Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/12/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Jim, I tried the 400mm f5.6L for a couple days before I got my 400mm f4 DO. It's a very good, sharp lens. It's light weight make it very easy to carry around for birding. Most of the people that buy it use it for that. There are only two down sides. Because of the f5.6 aperture you cannot autofocus with a 1.4X extender on a 40D or any 1.6X crop body, and it doesn't have IS which I find useful on a long lens. 400mm for birding is a little short. This is why the 560mm Telyt is a popular focal length. You can still find them if you look around but if you get one make sure you get the shoulder stock that should come with it. You absolutely need that support with this long lens otherwise you'll find it waiving all over the place. Doug uses it with the shoulder stock and a monopod. Len On Dec 27, 2008, at 7:54 PM, James Laird wrote: > George, > > My bad. But they are stunning. I'd still like any luger's opinion of > the 400 5.6L. I've also considered the 560 6.8 Telyt but they seem to > be in very short supply and I just don't know if I could get used to > carrying that cannon around. Still considering. > > Regards, > Jim > > On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 6:29 PM, Lottermoser George > <imagist3@mac.com> wrote: >> Wish I could do as well; >> but, >> not my images Jim. >> I only found them in a search >> for better examples from the 800. >> >> Fond regards, >> George >> >> george@imagist.com >> http://www.imagist.com >> http://www.imagist.com/blog >> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist >> >> >> >> On Dec 27, 2008, at 5:34 PM, James Laird wrote: >> >>> George, >>> >>> Absolutely stunning images! >>> >>> I'll never be in you're league but have been contemplating a >>> Canon 400 >>> 5.6L for my 40D to try my hand at bird photography and wondered if >>> you've used one and what you think of it. I'ts not the 800 but it's >>> one-tenth the price and in my budget. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Jim >>> >>> On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 11:07 AM, Lottermoser George >>> <imagist3@mac.com> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Here's the first one I found - wide open >>>> <http://www.pbase.com/martinisabelle/image/106665049> >>>> >>>> >>>> Fond regards, >>>> George >>>> >>>> george@imagist.com >>>> http://www.imagist.com >>>> http://www.imagist.com/blog >>>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Dec 27, 2008, at 10:49 AM, Lottermoser George wrote: >>>> >>>>> Here's a better example of the lens's possibilities: >>>>> <http://www.pbase.com/martinisabelle/image/105425263> >>>>> and >>>>> <http://www.pbase.com/martinisabelle> >>>>> where 800 is indicated >>>>> >>>>> Fond regards, >>>>> George >>>>> >>>>> george@imagist.com >>>>> http://www.imagist.com >>>>> http://www.imagist.com/blog >>>>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Dec 27, 2008, at 10:27 AM, Leonard Taupier wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> You're right Doug. While I'm primarily a Nikon SLR user, I >>>>>> bought a >>>>>> used >>>>>> EOS 1DS MK II to use with my 560mm Telyt. This combination >>>>>> gives me >>>>>> beautiful results. I have since purchased Canon's 400mm f4 DO >>>>>> and 1.4X >>>>>> extender which also gives me beautiful results. Since I >>>>>> already had the >>>>>> full >>>>>> frame body (This was before the D3 and D700), I started >>>>>> looking at some >>>>>> of >>>>>> the better Canon L lenses to carry with me. I am fortunate >>>>>> that my >>>>>> dealer >>>>>> lets me try anything I want. I have since had to pass on 4 L >>>>>> lenses I >>>>>> tried, >>>>>> including the 24mm f1.4, the 16-35mm f2.8 and the 24 -105mm >>>>>> lenses. I >>>>>> did >>>>>> get the 35mm f1.4L lens which I find very nice. I almost >>>>>> passed on the >>>>>> 400mm >>>>>> DO lens as well. I tried a used one from my dealer which I >>>>>> found had >>>>>> low >>>>>> contrast. A week later he let me try a new one. It was nothing >>>>>> like the >>>>>> first one. It had excellent contrast and high resolution. I >>>>>> bought it. >>>>>> I >>>>>> don't know if this kind of variability is common but it's >>>>>> certainly >>>>>> scary >>>>>> for a lens that cost over $10,000. which is the case with the >>>>>> 800mm. >>>>>> >>>>>> Len >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Dec 27, 2008, at 10:57 AM, wildlightphoto@earthlink.net wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Leonard Taupier wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> This lens is getting glowing reviews from the Fred Miranda >>>>>>>> site. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I'm beginning to question the value of user reviews >>>>>>> particularly where >>>>>>> the user's quality standard, techniques and intended use are >>>>>>> unknowns >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> may differ from mine. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> An example is the user reviews of the EF 24mm f/1.4 L on FM >>>>>>> and B&H >>>>>>> where it seems many are awed by the fast aperture and are >>>>>>> willing to >>>>>>> forgive >>>>>>> weaker image quality at the faster apertures and the >>>>>>> expectation of >>>>>>> cherry-picking dealer's (or importer's) stock to find one of the >>>>>>> better >>>>>>> samples, and give the lens a very high rating. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> At any rate I expect that with the right conditions and >>>>>>> technique the >>>>>>> 800mmm f/5.6 IS can deliver much more than the sample photos >>>>>>> demonstrated. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>>>>> information >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>>>> information >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>>> information >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>> information >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information