Canon 70-300L vs 100-400L

DexterPunk · Post by **DexterPunk** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:39 pm

I'm really struggling to decide on this... I want to get a lens for galapagos/south america and can't figure out what to get. I know the pros and cons of both, but still finding it difficult. Here is the problem...

70-300

Lighter, newer and faster AF, newer and 4 stop IS (100-400 is 2 stop), by most reports slightly sharper. However i already have a 70-200L, and feels like there would be a lot of overlap there in focal range. On a full frame, 300mm really isn't that long either, I have a feeling id end up cropping a lot of images.

100-400

There's no substitute for the right focal length in my opinion... And i feel that it would be the ideal lens to take onto the islands to shoot wildlife. But heavier is a big consideration for travel. its 1.3kg vs just over 1kg for the 70-300. After that section on our trip there will be quite a bit of trekking (Machu Picchu, the Amazon, and Kayaking around Belize). Part of me is telling myself to harden the fuck up and take the bigger lens, take the right lens and not to worry about the weight. Although i know how heavy my bag can get, I'd say last time it would have been around the 12kg mark once I had the water bladder filled.

What do?

Post by **Big Kev** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:33 pm

There are some reasonable lens reviews on youtube that are worth a look.

I pondered the 100-400 at one point cos I saw a used one at a steal of 800 quid vs a list of nearly 1500 but the one thing that put me off was that it has the nick name of the dust pump.
Rather than a twist zoom it has a sort of tube-in-a-tube system when you slide the whole thing in and out to zoom. Apparently this can collect a lot of dust and pump it straight in to your camera optics.

I guess it depends how close you think you'll be able to get to things.

What about the 300 with an extension tube?

DexterPunk · Post by **DexterPunk** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:47 pm

Any zoom that isn't internal zoom will suck in dust. It's not a huge issue. The push pull system isn't too bad, I've played around with both lenses and even took some quick sample images. I actually kinda like the push pull zoom, it feels like it would be very fast once you get used to it. Extension tubes are for macro usually, but if I could use the Canon 1.4x Teleconverter on the 70-300 i think that would be my lens of choice... for whatever reason, it's not compatible with teleconverters. At least not the canon ones anyway.

Post by **Big Kev** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:54 pm

Might be worth looking at this site too. It's handy to see sample images that people have got from different lenses, especially for a layman like me!
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/for ... .php?f=107" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DexterPunk · Post by **DexterPunk** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:27 am

Great link! cheers.

kwijibo · Post by **kwijibo** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:47 pm

Just get the 100-400 ya pussy - it's only 300 grams

DexterPunk · Post by **DexterPunk** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:44 pm

I reckon you're right. I had pretty much decided on the 100-400 then started to think its the wrong choice.

Sent from Han Solo using TK-421's phone.

Post by **norbs** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 1:01 am

No substitute for reach.

Hazelb · Post by **Hazelb** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:05 am

Or length

DexterPunk · Post by **DexterPunk** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 3:05 pm

Or girth.

Sent from Han Solo using TK-421's phone.

Post by **Big Kev** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:04 pm

Probably be too late for when you're travelling but Canon are about to announce a new version of the 100-400mm L.

DexterPunk · Post by **DexterPunk** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:38 pm

Not going till Feb... where have you seen this? Theres been rumors of a new 100-400 for years now.

Post by **Big Kev** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:43 pm

http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/07/a-ne ... uncements/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DexterPunk · Post by **DexterPunk** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:32 pm

I hope it's doesnt get announced but un-available before I go. I'd have to get the old lens even though a new ones coming. I'll believe it when I've seen it though.

Sent from Han Solo using TK-421's phone.

J.D. · Post by **J.D.** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:06 pm

Don't sweat on it Dex. It's only a rumour...but...if it's true, here are my predictions.

If experience of the recent big tele upgrades is is anything to go by, the improvements on the new model will centre mainly around the IS. Any optical improvements will be minute, though you can guarantee the FM fanbois will be jizzing off about how much sharper it is than the old one.

It might be but it will make no difference in normal shooting.

But the real killer is that the new one is virtually guaranteed to be about 40% more expensive and that's going to hurt you in terms of your trip.

A.R.S.E.