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Canon 100-400 L i vs ii

Started May 4, 2016 | Discussions thread
Ember42 Contributing Member • Posts: 697
Re: Canon 100-400 L i vs ii
2

Jon Tarbuck wrote:

Am looking to purchase a telephoto lens for my 5D Mark III, and have narrowed it down from a focal range, size and weight point of view to the two Canon 100-400 L lenses.

I shoot wildlife, some birds, and quite a few of my two and half year old son in generally good lighting conditions.

The first version of this lens is going to disappear at some point, and is obviously a great deal cheaper than the new version right now - but is it false economy to buy the older version if the new one is so much better? I've heard that the autofocus performance of the newer model is a lot better, and that it's a lot sharper across the frame, at all focal lengths and pretty much all apertures...

I only have the Mk I version, and have had a passing interest in the Mk II version but haven't acted on it yet (and with the recent Canadian price hikes probably won't for quite a while). The general consensus is that the mk II is not any better than the mk I at 400mm in the center, (where the I is best). The II is generally more consistent across the frame and at wider FL, with better features.

I would get the II if I didn't already have the I.

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