Quote Originally Posted by peety3
Someday you may own more than a dozen lenses (I certainly intend to).

I'm 75% of the way there... []


Quote Originally Posted by peety3
I will say that the 28-300 and the 100-400 are the two white lenses I never plan to purchase.

I also never plan to purchase the 28-300mm (or any superzoom), but I would have echoed the others' questions about why not the 100-400mm, so thanks for answering that.


From Mike's perspective, which is probably true for most people, carrying two cameras is not a likely possibility. Two people carrying four cameras is even more unlikely scenario, I think. I applaud you for taking two cameras on a silly trip with your family. Personally, I need my hands free for playing and toddler-grabs. For that, the BlackRapid strap is a wonderful piece of gear that allows me to carry a camera more easily than the neck strap, but I wouldn't want two cameras hanging off me. For me, family outings are mostly about family - I try to limit myself to the camera and one or two lenses (a standard zoom and the 85L, or 100L macro, or the 70-300 DO which I got specifically as a portable alternative to the 100-400mm just for such family outings).


Quote Originally Posted by peety3
Ialso hate the zoom tension clutch, as it requires two hands to adjust, but walks loose all the time.

I use my 100-400mm a lot, and I think I've adjusted the tension ring all of two or three times.


Quote Originally Posted by peety3
I'm going straight to the 300/4IS. After that is the 85L, and the 400/5.6. "But peety, why buy the 300/4 and the 400/5.6 when you could just buy the 100-400?" She "gets" the 300/4 (she needs IS more than I do - I can manage shutter speed better than her), and I "get" the 400.

IMO, the 100-400mm is the best choice for shooting wildlife while mobile. I had (and sold) the 300mm f/4L IS - as a prime, it lacked the flexibility I needed for wildlife and birds. If all I shot was birds primarily at a backyard feeder setup (I don't have one), the 300 f/4L would be a good choice. Likewise, it would be fine if, like you, I was carrying a second camera with my 70-200mm. Neither is the case. I'm not a big fan of the 400mm f/5.6 - that's a really long focal length to shoot without IS, no matter how steady your hands are. There's a reason it's got a reputation as a bird-in-flight lens, since you need those wing-stopping shutter speeds to handhold that lens in any case. The 100-400mm is the most affordable way to get IS in a 400mm lens without resorting to a teleconverter (and the IQ at 400mm is better than the 300mm f/4L IS + 1.4x Extender).