The time has come - 100-400L or 300 F4 L IS?

Raider

Raider

Raider

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Leamington Spa / Oxford
Ok after drooling and pondering over these lenses for a couple of months, I have to make a decision. I've just been paid, and i'm off to Cornwall again next week so I hope to be putting whichever lens I buy to good use.

My current kit bag is:

350D
Sigma 10-20mm
Canon 50mm F1.8
Canon 17-40mm F4 L
Canon 70-200mm F4 L
Canon 1.4x TC

Even with the TC, last time I was snapping photos I found the 280mm length a bit short. So i'm looking for something more. The choice comes down to these two I think, and here are the pros and cons for each:

1) Sell the 70-200F4 L and 1.4TC, buy the 100-400L
+ Net cost around £300
+ Good zoom range
+ Single telephoto lens for my kit bag
+ Could add something to fill the 50-100mm gap, such as 85mm F1.8 for £250.
- Not as sharp at 300mm as the F4, not as sharp as the 70-200mm in 70-200mm

2) Add the 300mm F4 L IS
+ Super sharp images at 300mm, plus super sharp from 70-200mm.
+ F4 rather than F5.6 at 300mm
+ 420mm F5.6 if required (using TC)
- Net cost around £675
- Two telephotos in kit bag, heavier!

I really am totally torn. The idea of a single lens solution sounds good, and if the image quality of the 100-400L is close to the 70-200 F4 then i'd be willing to sacrifice the F4 ability of the 300mm F4 L. Plus as I said I could always complement the 100-400L with a 85mm F1.8 if I needed a nice sharp lens for low range telephoto.

Opinions? :(
 
The idea of selling the 70-200mm F4 does indeed make me cry :(

I'm just wondering about being in a situation where I need 200-400mm, and I'll keep having to swap between the 70-200 and the 300mm. But that would probably be rare.

Equally i'll probably be in a situation with the 100-400L where I'll be wishing I had F4 at 300mm :p
 
Gah, opinions are indeed divided as I feared :(

My guess is that the 100-400L at 400mm, will be slightly sharper than the 300mm with the 1.4x TC.

I'm trying to rack my brains as to what possible situation i'll need the lens for, but the one thing that I keep coming back to is the slight annoyance at adding and removing the 1.4x TC. Hence I'm tempted to go for the 100-400L then get something like the 85mm F1.8, or maybe even the 200mm F2.8 if I need a sharp prime.
 
:p
DRZ said:
I had EXACTLY this dilemma a short while ago.

I had the choice between getting a 100-400L or getting the 70-200 F/4L and waiting a bit and getting the 300 F/4L.

Having used a 100-400L extensively alongside my 70-200L, I am glad I went with the 70-200. I thought I would miss the extra 200mm of the 100-400 but I dont - I missed the 70mm "width" missing from the 100-400 instead!

As soon as some UK stock comes in (Canon are having some issues it would seem) I am going to go and see what a 300mm F/4 IS is like to hand-hold. If it is acceptable to me, I will buy one. If it is too unbalanced or whatever I might have to reconsider. I can happily hold the 100-400L for a long time with no significant bother though.

In terms of IQ, Prime glass will almost always be better than a zoom. The only real problem is the lack of flexibility if you like taking a more creative shot...
Click to expand...

I'm a bit confused, do you have the 100-400L or the 70-200 F4?? I thought you had both.

And if you do, are you still going to get the 300mm F4 and keep all 3?
 
Gah I don't think i'll ever be able to decide. If I had enough spare money I'd buy both and sell the one I didn't want, but then I'd probably end up keeping both :(
 
The prime is tempting me now, mainly because of the ability to have F4 at 300mm. F4 / F5.6 could mean the difference between 1/250s and 1/500s, which is quite a difference for something fast moving.

I'd have super sharp 70-200mm F4, super sharp 300mm, and a very nice 420mm F5.6 if required.
Do you think the 300mm + 1.4xTC will be about equal to the 100-400L at 400mm? I know the TC would lose a bit of quality, but considering the prime is sharper to start with..

Matt: Yes i'm currently talking about this on the Canon Digital Photography Forums, maybe i'll try FM as well. Need as many opinions as possible really! :)
 
Well today I went from definate 300mm, to most-likely the 100-400L, then back to probably 300mm...

Gah if I didn't have the spare cash I wouldn't have this problem :mad:

;)
 
Not interested in any of the Sigma offerings really.

It really is down to the 100-400L, or the 300mm F4.... still 50/50 atm so keep those opinions coming :D
 
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