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200-400 f/4.0 1.4x - My hands on review and samples.

Started Jun 13, 2013 | Discussions thread
SHood Veteran Member • Posts: 6,100
Re: 200-400 f/4.0 1.4x - My hands on review and samples.

Johanfoto wrote:

SHood wrote:

Interesting perspective as you are coming from a much larger lens. I was able to try out this lens at a show in Toronto. While I loved the flexibility of the lens it would be too heavy to handhold for me except for very short periods. I also tried out the new Nikon 80-400 zoom at the same time and while I expected it to be light (40% of the weight of the 200-400 1.4x) the difference seemed much larger when trying to handhold them. I guess there is a limit to hand holding and once you pass that limit the weight seems onerous.

Unfortunately, it seem like the next jump up in IQ from the long 400mm zooms requires more than 3kg and can no longer be hand held. Hopefully someone does a longer prime in the 2kg range. Maybe the Sony 400mm F4 (coming this fall) without the added weight of OIS can be that lens. I haven't heard of any rumors yet from Canon or Nikon for a lens in this range.

Canon has the 400mm/4.0 DO IS USM lens... It weighs 1940 grams.

Yes, but that is using diffraction optics and contrast is not good.  You are also paying a premium for it.  The Minolta 400mm f4.5 weighed 1920g so it is possible to get down to this weight without diffraction optics and the higher price.  Should be possible for under $5k.

 SHood's gear list:SHood's gear list
Olympus E-M1 II OM-1 Olympus M.Zuiko 300mm F4 IS Pro Olympus 12-100mm F4.0 Olympus 17mm F1.2 Pro
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