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Squirrel: EF 100-400 (shot at f5.6, 1/160, ISO 1000, 400mm) Auto-focus by the 40D on tripod.


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Chickadee: EF 100-400 with Kenko 1.4 Converter (shot at f/8, 1/100, ISO 1000, 560mm). Manual focus, 40D on tripod.


The two shots above were just today, totally overcast sky and both subjects were in total shade. No touch-up other than resizing for web was done to the photos. I thought you may be interested in seeing these at the extreme end of the lens' reach. They are not stellar photos by any stretch, just examples for this conversation.


Speaking as a 100-400 newbie, I just got mine this week and am liking it a lot so far. I had all of the same concerns that you currently have and had also read Bryan's thorough review several times. The whole thing about the push-pull zoom has not bothered me at all. It's not like your brain can't shift gears for this one lens and it really becomes 2nd nature after a few uses. When people say the lens is "heavy", that one is true. It is hand-holdable for sure and the IS helps a lot with this lens. But, I wouldn't want to be walking around holding this lens all day either. I have the KatzEye focusing screen on my 40D which brings back the split/focusing system that I have missed since my AE-1 days. I have noticed that it's pretty hard to use that split/screen focus while trying to hand-hold the 100-400 (at least it is for me). On a tripod, no problems.

The 100-400 is a beautiful lens that feels terrific in your hands (except for the weight [] ). Everything on my 100-400 feels very solid and smooth in hand. I'm also testing it with my Kenko 1.4 Converter on it and it really get's me that extra distance that I want for birds. The auto focus is lost with the 1.4 extender, but the KatzEye (on a tripod) solves that for me. I haven't tried any pin taping and probably won't. The 40D is reading the data/settings correctly from the 100-400 lens with the 1.4 Converter mounted.

The reach of this lens is great and since I've just started using it I'll hold on commenting about the IQ. I'd say "trust your gut" on this one. I felt that the 100-400 would be a great lens choice all along, but just didn't want to spend that kind of of money at the time. If your gut is saying "get the 100-400", then do that and take advantage of the $100 rebate while it is here.

Rick