Canon announces 200mm-400mm f/4 IS with BUILT-IN 1.4x tc

[arich]

I wouldn't use it indoors but that sounds like a pretty sweet deal for daylight football!
Canon develops EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender1.4x: Digital Photography Review

[zeroendless]

Nikon has offered the 200-400 for years but i never cared. A 200-400 is a great Africa lens, more tame birds and animals with beautiful backdrops but not so much for others. In Canon used market, a 500mm IS lens is about $5k, and slightly higher for 400mm F2.8 IS; and 400mm at F4 for $7000 (guessing according to recent superteles pricing) is a tough sale. I rather carry a 500 + 700-200 + TC, it's about the same price and have more options! To do what i do weekly, 200-400 is not ideal. I wish they had the 100-400 renewed instead, somewhere around $1500-$2000.

The built-in extender is interesting though.... It's very innovative and a welcome feature.

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by zeroendless

Nikon has offered the 200-400 for years but i never cared. A 200-400 is a great Africa lens, more tame birds and animals with beautiful backdrops but not so much for others. In Canon used market, a 500mm IS lens is about $5k, and slightly higher for 400mm F2.8 IS; and 400mm at F4 for $7000 (guessing according to recent superteles pricing) is a tough sale. I rather carry a 500 + 700-200 + TC, it's about the same price and have more options! To do what i do weekly, 200-400 is not ideal. I wish they had the 100-400 renewed instead, somewhere around $1500-$2000.

The built-in extender is interesting though.... It's very innovative and a welcome feature.

My thoughts exactly.

[scottbuckel]

Depending on what you shoot to me this seems like an interesting combination. Probably not for everybody. The 1.4 converter is definitely interesting. Does look like Canon is copying Nikon once again ;-)!

I have liked the versatility of my 200-400 and for many wildlife shooters this will potentially be a great lens particularly if it is you first foray in long lenses.

Scott

[arich]

Originally Posted by zeroendless

Nikon has offered the 200-400 for years but i never cared. A 200-400 is a great Africa lens, more tame birds and animals with beautiful backdrops but not so much for others. In Canon used market, a 500mm IS lens is about $5k, and slightly higher for 400mm F2.8 IS; and 400mm at F4 for $7000 (guessing according to recent superteles pricing) is a tough sale. I rather carry a 500 + 700-200 + TC, it's about the same price and have more options! To do what i do weekly, 200-400 is not ideal. I wish they had the 100-400 renewed instead, somewhere around $1500-$2000.

The built-in extender is interesting though.... It's very innovative and a welcome feature.

Excellent point. They've also refreshed the 500mm and 600mm but still no update for the 24-70mm?

[Tom]

If this is as sharp as the new 300L, 400L, 500L and 600L, then it could be pretty spectacular. I know some great photographers that shoot the 200-400 Nikon and swear by it.

The 200-400 could be amazing for basketball if you are strobing it. My buddy that shoots for SI gets strobes up for Pacers and Bulls games, and he shot each game with the 28-300L last year. But he is stopping down to F8 and strobing it. If you are stopping it down and strobing, that's a pretty awesome setup for gym sports.

I'm moving to all primes and the 70-200 (which I will eventually upgrade to the Mark II.)

I doubt this will ever be in my bag, but never say never. It isn't something that appeals to me as a wedding photographer and sports doesn't make me money. I love my 300 2.8L IS.

[Jim Victory]

My guess the price on this thing is going to make it less interesting to wildlife shooters, who are usually looking for more length anyway.

The built in converter is interesing but it pretty much prevents the use of a 2x on this lens thus reducing its flexibility and reach.

As much as I like the idea of a 200-400 f/4L IS lens the cost just doesn't warrant the usefulness for me. I'm interested in seeing what the weight and price will be but I would have preferred an upgrade for the 100-400. It would have been more useful functionally and price wise.

I would go for a supetele before dropping the cash for the 200-400.