13 November 2007
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens
Posted by Jaco under: Canon; Lenses; Reviews; Top 5 Lenses .
Canon EF 100-400mm IS Lens
The most attractive feature of the Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens is obviously its focal length. Usually the wide zoom range and the very long reach of a lens come at the price of quality. However, when you first unpack this lens, you will realize that this is an L-series lens, and with the L-series comes excellent build quality and outstanding performance.
The Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens is, although slightly on the bulky side, very robust and solid which quickly convinced me that it will be able to handle all the bumps and knocks that come with outdoor photography. The lens is similar in size and weight than the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Lens, but offers twice the zoom.
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Canon EF 100-400mm IS Lens
Some photographers may find it a bit strange in the beginning, but the push/pull zoom ring doesn’t take long to get used to and it quickly became a feature that I missed in other lenses. The USM Autofocus is, as expected, very fast, accurate and relatively quiet. The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens was designed for the serious amateur and professional photographer that require both the versatility without compromising on quality. This makes this lens perfect for a wide range of uses. The 400mm focal length (640mm on APS-C cameras like the Rebel XT and Rebel XTi) is perfect for photographers of wildlife, birds and sports events. The zoom capability of this lens makes it easy to use in these types of unpredictable situations, but the Image Stabilization is the one feature that you will fall in love with immediately.
This feature makes it possible to use this lens without a tripod in low light conditions and gains up to two f-stops in environments where making pictures just would not have been possible otherwise. This lens therefore lends itself to be used for street photography and candid shoots, opening up a new range of possibilities to photographers interested in exploring this genre.
For the few of us who requires even more zoom, the Canon 1.4x or Canon 2x Extender can be used with this lens. Although Autofocus is not supported with the 2x Extender, the 1.4x Extender does provide AF at the wider apertures. However, most photographers will find that the 400mm is sufficient and will opt to crop instead of using the Extenders with this lens.
Canon EF 100-400mmf/4.5-5.6 L IS Sample Photo
In the short period I’ve spent using this lens the only criticism I have is that it’s SLIGHTLY soft at the wider end, but at the long end it definitely lives up to its L label.
Any owner of this very popular lens will probably tell you that this lens is mounted most of the time when they shoot outdoors and its versatility will provide you with photo opportunities that you would have missed while switching lenses or setting up tripods.
Click Here To See More Reviews of the Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM Lens
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