Canon 70-200 / 100-400: Canon SLR Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Canon 70-200 / 100-400

Started Jul 22, 2014 | Discussions

BellevueWA • Regular Member • Posts: 102

Canon 70-200 / 100-400

Jul 22, 2014

I am rebuilding my lenses due to an accident at a river ... good time to re-evaluate me lenses.

Previously, I had the Canon 70-200 2.8L lens - I loved this lens! Used it extensively in my landscape/outdoor/agriculture photography. I'm thinking about replacing this now with the 100-400 4.5-5.6 lens. I don't think I was usually in the area of 2.8 for landscape, outdoor use as much as I'd like having a 2.8. (I used to do sports but my nephews are out of school now!) I'd either be using a tripod or use higher aperture for depth of field.

Thoughts on the 100-400 compared to the 70-200?

I'd have this setup ...

Canon 7D with 10-22, 17-55/2.8

Canon 5D MIII with 50/1.4, 24-105, 70-200 OR 100-400

Any other recommendations for this type of use? I appreciate your advice - particularly on the 70-200/100-400.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Canon EOS 5D Canon EOS 7D

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Steve Grodin • Veteran Member • Posts: 3,985

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to BellevueWA • Jul 22, 2014

Personally I have never found the 100-400 as much use for landscape as the 70-200. I'm using the same two bodies as you, 7D & 5DMK3.

Steve

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OP BellevueWA • Regular Member • Posts: 102

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to Steve Grodin • Jul 22, 2014

Steve Grodin wrote:

Personally I have never found the 100-400 as much use for landscape as the 70-200. I'm using the same two bodies as you, 7D & 5DMK3.

Steve

Good to know - do you own both lenses? I'm going to try one out from Canon next month. I loved the 70-200, so I didn't know if I would be as happy with the 100-400 - liked the longer range though.

I'll check out your galleries!

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Steve Grodin • Veteran Member • Posts: 3,985

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to BellevueWA • Jul 22, 2014

BellevueWA wrote:

Steve Grodin wrote:

Personally I have never found the 100-400 as much use for landscape as the 70-200. I'm using the same two bodies as you, 7D & 5DMK3.

Steve

Good to know - do you own both lenses? I'm going to try one out from Canon next month. I loved the 70-200, so I didn't know if I would be as happy with the 100-400 - liked the longer range though.

I'll check out your galleries!

Yes I own both lenses. The 70-200 2.8 IS II is sharper than my 100-400.

Steve

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http://vette74.smugmug.com

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Keith Z Leonard • Veteran Member • Posts: 6,134

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to BellevueWA • Jul 22, 2014

BellevueWA wrote:

I am rebuilding my lenses due to an accident at a river ... good time to re-evaluate me lenses.

Previously, I had the Canon 70-200 2.8L lens - I loved this lens! Used it extensively in my landscape/outdoor/agriculture photography. I'm thinking about replacing this now with the 100-400 4.5-5.6 lens. I don't think I was usually in the area of 2.8 for landscape, outdoor use as much as I'd like having a 2.8. (I used to do sports but my nephews are out of school now!) I'd either be using a tripod or use higher aperture for depth of field.

Thoughts on the 100-400 compared to the 70-200?

I'd have this setup ...

Canon 7D with 10-22, 17-55/2.8

Canon 5D MIII with 50/1.4, 24-105, 70-200 OR 100-400

Any other recommendations for this type of use? I appreciate your advice - particularly on the 70-200/100-400.

I have the 70-200 f4L and the 100-400 L, I like them both. I never felt my copy of the 100-400 was sharp on my 7D but it performs well on my 5D3. My 70-200 is sharper, no question, it's a joy to use, the 100-400 is big/heavy but also quite good. I wish the IS were more effective, but it's a good lens. It's all about whether or not you need 400mm though.

Keith Z Leonard's gear list:Keith Z Leonard's gear list

Canon EF 70-200mm F4L USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Canon EOS 400D +16 more

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George Spencer • Senior Member • Posts: 1,079

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to Keith Z Leonard • Jul 22, 2014

Keith Z Leonard wrote:

BellevueWA wrote:

I am rebuilding my lenses due to an accident at a river ... good time to re-evaluate me lenses.

Previously, I had the Canon 70-200 2.8L lens - I loved this lens! Used it extensively in my landscape/outdoor/agriculture photography. I'm thinking about replacing this now with the 100-400 4.5-5.6 lens. I don't think I was usually in the area of 2.8 for landscape, outdoor use as much as I'd like having a 2.8. (I used to do sports but my nephews are out of school now!) I'd either be using a tripod or use higher aperture for depth of field.

Thoughts on the 100-400 compared to the 70-200?

I'd have this setup ...

Canon 7D with 10-22, 17-55/2.8

Canon 5D MIII with 50/1.4, 24-105, 70-200 OR 100-400

Any other recommendations for this type of use? I appreciate your advice - particularly on the 70-200/100-400.

