The 400 2.8 IS II's amazing MTF charts

[Romy Ocon]

Canon has just released a batch of new lenses, and what caught my eye immediately are the unbelievably good MTF charts of the new 400 2.8 IS II particularly when coupled with the new 1.4x TC III and 2x TC III.

The new bright 400 weighs slightly less than the current 500 f4 IS (3.87 kg), and much less than the old 400 2.8 IS (5.37 kg), hence quite hand holdable.

While my current 400 2.8 IS is still sharp with 2x TC II, it pales in comparison to the new 400 + 2x TC III (see MTF charts). Minimum focus distance is even made closer now at 2.70 m, affording great magnification at 800 mm.

In my view, the new 400 2.8 IS II will become the ultimate birding lens in the planet. With the new TC IIIs, it's a 400 mm - 800 mm f/2.8 - f/5.6 "zoom" with 4 stop IS, hand holdable, with an amazing MFD of 2.7 m. That it's f/2.8 also makes it a low-light terror and likewise less diffraction limited for the even smaller pixels of the future.

I won't be able to afford this new glass (SRP = $ 11K) so I'll stick with my current 5.37 kg dinosaur. But I'm happy to see that optics technology has made a huge leap forward in just one step. Just two lenses - 70-200 2.8 IS II and the new 400 2.8 IS II - plus the new TCs can comprise a mean wildlife and bird photography kit.


400 2.8 IS II, 3.85 kg, 2.70 m MFD




400 2.8 IS I, 5.37 kg, 3.0 m MFD




800 5.6 IS, 4.50 kg, 6.0 m MFD

[ppaaoolloo]

You forgot it looks pretty too!


EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM

[Romy Ocon]

Hehehe.... any glass of over 100 mm in diameter regardless of color or barrel design looks pretty to me Pao! ;D

Seriously, seems the new 400 2.8 follows the "streamlined" look of the 800 5.6 IS.

[ppaaoolloo]

Aug 26, 2010 6:20:27 GMT Romy Ocon said:

Hehehe.... any glass of over 100 mm in diameter regardless of color or barrel design looks pretty to me Pao! ;D

Seriously, seems the new 400 2.8 follows the "streamlined" look of the 800 5.6 IS.

The design reminds me of a mix between Sony's super teles and the 800 but the 400's more than a 800! ;D It is nice to know that the 400 II now weighs 20 grams lighter than the 500 I. Which I find is perfectly hand holdable for hours on end.

I am also amendable to the change of color patterns. Parts of the lens known to incur more scratches are now colored black while maintaining the white of the other parts of the lens. I do wonder though what the lens hood will look like. Will it adopt the 70-200 II hood design? Will it still be colored Canon white?

Makes you wonder how much lighter the 500 & 600 will be. 3kg and 3.8kg respectively? ;D

So the 400MP 7D for Junior will be in the horizon soon.

[Romy Ocon]

Based on the MTF of 400 2.8 IS II + 2x TC III, as well as the 2.7 m MFD and light weight, I'm willing to trade both my 500 f4 IS I + 400 2.8 IS I (both in very good cosmetic and operating condition) for a new 400.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

a 400 2.8 plus some TCs has always been my dream rig. I hope santa is listening...

[Mark Itol]

Indeed this is quite a leap in terms of IQ!

Apparently Canon figured the sum of those functions in the charts equals USD 11K. ;D

[ppaaoolloo]

It's so pretty and the feet is so small. That's gonna make for a lousy handle hold on too.

I like how the controls are reworked so that the AF/MF switch and MFD switch cannot be accidentally changed.

[donsausa]

A couple of helpful links the CPS guys fwd'd over.

"Canon Updates Super-Telephoto Lenses and Extenders"
www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=3508&WT.mc_id=EM1010EO06001

"Lens positioning article: EF 70–300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM"
www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=3512&WT.mc_id=EM1010EO06003