canon 100mm-400mm or canon 400mm f5.6

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ttheduck

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I currently use the canon 100mm-400mm but i find myself using it mostly at the 400mm end, would i see a good deal of improvment with the 400mm f5.6 prime

Thanks all
 
I don't own neither of these lenses but know for a fact that prime lenses are better compared to zoom lenses, unless you getting a better aperture on the zoom at 400 end.
 
The 400 is a bit lighter and being a prime the images will be a bit sharper. The 100-400 is more flexible and has IS.

The minimum focus distance on the 400 is 3.5m, the 100-400 is 1.8m.
 
Rent one for a day, see if the better IQ/focus speed is worth sacrificing the zoom/IS/closer focussing for you.
 
Where i am theres nowhere to rent, but from what im hearing it doesn't seem worthwhile adding the 400mm to my lenses. I was going to keep both but only if there was a significant increase in IQ with the prime.
 
That's difficult, different people have different ideas of what a "significant increase in IQ" is.

I've tried a 400mm f/5.6L it seems more contrasty than my 100-400, but when my 100-400 is stopped down to f/7.1 or f/8 it's sharpness is pretty darn close to the prime. When you compare wide open the difference in contrast is a bit more, but the sharpness of the 100-400 is still not too far off.

To be honest, it's something you have to try for yourself to really see what the difference is.
Some rental places offer a delivery service (Stewart on here runs lensesforhire.com, I believe they'll post a lens to you).
 
The only way to be sure is to try - £65 a week for the 400L 5.6 http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon-ef-400mm-f56-l-usm-15-p.asp Fill out the form and you'll have it next day. About 20 quid cheaper for three days I think, plus postage.

It's sharper than the 100-400L, not much in the centre, but a lot at the edges on full frame. Though you'll need pretty good technique to see it in practise. See here http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...LensComp=278&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0 You can check and compare anything on that site :thumbs:

One thing to note is that the 400 prime doesn't have IS and doesn't focus very close either.
 
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have you thought about the 300mm f4 + 1.4x in theory 2 lenses both with IS and AF.
 
The 300/4 IS and 1.4x was the route I went down when I got rid of the 100-400. I used the 400mm ens most, and while the 400mm prime looked great, the minimum focusing distance was the killer for me. I use my telephoto lens's for butterflies etc and there was no way I'd be able to get them with the 400/4.5.

I am happy with my 300/4 IS and the 1.4x if I want it. I'm glad I made the change.
 
Some very helpfull pieces of information (lensforhire and the 300+extender route).

thank you all very much.
 
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