EF 5,6/400 L ./. 4,5/500 L

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Hi,

has anybody practical experience with 5,6/400 and 4,5/500 mm lenses ? Sold my old EF 2,8/300, because I hoped for the new 4/400, but did not expect this high price...and MTF looks poor! Mainly I used the 2,8/300 with 1,4 and 2x extenders,but often has been too short in wildlife photography. So my idea is a longer 400-500 mm one at reasonable weight. German test-reports in "Color-Foto" are useless, as test-system is often modified and every test shows far different MTF results. Should somebody have compared above models, it will be of great interest. Maybe Canon should think about IS 4/400 model at payable price. Thanks.

Rainer from Germany

-- R. Krönke (Rainer.Kroenke@T-Online.de), January 30, 2002

Answers

I've been using the 400/5.6L for almost 2 years. I am pleased with it. I use it often with the 1.4x Canon extender for birds but even 560mm is too short for small songbirds. Because it doesn't autofocus with the extender on any of my older EOS bodies, I lose quite a few shots due to my poor eyesight and focusing errors. If I do my part, my photos, even with the extender, are extremely sharp with good contrast and color rendition. The lens is easily portable, weighs slightly less than my 70-200/2.8L. I would love to own the 500/4L IS but it will take a while to pay down the credit cards enough to afford that lens. The older 500/4.5L has a good reputation and it weighs about 2 pounds less than the new model. I've had no personal experience with it, however. It would be a good alternative to the newer, faster and more expensive model.

-- Lee (Leemarthakiri@sport.rr.com), January 30, 2002.

just an observation: the 300 f/2.8 with the 2x TC will give you a 600mm f/5.6. this will probably give you more reach than a 400mm f/5.6 or 500mm f/4.5. if i were you i'd try to get back that 300mm f/2.8 before it's too late.

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), January 30, 2002.

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