70-200 is more than sufficient. Hope it helps.

Hello adrianyew.
Why, thank you for your very detailed illustration.
We are indeed planning for a safari. And from the latest news from the tour company, we would most likely be doing the migration season in Kenya..
Thus we are hoping to see some real hunt actions of which the preys will be the wildebeest and the impalas and such...

Our plan is to bring three cameras each with the following lenses:
My wife: a) 24-70mm, b)70-200mm f/2.8, c)200-400mm f/4 (if we can purchase in time)
Myself: a)16-35mm, b)70-200mm f/2.8, c)200-400mm f/4 (again if we can get it in time)

So by doing so, we would hopefully not miss too much in between.
Thanks again, adrianyew!
 

Ahh not a problem. I faced the same problems too when i was planning my trip there. In the end, realised a very long zoom is not needed because we are able to crop and the images will still be sharp. Dont bring along a monopod or tripod, you wont need it, too cumbersome. Also am assuming your rover is an open top version, so just stand up, rest your lens plate on the frame of the rover and you will be fine. For your lens, doubt you need the 16-35mm, the place is so vast you wont know what to shoot with such wide angle, haha, by that time you wish you had a 8mm fish eye lens instead...heh. 24-70 and the 70-200mm is more than good, hopefully you will get the 200-400mm in time! Am assuming you are heading to the masai mara, thats by far the best reserve in all of kenya to be quite honest. Have fun and remember, DONT CHANGE YOUR LENS WHILE OUT IN THE SAFARI!!!!!

Hello adrianyew.
Why, thank you for your very detailed illustration.
We are indeed planning for a safari. And from the latest news from the tour company, we would most likely be doing the migration season in Kenya..
Thus we are hoping to see some real hunt actions of which the preys will be the wildebeest and the impalas and such...

Our plan is to bring three cameras each with the following lenses:
My wife: a) 24-70mm, b)70-200mm f/2.8, c)200-400mm f/4 (if we can purchase in time)
Myself: a)16-35mm, b)70-200mm f/2.8, c)200-400mm f/4 (again if we can get it in time)

So by doing so, we would hopefully not miss too much in between.
Thanks again, adrianyew!
 

because pros requested it. having an integrated extender avoids problems associated with swapping in and out extenders such as dirt, dust, grime, debry, damage, rain, water, mud and the chance of accidental drops. I wish all lenses had this vs a separate extender that is a 1-size-fits-all.

Can they make this lens 200-400 at f4 and from 400 to 560 at f5.6 without the extender?
Maybe becos it will look more pro since it is constant F stop rather than a zoom with changing F stop or maybe more glass needed. :bsmilie:
 

Can they make this lens 200-400 at f4 and from 400 to 560 at f5.6 without the extender?
Maybe becos it will look more pro since it is constant F stop rather than a zoom with changing F stop or maybe more glass needed. :bsmilie:

A constant aperture is desirable when you want the most exposure control with your lens.
 

the pricing is way way too high, i will just stick to my 1DXes + 70-200 f2.8 & 500f4 combo

no doubt its a convenient zoom range but if it cost 2 times of the nikon one, ask canon to fly kite
 

no doubt its a convenient zoom range but if it cost 2 times of the nikon one, ask canon to fly kite

Agree.

kite.jpg
 

the pricing is way way too high, i will just stick to my 1DXes + 70-200 f2.8 & 500f4 combo

no doubt its a convenient zoom range but if it cost 2 times of the nikon one, ask canon to fly kite

I am glad that it costs everything! At least I can give it a cold shoulder and still wont miss it. Tks Canon for helping in my decision.
 

I am glad that it costs everything! At least I can give it a cold shoulder and still wont miss it. Tks Canon for helping in my decision.

Ha ha, this is a new meaning to "Delighting you always."
 

Comparing Canon's offering at around $16-17k local set to nikon's at around $8.5k, i have no idea how could i ever justify this purchase. Not forgetting that nikon's offering is also world class on its own, and none too shabby per say.

Other than "rip off", i dunno what are the other words/phrases that i can use to describe canon.
 

Ha ha, this is a new meaning to "Delighting you always."

Think the price wud be 13-14k Singapore. Ok Canon throw in sweeterner dicosounts on safari workshop with Canon Imaging..This will sell the lens
 

This is amazon's pricing: USD 11,799

When u convert to SGD using today's SGD/USD exchange rate of 1.24, the pricing is SGD 14,641.85. Then u slap a 7% GST = SGD 15,667.

And lastly, canon singapore prices a premium of at least 10% to 15% compared to canon USA prices for many of their lenses. Using 10% premium, it works out to be SGD 17,233.

Amazon.com: Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x: Camera & Photo
 

If I didnt have any long lens this would be what I would be buying.

Focal lengths are 200-560mm
 

Back
Top