70-300L change of mind

drbird wrote:

Yes at minimum focus distance you roughly end up with the same focal length as the 4.0/70-200 has. Focus breathing is quite common nowadays in modern designs,

It has been a thing of all (lens) ages.

I guess it doesn't bother most people or most don't realize it. Just look at all the 18-200(300) and the like they suffer massive from focus breathing as does one of the newer Nikon 2.8/80-200.

The Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR II gets wider at MFD. The Canon 70-200mm's (all) get more narrow at MFD. The Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 OS version acts like the Nikon, the Tamron sort of too.

An extension tube often helps to get some of the original focal length back (you basically focus with extension and avoid the IF-mechanism which mostly is responsible for the focus breathing

The IF mechanism is not responsible, that is an internet myth. The Nikkor 70-200mm VRII gets wider at MFD, the Canons (all 70-200's) get more narrow at MFD. All are IF lenses. The only lens I have which does not show any breathing, positive or negative, is an IF lens too (Tokina 12-24mm f4 DX).

– but also for the compact size, ice IQ and blazing fast AF of modern lens)

No I didn’t really check at what distance it kicks in,

It does not kick in, it is a totally gradual change.

I often use it at 300mm around 5-10m and it works out very similar to my 2.8/300. But as soon as I get the tripod mount for the lens I will compare it to the 2.8/300 to get some valid data.

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Geraldo Hofmann