Best option

[mlino]

Hi all!


I

[btaylor]

I would suggest the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS. It

[Fast Glass]

The 100-400mm is one of the best aviation lenses out there, I'd get that.


John.

[mlino]

How about the lens design (push-pull) of the Canon EF 100-400mm? Some consideration?


I

[bob williams]

How about the lens design (push-pull) of the Canon EF 100-400mm? Some consideration?


I'm afraid buying this kind of lens due to some comments I read on Internet which this lens design can result in dust inside the lenses in long term.
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

Milno, Welcome to TDP,


The 100-400 is on my camera about 99% of the time.I normally shoot outdoors and I have used it in rain, snow and heavy dust storms( I live in the southwest)and it has never failed me.There is no mold,dust or moistureon the inside that I can tell.I also bought mine from a rental agency used, so no telling how much abuse it went through with them. My lens is 4 years old now and I must say ---when I do my job, the lens does its job. The push/pull does take some getting use to, but once you do, you may find that you prefer it to the rotating zoom ring as I have. I can't think of a more versatile lens for inflight airplane shots. I did have to do some AF adjustmentt on it when attached to my 7D, but other than that, the lens has performed flawlessly.


Here are some shots for you to consider (Sorry to the other members who have seen these)

















Now, If you think you need the 400mm range, but are not sure about the "Zoom" then do consider the 400 F5.6L---It is a prime, has a little better IQ, is smaller and easier to handle, is cheaper and it has a reallynice lens hood design.


Good luck


Bob

[neuroanatomist]

Concur on the recommendations for the 100-400mm. No dust issues for me. It's a great lens! I think you'll find the push-pull design is faster than the ring zoom, which would make a difference at an air show where the subject distance changes very rapidly.


Here are a couple more examples, although not from the kind of 'air show' you mean...



[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/5021065582/in/set-72157624462563459/lightbox/][/url]
EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L IS USM @ 400mm, 1/1600 s, f/6.3, ISO 1000



[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/4998567740/in/set-72157624462563459/lightbox/][/url]
EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L IS USM @ 400mm, 1/1600 s, f/6.3, ISO 800


--John

[tkerr]

May 2010, Blue Angles Air Show, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. All shots with EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM lens on EOS 50D.

[mlino]

Tkerr,


Impressive pictures! This Canon 100-400mm seems to be the best option. I gonna buy one!

[Craig85]

The 100-400 is by far the most popular Canon aviation lens in my opinion. For a good reason too, not only is it good IQ, it is versatile. For airshows that is very useful, different size planes, vastly changing distances.


However, I wonder, where do you intend to photograph planes with this lens? If you are taking shots only at an operational base then 200mm on a crop body is sufficient in my opinion, but it is not enough for airshows. I have a 200mm f/2.8 II and a 1.4x extender. I do miss the versatility of the zoom but this is a cheap way of getting a fast 2.8 lens (for other uses) and a 280mm f/4.0 lens when I need more reach. A lot of aviation guys use the 70-200mm f/4.0 (highly recommended if you don't need 400mm) and a 1.4x extender for when they need it. But if price is not important then the 100-400 is the better option if versatility is key.


If 400mm is what you need though, and nothing else, then the 400mm 5.6 prime is better than the 100-400 at the long end. The 300mm f/4.0 is a nice lens too.


Looking at your above choices, I will quickly say that IS is not required for aviation shots in the air for moving planes, your shutter speed will be high enough for IS to be irrelevant. Also a fast lens like a 2.8 is not essential either. But, if you intend to use this lens for other things then IS or fast glass may be very important to you for other reasons.


I'd avoid most SIgmas/Tamrons personally because I like a fast autofocus system like Canon's USM for this type of photography.


Shot from the 200mm; http://www.craighollisaviation.fotopic.net/p68057409.html


Craig.

[mlino]

I ordered today a Canon 100-400mm @ amazon.com. Thanks!