New Lenses (400 f/4 DO, etc)

[Kayaker72]

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.

[conropl]

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

[Kayaker72]

Anyone see anything that shows when this will be available.

November 2014, according to B&H.

[conropl]

November 2014, according to B&H.

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

[Kayaker72]

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

[peety3]

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.

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.

[conropl]

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.

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.

[Raid]

My bigger concern is the "version I" reputation.

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.

[Kayaker72]

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

[Kayaker72]

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

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.