Canon 100 400 II USM release date price specs
Canon 100 400 II USM release date price specs
Canon 100 400 II USM review
According to recent photozone test, the new lens is significantly improved optically compare to the predecessor. The new turn style zoom action is also better, than the older push pull design. Seems it is quite a promising lens: compact travel size, state of the art stabilizer, excellent build quality, fast USM autofocus system. Only the price is a little high compare to the older version. Only thing is missing it is not 600mm, like the new Tamron.
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Canon 100 400 II USM specs
The new lens has normal usual turn type zoom action unlike the older push-pull design. The lens features one fluorite and one super UD lens elements to correct chromatic aberration.
According to early reviews it is even sharper than the 400mm f/5.6 prime. Regarding general picture quality I don’t think the contrast is better because the zoom has 21 elements the prime 8. This is a huge difference.
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 is II specificationMinimal focus distance: 0.98m (3.2′) |
Canon 100 400 II USM Build quality
Seems the lens is very strongly built, and seems very compact. A separate ring is used for adjust torque. This ring is similar like the older ring which controlled push-pull zoom action.
The lens has internal ultrasonic focusing motor. The lens has 9 circular aperture blades. The optical stabilizer has three different modes. The lens has a brightness of f/4.5-5.6.
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Brightness, minimum focusing distance
It is not really a bright lens, but this brightness is usual. The effective stabilizer can helps in still or slow moving subjects. The minimum focusing distance is less than 1m (3.2′).
This is much better than the MFD of the older lens which is 1.8m.
Lens elements, filter size
The lens has 21 lens elements in 16 groups, which is quite a complex design. The lens had a filter size of 77mm as usual for this lens.
Canon 100 400 II USM weight and dimensions
The lens weight is app 1.5 kg (3.5 lb) and a dimension of 93.98 x 193.04 mm (3.7 x 7.6″). The lens is compatible with Full frame and Aps-C cameras as well.
ASC (air sphere coating) coating helps to reduce flare in front lens element.
Canon 100 400 II USM Stabilizer modes
The stabilizer has three modes: standard mode, panning mode, and during exposure only mode. The stabilizer claimed to give 4 stops gain by the manufacturer.
Canon 100 400 II USM price
The Canon 100 400 II USM initial price is 2200 USD. This is not a cheap price it is more than double compare to the new Tamron 150-600mm. For this price it needs to be really good. I guess the stabilizer is an newer 4 stops gain capable unit.
Canon 100 400 II USM release date price specs
The Canon 100 400 II USM release date is not yet known.
Canon 100 400 II USM accessories
Seems the lens has a nice tripod ring.
Canon 100 400 II USM pre-order link
Possible alternatives
Tamron 150-600 review
The Sigma 150mm-600mm Sport lens
The Tamron is much cheaper, less than half price. The Sigma has two versions, a cheaper and a more expensive one. The Sigma 150-600 both versions and the Tamron 150-600 as well, much heavier, as the Canon is app 1.5 kg, the others are 3 and 2kgs. For bird and wildlife the longer lenses are much more interesting, but the real question is how good is the Canon with the 1.4x converter ? I would surely opt for the Tamron for the cheaper price, longer reach and very good stabilizer. The Sigma 150-600 I think won’t be better, and 3.2kg is just to much for hand holding for a long time. The strong point of the Canon is that it has perfect build quality, good stabilizer and very strong optically as well. I think even with the 1.4x converter is quite usable, but dark (f/8). With the 2x it is almost completely useless, according to my opinion (800mm f/11). I would put the 1.4x converter on summer and let there perhaps. The bokeh of the new Canon 100-400 is improved but not as good as the bokeh of the brighter primes.