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View Full Version : Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM Lens

joeyao
02-03-2005, 01:56 PM
Is this a good lens for birding? or is the EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS lens a better choice if portability is a major concern?
Garion
02-03-2005, 03:06 PM
Is this a good lens for birding? or is the EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS lens a better choice if portability is a major concern?If given a choice between the 300mm f2.8 and the 400mm f4 (assuming I don't own both), I would choose the 300mm f2.8. The optics of the 300mm beat the 400mm hands down, it is one of the sharpest primes around. You can have more flexibility with the 300mm, you can choose its native 300mm length, or 420mm with a 1.4x TC, or 600mm with a 2x TC, and not lose AF too. The 400mm f4 DO IS lens was not very well received when it was first launched.
Fred
02-03-2005, 10:51 PM
Very well said Garion, another plus for 300mm F2.8 is the focusing speed, which is typically faster even with a 2x mounted (at least for Nikon). :drool:
Garion
02-03-2005, 11:55 PM
Very well said Garion, another plus for 300mm F2.8 is the focusing speed, which is typically faster even with a 2x mounted (at least for Nikon). :drool:Yup, the AF speed is extremely fast for the lens w/o any TC mounted and still pretty fast when a 1.4x TC is added, and still moderately fast even when 2x TC is used. Moreso if a pro body is used. ;) Besides fast AF, the superb image quality is the one thing going for it, tack sharp even with the 2x stacked on it.
calvinlo
03-03-2005, 09:59 PM
Argh...having read these posts, my Len Lust strikes into my heart again :biggrinlo ...Must...have...the...Sigma 120-300mm F2.8... :drool:
joeyao
03-03-2005, 10:56 PM
If given a choice between the 300mm f2.8 and the 400mm f4 (assuming I don't own both), I would choose the 300mm f2.8. The optics of the 300mm beat the 400mm hands down, it is one of the sharpest primes around. You can have more flexibility with the 300mm, you can choose its native 300mm length, or 420mm with a 1.4x TC, or 600mm with a 2x TC, and not lose AF too. The 400mm f4 DO IS lens was not very well received when it was first launched.
Very well said Garion, another plus for 300mm F2.8 is the focusing speed, which is typically faster even with a 2x mounted (at least for Nikon). :drool:
Thanks for the feedback guys. I think the 300mm f/2.8 is a better bet.

Argh...having read these posts, my Len Lust strikes into my heart again :biggrinlo ...Must...have...the...Sigma 120-300mm F2.8... :drool:
No need to lust for the Sigma :Nono: Your present 80-400mm VR is a good lens :thumb: just look at the pics by Sumit with this lens!