New Lenses (400 f/4 DO, etc)

Well, in addition to the new Canon 7D II, Canon has announced a series of new lenses. The one that is really impressing me in the 400 f/4 DO. Impressive because of the improvement in the MTF chart. This could be a heckuva lens.

Also new are the EFS 24 f/2.8 pancake and EF 24-105 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM.

In addition to the new lens, I am impressed by the price point for each lens. Photography is never cheap, but this continues the trend started earlier this year with the EF 16-35 f/4 IS and EFS 10-18 of "reasonable" price points for new lenses.

Anyway, Canon has added two lenses I will consider into their lineup this year, the EF 16-35 f/4 IS and the 400 DO II.

Be careful with the B&H pre-order link on TDP... it takes you to the version I and shows it in stock. Edit: Seems to be fixed now.

Anyone see anything that shows when this will be available.

I want to see the results from the first brave sole to order this. Hopefully it is a good lens.

Pat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by conropl

Anyone see anything that shows when this will be available.

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November 2014, according to B&H.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kayaker72

November 2014, according to B&H.

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Thanks.

This one is interesting. Not sure if it is worth the price at f/4, but with high ISO capable cameras now days... maybe. I hope we see some pictures soon.

Pat

Pat,

I am interested as well. Assuming the IQ matches the MTF charts this becomes a very interesting option because of reach and portability. That is a nice combination. At that price, I will easily wait for reviews, but it is definitely one I will be watching.

A quick comparison:

• Sigma 150-600S. 4.8 x 11.4 inches; 6.25 lbs
• Tamron 150-600. 4.2 x 10.6 inches; 4.25 lbs
• EF 400 DO II. 5 x 9.2 inches; 4.5 lbs
• EF 300 f/2.8 II. 5 x 10 inches; 5.2 lbs
• EF 400 f/2.8 II. 6.4 x 13.8 inches; 8.5 lbs
• EF 500 f/4 II; 6.7 x 15.3 inches; 7.1 lbs
• EF 600 f/4 II; 6.9 x 18 inches; 8.7 lbs

Of course, price, aperture, and IQ come into play, but purely on getting reach with a portable system, the 400 DO II is an interesting lens.

Two more:

• 400 f/5.6. 3.5 x 10.4 inches 2.7 lbs
• 100-400L. 3.6 x 7.7 inches; 2.9 lbs

Quote:

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Originally Posted by conropl

This one is interesting. Not sure if it is worth the price at f/4, but with high ISO capable cameras now days... maybe. I hope we see some
pictures soon.

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If you haven't tried the old version of this lens, you probably don't understand the value of this lens. I enjoyed an Alaska cruise with it in 2012, no tripod, no monopod, no arm pain, etc. And due to the specific nature of the CA in this lens, it takes a 1.4x TC exceptionally well IMHO. It's filled with helium or something...as Roger @ LensRentals describes it, it's the 400 you can handhold (because the 400/5.6 is non-IS, and the 400/2.8 is ~twice the weight). Now that the 400DO/II gets a little lighter (let's face it, vII always gets lighter by 10-26%) and gets a 'current-gen' IS unit with 4 stops of correction, it's going to be a screamer IMO.

Update: only a $400 price increment for the new version? Now we're really talking.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by peety3

If you haven't tried the old version of this lens, you probably don't understand the value of this lens. I enjoyed an Alaska cruise with it in 2012, no tripod, no monopod, no arm pain, etc. And due to the specific nature of the CA in this lens, it takes a 1.4x TC exceptionally well IMHO. It's filled with helium or something...as Roger @ LensRentals describes it, it's the 400 you can handhold (because the 400/5.6 is non-IS, and the 400/2.8 is ~twice the weight). Now that the 400DO/II gets a little lighter (let's face it, vII always gets lighter by 10-26%) and gets a 'current-gen' IS unit with 4 stops of correction, it's going to be a screamer IMO.

Update: only a $400 price increment for the new version? Now we're really talking.

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My bigger concern is the "version I" reputation... not so much the weight (I do not have a problem carrying a tripod around). I need to see samples to make sure past problems of bad contrast and bokeh (to name a couple) are a thing of the past.

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Originally Posted by conropl

My bigger concern is the "version I" reputation.

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Have seen this lens in the field a few of times. On every occasion it was being used by Paparazzi and they were adding/removing extenders as needed. I somehow don't see these guys being interested in a quality image, just range an weight.

