Canon 100-400mm or 400mm prime?

I agree with most here. The 100-400mm is more versatile and don't forget you are getting IS too for the same-ish price as the 400mm. I was asking myself these questions recently and decided on the 100-400mm. Cheers!
 
Tdodd, very valid points! The 100-400 costs slightly more but I'm still getting a 400mm range with the versitility and it has IS aswell. How well does it work with the TC attached?
 
You'll lose AF on all bodies except 1 series, which will then only AF with the centre point. But that is true of any lens that is slower than f/4 to begin with. If you can use a tripod and Live View then you can focus very accurately, albeit slowly, with a TC fitted.

Here are a couple of examples from my 1D3 with a Kenko 1.4X fitted....

This was hand held and shot through fencing, wide open at 560mm (728mm if you include the crop factor), 1/250 ....
20100402_095639_5479_LR.jpg


This is also wide open but was at 540mm as I didn't quite zoom all the way, by accident. This was shot from a tripod at 1/500. It is a 100% crop....

20100516_065841_7034_LR.jpg
 
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Those images are very good! Still very sharp. The kenko TC seems to work well on the canon lens
 
Not sure where your based but if you can get to the Cotswold Wildlife meet this Saturday am sure we can sort something out to give it a try, am sure there will be a couple of 7D/1-400's there :)
 
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