To buy or not to buy, that is the question

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/21/2006 07:16:13 PM · #1

Okay, so I REALLY want to buy the Canon 100-400 IS L zoom lens. I have the money saved up, but I dont know if i should use it. I do most of my photography at the zoo. Do people think that this lens is worth the money, and is the best for using at the zoo.

terje

Apple iPhone

06/21/2006 07:22:31 PM · #2

This is considered a very solid lens, and the range is impressive.

You might wanna take a peak at the 300mm/F4, it's also a very good tele lens. I'm planning on getting a 300/F2.8IS next month.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

06/21/2006 07:23:10 PM · #3

Yep. Go buy.

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

06/21/2006 07:44:45 PM · #4

I know I would plop the cash on the counter if I had it to spend. Although I do like the 300/f4 for birds and wildlife, I think the extra reach of your 100-400 would be worth the extra money.

fotomann_forever

06/21/2006 08:00:02 PM · #5

Buy the lens :-) Or, as an alternative, you could forward the cash to me and I will tell you how much I like it ;-)

fsteddy

06/21/2006 08:10:28 PM · #6

That lens is worth every penny and I use mine at the zoo all the time. You can handhold it but it gets heavy. A tripod is the best but can be a pain in the rear with lots of people around so I always use a Monopod.

PhotoRyno

Canon EOS-5D

06/21/2006 08:22:57 PM · #7

I would research a little more if I were you. Thre zoom is a push/pull and if you are not use to the p/p is can be a pain. This lens is also heavy. For the zoo I guess it would be ok. In the wild I feel the 4.5 is not fast enough.

I also may just be ranting because at this time I think something might be wrong with mine; getting blurred images when I should not. Like a while ago I just took a photo of an owl in the back yard and it looks blured in the view and I am down loading now to see. Enough already sorry for the ranting.

PS what does dnmc mean, also I took that photo with the 100-400l

Message edited by author 2006-06-21 20:26:41.

06/21/2006 08:57:43 PM · #8

So I went to this awsome photo store that has been around for like 75 years, and this guy who works there used to be a photographer for the british version of Vouge. Anyway, I tried out the lens, and I like it, but the push pull does get annoying. Plus the guy who works there like loves me because he has a son my age who has no intrest in photography so I am like the son he has always wanted. And he said he would give it to me for 1000...SWEET

Prof_Fate

06/21/2006 09:01:59 PM · #9

The push-pull is not favored by anybody that i know of. a bit awkward as it's a rather unique way to zoom, and many people blame is for sucking in dirt when you extend the zoom.

the 500 f4.5 is nice. real nice.
the 300 2.8 IS is also real nice, add a 1.4tc and you got the range.
My friend with the 500 just ordered a 300 f4 ($900 used) for a trip, and he has the canon 1.4tc - he'll be using it at the SanDiego zoo - he loves wildlife and macro stuff, hence the big 500, but he's afraid to go flying and wandering around alone in a strange city with $4500 lens. He has had a sigma 50-500 and tamron 200-500 - he thinks highly of the tamron but not the sigma (color issues).

I;ll get to use his 300 next time we go out...i'll let you know how it works for me!

06/21/2006 09:03:47 PM · #10

Does he want to sell the Sigma? I would much perfer somthing that goes up to 500.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/21/2006 09:04:30 PM · #11

O...by the way, does anyone know if Canon is planing on changing the push/pull since no one likes it?

ellamay

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

06/21/2006 09:04:44 PM · #12

buy it, it is great.

It is actually really good for portraits and for landscapes....with the right distances.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

06/21/2006 09:04:57 PM · #13

The push-pull doesn't bother me and I haven't noticed any more dirt on the sensor. Still the same spots that were there months ago and no more (noticable anyway). When zoomed all the way to 400 though, it's a verrrrrrrrry long lens.

... and did someone mention that it's heavy.

ellamay

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/21/2006 09:07:31 PM · #14

Originally posted by PhotoRyno:

I think you must have the IS turned off or something, I have taken this lens on safari 3 x and is awesome! Even on bumpy dusty roads, the push/ pull you get used to when you use it a lot. I only find dust to be a problem when I change..not push/pull the lens. Double check your settings if still bad send it in to be fixed.

Count

Canon EOS-30D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/21/2006 09:13:09 PM · #15

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

The push-pull is not favored by anybody that i know of. a bit awkward as it's a rather unique way to zoom, and many people blame is for sucking in dirt when you extend the zoom.

I actually like the push-pull design, but you're right I guess most people don't. Personally I like the speed with which I can rapidly change focal lengths with the design, and have never noticed any more dust than any other lens.

I'm just wishing Canon would release a 50-500L IS... then I wouldn't be tempted to buy a Bigma.