(I’ve added a brief update at the bottom of the original article.)
After thinking about it for some time, this week I acquired the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS lens. I’m not always necessarily that much of a “big lens” guy, and for the most part I’m very happy shooting with my Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L and my Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS, sometimes using my EF 70-200mm f/4 L for longer shots. (More about these lenses and other equipment I use on my Equipment: Reports, Tests, And Commentary page.) But during the past year I have been unable to shoot several specific subjects the way I wanted because I just didn’t have long enough range.
I avoid making purchases driven by Lens Lust. I wait until I identify a specific gap in what I can do with my equipment and specific ways to resolve this before I get out my credit card. I do not buy gear because I have extra money, because it looks shiny and cool, or because I happen to have some extra cash. In this case I knew that the lens would primarily be used on a tripod, though sometimes used hand held; that any low light shooting with the long lens would almost certainly be on the tripod; that excellent resolution would be important; that flexibility would also be important; that the lens would fit into a system of existing lenses; and that I prefer to have lenses whose focal length ranges overlap.
Eventually the choice came down to this lens or the Canon EF 300mm f/4 prime. Continue reading New Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L