This is mostly about the 7DII, but at the end he puts the 400 DO II on the 7DII. What a compact set up.

http://vimeo.com/106236109

I saw this over on CR in a thread where Neuro is dropping some big words. :cool:

http://www.cnet.com/news/canon-revea...oto-lens-line/

Confirmation of the 100-400L replacement but also some really interesting information on the 400 DO II and what they did to improve sharpness, bokeh, and flare.

I am becoming very interested in the 400 DO II. It seems to be a great package. My specific needs for telephoto lenses usually involve travel or shooting from a kayak. Only occasionally do I set up a tripod to try to shoot birds.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kayaker72

Confirmation of the 100-400L replacement.

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"The 100-400mm zoom is a good example. Canon introduced it in 1998 with its first-generation image stablization technology, which counteracts some camera shake, and still sells it for $1,700. But a new model is in the works, said Canon technical advisor Chuck Westfall in an interview here at the Photokina show Monday. "It's definitely on the boards for replacement," he said, though declining to say when."

"It's definitely on the boards for replacement,"

He actually hasn't said anything.

It's the last bit "It's definitely on the boards for replacement." Considering how tight lipped Canon typically is, I am taking that as confirmation that they are working on a replacement. But, could it be "on the boards" for while....sure. Until I can buy it, it isn't real.

The charts are crazy good if they are accurate on this lens.
So, the new 400mm f/4 DO IS II for $6899
A new 7D II ordered for $1799
Total of the two $8698

With the imaginary Crop Factor of 1.6 an imaginary focal length of 640mm

The 1D X for $6799
The 600mm II for $11999
Total of the two $18798

The difference in the two, a bit more noise at higher ISO's
You loose the magic of the 1D processing
The 7D 400 combo is $10100 cheaper
The 7D 400 combo is 4.14 lbs lighter
The 7D 400 combo is 8.44" shorter without the lens hoods on
No Red L ring on the 400

I am considering this, after all the years of hauling this huge telephoto lens around.
What else would I loose?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

I am considering this, after all the years of hauling this huge telephoto lens around.
What else would I loose?

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Your health, it's only the weight of all of the equipment that keeps photographers fit & trim.:rolleyes:

If the new 400 DO II is US$6900, I would expect it to be about A$10,000... well out of my budget.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raid

Your health, it's only the weight of all of the equipment that keeps photographers fit & trim.:rolleyes:

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If that were only true.

All this time I was asking myself why there was so little enthousiasm for the new 24mm pancake. In my eyes it would be a perfect addition to the 40mm pancake as a superb combo for lightweight trips. But then, after a week, I noticed the S after EF...sigh...my dream shattered to pieces:(

I said Chuck didn't actually say anything, but I will add that if you want information about what Canon is doing and why....don't ask a Canon executive.
This entire interview is a lesson in how not to give out any information.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/707...ry-near-future

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

The charts are crazy good if they are accurate on this lens.
So, the new 400mm f/4 DO IS II for $6899
A new 7D II ordered for $1799
Total of the two $8698

With the imaginary Crop Factor of 1.6 an imaginary focal length of 640mm

The 1D X for $6799
The 600mm II for $11999
Total of the two $18798

The difference in the two, a bit more noise at higher ISO's
You loose the magic of the 1D processing
The 7D 400 combo is $10100 cheaper
The 7D 400 combo is 4.14 lbs lighter
The 7D 400 combo is 8.44" shorter without the lens hoods on
No Red L ring on the 400

I am considering this, after all the years of hauling this huge telephoto lens around.
What else would I lose?

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A bit more noise at higher ISOs? Try again. The 7D2 is going to be a fair amount noisier, no way around that. You also get better AF performance in the 1Dx - the 7D2 might get the same sensor, but there's magic in them chips.

Summer of 2010, we shot a wedding for a friend ("we don't do weddings..."), and once the sun went down and the Christmas tree lights & DJ lights were the only thing on the dance floor, my 1D Mark III could focus when the 7D just laughed at me. It didn't matter which lens I used. Now my 1Dxes are still better than my wife's 5D3, and there we're talking about the same AF sensor, so the dedicated Digic4 really helps AF & metering.

First results I have seen of the 400 DO II. Roger warns not to compare this to previous tests as he just switched charts, but even comparing it to the other lenses....Dang, that is sharp across the frame.

I will very much want to see a thorough review from Bryan.