Homer Alaska
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I have been hearing for years that the Canon 100-400mm lens is not sharp and it is awkward to shoot with and yadda, yadda, yadda. I happen to love mine. The push- pull zoom did take some getting use to and I was the biggest complainer with it at first but the more I used the lens for flight the more natural it seemed. The image above was created using the Canon 100-400mm lens. I do wish it were an f/4 but other than that it rocks!
______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito
Don’t forget to enter ~ THE BIRDS AS ART 1st International Bird Photography Competition
Judging from your photo, it sure doesn’t look like sharpness is a problem. I used a Nikon medium telephoto push-pull zoom for years. While I like the rotating versions better, I never felt the pushing or pulling to change the zoom was that big an issue. I might not be happy with it for zoom blurs because it took a bit of force to change, but for other shots it worked fine.
Thanks Dennis, I like the lens but agree with you that the rotating zooms are nicer to work with.
denise
You made the trip to Homer with Artie? How awesome is that?? I would go back in a second! Didn’t stop smiling until I got on the airplane to go home. Glad to see you’ve got some Eagles there
I had the 100-400 for a couple of days. Personally, I didn’t like the push/pull zoom. That being said I did not find it to be un-sharp. Is it as sharp as the 400/5.6 or 300/4? No, but it’s certainly “good enough” and beats out my old Sigma 50-500 any day! The only reason I sold it was because I got it in a package deal with a few other items and realized I probably wouldn’t use it very often given my affinity for prime lenses. I definitely recommend you try to steal the 70-200/2.8L IS II from Artie for a while – that lens produced some of the most stunning images while in Homer. Enjoy!!
Hi Charles, ya, can you believe it-after two tries the third one worked out!!
I’m sure I will be back here again.
denise
It appears as though you have a solid command of the lens and the subject matter. I’m so happy for you guys that Mother Nature is smiling on you, and wish you the best. Oh yea, you can bet I’d love to be there… perhaps one day!
Thanks Debra, I appreciate the kind words. We have been blessed!
denise
It’s my main birding lens, and I love it to death including the push/pull design! Another thing I love about this lens is the very close minimum focusing distance…great for tame birds and for some macro (with extension tubes).
Glad you love yours too! Oh, and beautiful image of the eagle
Daniel, I really do think it’s a great lens, especially for the money. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about it.
denise
@Charles Scheffold
Just remember to take a break from photographing every now and then and listen to the eagles flying past you. The sound of the wind in their feathers is incredible… I’ll never forget it!
Charles, I couldn’t agree more. The place is very beautiful and the seeing the eagles fly around is amazing. I doubt I will ever forget the place.
denise
Awesome image Denise, love the pose! The results with the lens look pretty darn good to me. I get a real kick out reading lens reviews on the internet. I shoot Nikon and my favorite lens is the 80-400mm. It is a very versatile focal range. Aside from the poorly designed tripod collar, which I replaced with one from Kirk Enterprises, I really have no complaints. Look forward to more Eagles!
Thanks Andrew for sharing your story. Hope to post more soon.
denise
Well, I have problems hand-holding any 400mm lens still enough to get a clear shot, but that’s not a limitation of the lens
I guess it takes some getting use to.
denise
Stunning photo by any standard, Denise. I’ve never used a push-pull but imagine it’s a matter of developing a feel for it. Nice work here.
Thanks so much Jimi, it does take some practice
denise
Wow Denise! After a week, this past spring, of getting up at dawn to head over to Blackwater NWR for the difficult task of capturing images of eagles, I can sure appreciate your wonderfully majestic captures here. I learned at Blackwater that eagles do not pose for image capture like so many herons, egrets and harlequins. Eagles are intelligent raptors with excellent vision and a keen sense of boundaries. If they sense you approaching, they are history! Honestly, the images you present here are the ones that I dreamed of taking. Well, well done!
Thanks so much Rob for the kind words and for sharing your experience. I have always loved eagles and having had this chance to see so many has put a smile on my heart and face.
denise
Hi Denise;
a) Wonderful images from Alaska…I lived in Anchorage many, many years ago…just as I started m photographic journey (an old Agfa rangefinder with a 50mm and a 90mm lens)…I’ve been to Homer to fish for Coho, but never to shoot eagles!
b) The 100-400 is a vastly under-appreciated lens by many. Versatile, very sharp for a zoom of that range, wonderful minimum focus distance…but doesn’t that new 200-400 they’re talking about look sweet?
Hi John, Alaska was an amazing place. The snow covered mountains in the BG were awesome! There is always another lens or camera that we all “just have to have”, at least we can dream…
denise
What a stunning shot!! I love the Bald Eagle, can’t get enough of these types of pictures. The lens certainly looks sharp to me!! Well done!
Thank you Adam, I appreciate it.
denise