The standard lens for many professional sports and nature photographers. The latest image-stabilized version of the 400mm f/2.8L is the best yet -- li
The standard lens for many professional sports and nature photographers. The latest image-stabilized version of the 400mm f/2.8L is the best yet -- lighter, with better handling and controls, the world's fastest AF speed among 400mm f/2.8 lenses (with the EOS-3, as of 5/99), and unmatched durability and weather resistance. Completely redesigned optically, for Canon's best image quality ever in a 400mm lens.
I use this lens at my work shooting youth soccer games. All I can say about this lens is wow. It is extremely well built, is really heavy, but well worth the price.
The lens focuses really fast, and tracks the subject really well. It is tack sharp as well, and still really sharp when using it with a Canon 2x converter.
You will want a monopod or a tripod while using this lens. At least for me it is way to heavy to hand hold.
The focus ring is nice and big and easy to fine tune the focus manually. With the placement of the tripod/monopod mount the lens is pretty well balanced on the monopod, it doesn't feel like it wants to fall forward or backwards.
Strengths:
Build quality
sharpness
bokeh
Weaknesses:
price (but hey, what do you expect for a pro lens!)
weight, but no real way to get around it
Similar Products Used:
none
Customer Service:
Used Canon cust. service for a camcorder issue, they were a pleasure to deal with.
Needed something longer for Soccer. My 200 1.8 with the 1.4x was nice, but not long enough all the time. Had a hard time deciding between this and the 300 2.8 but with the 200 already, why waste my money? If you are shooting soccer or football, even baseball, this is the lens. You can really reach out and touch someone. Yea its heavy, but with a monopod its not bad. If you really want to be able to get great shots from far away, get it.......period! If you are set up with two bodies, put the 400 on a tripod, and the 200 on a monopod for close up goal action and switch between both. Or use a 70-200 instead of the 200 prime. I asked alot of questions to the pro's and the majority said if you are going to be serious about sports, you need the 400. I listened, you should too....save your money to get it!
Strengths:
Super fast, IS is great if you need it. Super sharp, maybe not as sharp as the 200 1.8, but for the additional length, so what.
Weaknesses:
NONE..............So its a little heavy.....Do you want the shot or not?
Rating Reviewed by: Peter Weimann(Unregistered User)
(Professional)
Review Date February 23, 2001
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Visitors rate this review 3.00 of 5,
3 votes
Review 3 of 4
Price Paid:
$7000.00
Summary:
One of the perfect companions for wildlife and outdoor shootings. Delivers cristal clear chromes of outstanding quality. Nearly no losses with extenders 1,4x, a bit more with 2x. The tripod collar is mounted perfectly to avoid mirror vibration.
Strengths:
Built quality, optical performance, AF Speed, tripod collar
Weaknesses:
weight and size
Similar Products Used:
2,8/300 L IS USM, 2,8/300 L USM 4/300 L IS USM 100-400 L IS USM
Rating Reviewed by: Andrew Loehman(Unregistered User)
(Expert)
Review Date January 19, 2000
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Visitors rate this review 4.57 of 5,
7 votes
Review 4 of 4
Model Reviewed: EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
Summary:
Canon makes some of the best telephoto lenses on the market, and in my opinion, this is one of the best they have ever made. I prefer shooting with a 300 whenever possible, simply because of size, but the picture quality and autofocus speed make this the first 400 I can actually see myself using on a regular basis. The autofocus works exceptionally well with the EOS 3 body. I also shot half a football game with a 2x teleconverter, making it an 800 5.6. The autofocus performed flawlessly with the converter, with little loss of autofocus speed.
Strengths:
This is the fastest autofocusing telephoto lens I have ever used. For a 400 2.8, it's fairly lightweight, and from what I could tell, virtually distortion free. I also like the streamlined design. It's not as boxy as the previous 400 2.8, and is easier to lug around.
Weaknesses:
None. You can feel the image stabilization mechanism whirring in the lens, but it's just something that takes getting used to. It doesn't interfere with the shooting at all.
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