This revolutionary and versatile wildlife lens has been released. I have taken delivery now and have written a preliminary review of this production lens. Once I have put it through a few wildlife photo shoots, I will write a more detailed review. This lens is a wildlife photographer's dream when used with the EOS-1D X camera. Take a look at my review below. Keep checking back. MichaelDanielHo.com
Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens Review
@Artistlin wrote:
Dang, now I have to go out and shoot some more bears...not and unhappy thought.
Better hurry up and find more bears. I just came back from a Polar Bear shoot in Hudson Bay. The EF 200-400mm f/4L and the EOS-1D X are performing nicely for me. Visit my website to see more photos.
Hi Artistlin. The EOS-1D X and EF 200-400mm combo continue to dazzle me especially now that there is a major firmware upgrade to the camera. This article from Canon Digital Learning Center will help to clarify the new enhancements of Firmware 2.0.3
I have loaded the new firmware and had only a limited opportunity to put it to a vigorous test but have noticed it caused a couple of mysterious Error code 80. Nothing too serious, just shut the camera down, reinsert the battery and it went away. I visited an Elephant seal rookery last week and photographed the pupping season but there were not a lot of fast moving wildlife. The zoom capability of the EF 200-400mm and the built-in extender really worked well as I weaved my way through the colony. The sunlight was harsh and the scenes were extremely backlit but the lens experienced no flare and worked like a charm. This is really an amazing piece of glass.
In about a couple of weeks, I will be going to Maui for a whale photo shoot and that will be the real test of the new firmware to see whether it is an improvement photographing breaching whales and fast moving dolphins. Also, I have been using Case #1 more and more since I find the other cases offer minute differences without much distinction. MichaelDanielHo.com
@Artistlin wrote:Hi Michael, Thanks for your update. I am heading to the elephant seals at Ano Nuevo this week myself (if I can kick this cold), but will be bringing my 100-400 4.5 L IS with me. I am saving up for the 200-400 ...someday. Did you use a tripod while shooting? I use a 5D Mark III for the body...love that camera!
I have just returned from a whale photo shoot in Maui. Put the EOS-1D X, loaded with the Firmware 2.0.3, through a vigorous field test. The camera and EF 200-400mm f/4 lens came through with flying colors. It locked on the breaching Humpbacks with little difficulty, even in minimally contrasting scenes. Read my review of the lens here. Because I was riding in a fast moving zodiac, using the EF 200-400mm handheld was quite a challenge since the combo weighs about 11 pounds. I have to rest often since my arms get tired easily. http://MichaelDanielHo.com
Canon reached a historic milestone by surpassing 100 million in EF lens production. The lens that put them over the top is the amazing EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X. Canon Announcement
@Edward wrote:Canon CPS loaned me a 200-400 lens. I compared it to my 400 mm f 2.8 IS MKII and the results of this subjective test and below. All tests/measurements were done with a Canon 5DIII attached.
Canon 200-400 f 4 IS Canon 400 f 2.8 IS MKII
Weight. 10.5 lbs 11.5 lbs
Lenght 19 1/4 inches 20 inches with 1.4X attached
Diameter 5 3/4 inches at hood 7 inches at hood.
The viewfinder when using the 200-400 mm is not as bright as when using the 400 mm with or without the use of the 1.4X extender.
When shooting both lenses at f 4, 1/1000 and ISO 400, the histogram is slightly to the left when using the 200-400 mm. I interpret this due to the less light transmission because of the larger number of lens elements in the lens but it really has a neglible effect in the images captured.
Autofocus speed was noticeable slower when using the zoom but this was to be expected to its slower aperture of f 4. When it comes to focal lens, the zoom lens appears to be 388 mm rather than 400 mm.
Used the brick test (both lenses on autofocus, ISO 400 at 40 feet and using the same Canon 5DIII camera with a cabl release) to check for sharpness. AT 400 mm focal lens for both lenses, the fixed focus 400 mm was sharper at f 4, f 5.6 and f 8 when used with or without the 1.4X. As to how much sharper, this is a subjective test so I will estimate to be 15-20 % sharper. I determined this by comparing the RAW images in Photoshop CS 6 at 10X without any additional alterations.
Disregarding the sharpness issue, the 200-400 mm wins for hand-holding, panning, transporting, its zooming capability and the built-in 1.4X.
I was going to buy this lens to replace the 400 mm f 2.8 IS MKII if would have not been for the sharpness issue. I will not discourage other from buying it. It still a great lens, particulary if the price will drop about $2000.00 in price. Do your own evaluation.
Thanks for your update, Edward. This lens continues to amaze me. I am so used to prime Super telephoto lens, sometimes in the heat of a wildlife photo shoot, I forget to use the zoom ring. I got to remind myself from time to time, I have a zoom lens in my hands now.