I have the 70-200 f4L and the 100-400 L, I like them both. I never felt my copy of the 100-400 was sharp on my 7D but it performs well on my 5D3. My 70-200 is sharper, no question, it's a joy to use, the 100-400 is big/heavy but also quite good. I wish the IS were more effective, but it's a good lens. It's all about whether or not you need 400mm though.

I also have 70-200 f4 L and the 100-400 L and I agree with Keith.

I don't think of the 100-400 L as a landscape lens but I guess it could be used as one.

George Spencer's gear list:George Spencer's gear list

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 6D Canon EOS 7D Mark II Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM +12 more

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OP BellevueWA • Regular Member • Posts: 102

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to George Spencer • Jul 22, 2014

George Spencer wrote:

I also have 70-200 f4 L and the 100-400 L and I agree with Keith.

I don't think of the 100-400 L as a landscape lens but I guess it could be used as one.

My thought was, I've used the 70-200 2.8 a lot with landscapes on my 7D - which, with a 1.6 crop factor, is like a 112-320 lens so, using a 100-400 on a 5D MIII would be a comparable focal length.

And, yes, I do also use my 10-22 & 17-55 for this! But, as much as I loved my 70-200 2.8, I wasn't sure if I'd regret this or have similar love for the 100-400! It's not as easy to buy and then make a change, at $1600 so I thought I'd find out what others thought. As far as the weight, I'd be used to that with the 70-200 2.8.

I appreciate your thoughts on this.

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Keith Z Leonard • Veteran Member • Posts: 6,134

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to BellevueWA • Jul 22, 2014

Rent one maybe? I'm not a big landscape guy, so I'm probably not a huge help here. I only pull out the "big boy" 100-400 when I'm going to be focal length limited. Zoos, limited birding, some sports.

Keith Z Leonard's gear list:Keith Z Leonard's gear list

Canon EF 70-200mm F4L USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Canon EOS 400D +16 more

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OP BellevueWA • Regular Member • Posts: 102

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to BellevueWA • Aug 18, 2014

Thanks - I did rent a 100-400. I realized, I don't like this lens! I like the range, do NOT like the push/pull action. After using this for 5 days, it already had dust on the inner elements. One advantage to the 70-200 2.8 IS lens.

Altough, I did like the range using this with the 5D MIII - more in line with the range I had with the Canon 7D and 70-200.

Guess I'll rethink this - I love the 70-200, just wanted something with more range on my 5D MIII.

Appreciate the info/advice.

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jrobichaud • Junior Member • Posts: 46

consider the 70-300mm L

In reply to BellevueWA • Aug 20, 2014

BellevueWA wrote:

I am rebuilding my lenses due to an accident at a river ... good time to re-evaluate me lenses.

Previously, I had the Canon 70-200 2.8L lens - I loved this lens! Used it extensively in my landscape/outdoor/agriculture photography. I'm thinking about replacing this now with the 100-400 4.5-5.6 lens. I don't think I was usually in the area of 2.8 for landscape, outdoor use as much as I'd like having a 2.8. (I used to do sports but my nephews are out of school now!) I'd either be using a tripod or use higher aperture for depth of field.

Thoughts on the 100-400 compared to the 70-200?

I'd have this setup ...

Canon 7D with 10-22, 17-55/2.8

Canon 5D MIII with 50/1.4, 24-105, 70-200 OR 100-400

Any other recommendations for this type of use? I appreciate your advice - particularly on the 70-200/100-400.

Sorry about the river mishap! Unfortunately, I've been there.

For landscape, travel, the 100-400mm will out perform the 70-200mm 2.8 I with a 2x, however it won't touch the 70-200mm from 70-200mm at 2.8 obviously. I really like the 70-300mm IS L for travel/nature as it is much more compact than the 100-400mm and the 70-200mm 2.8 and IQ wise, it's superior to everything but the 70-200mm 2.8 IS II. If you need 2.8, then you know what to do, if you need more reach, I highly recommend the 70-300mm L over the 100-400mm.

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rickpoole • Senior Member • Posts: 1,241

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to BellevueWA • Aug 20, 2014

Also be aware of the possibility Canon will announce a 100-400 mk ii next month. Rumor is it will be a twist zoom.

rickpoole's gear list:rickpoole's gear list

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II +7 more

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KENTGA • Veteran Member • Posts: 8,733

Re: Canon 70-200 / 100-400

In reply to BellevueWA • Aug 21, 2014

I have 7D and 6D and many of the Canon L zooms including the 70-200L f4 IS and 100-400. I'm mostly a landscape shooter and I seldom use more than a 17-55 on 7D or 24-105 on 6D. I do use 100-400 for wildlife and BIF. I guess I would consider the 70-200L f4 IS unless you need a longer tele.

Kent

KENTGA's gear list:KENTGA's gear list

Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 6D Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Canon EOS 80D Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO +14 more

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