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

SHood wrote:

joger wrote:

SHood wrote:

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.

the 300 f/2.8 II plus the 1.4 x weighs just a bit above 2500 g - which is very light compare to the new 200-400 1.4x and not much more then the 400 f/4.0 and it is most likely significantly better then the DO

I was waiting for the 200-400 1.4x to be published but then I gave up last year after waiting and waiting and seeing nothing happen. Now that we have the 200-400 1.4x it is just a question of the budget - I'd never give up my 300 f/2.8 II - the 200-400 1.4x would be an additional lens for other sujets but that is currently maybe a bit too expensive

I'd love to own the 200-400 1.4x but the 300 f/2.8 plus extenders gives a quite similar feature set for the poor man's budget

(knowing that this combinations is out of reach for many photographers)

@ Conan Butcher

THX for sharing the images!!! Great review

The is another possibility but again we are looking at $7k including extender. A native 400mm f4 should get down to $5k with better results.

encouraged claim

A 400 F/4.0 would have to have a front lens diameter of some > 100 mm - the 300 f/2.8 has a front lens diameter of some 108 mm - I doubt that a native 400 f/4.0 would be significantly cheaper but let's see !!