I dont understand it, why not just release a 200-400 f4, since people already own the 1.4 and 2x extenders? or better yet, combine it all and make it a 300-500 f4, that you would be able to attach the 1.4 & 2x to? (for the same price)
When you engage the 1.4x it is no longer f/4 of course.
If it's as good as it sounds, I'd MUCH rather have the tcon built-in - no lens changing required! This could be a killer lens.
Want.
Absolutely.
There is an opportunity for the built-in teleconverter to be optically designed just for this lens. It could be better image quality than the lens plus a more universal teleconverter. Add in the environmental benefits (no dust migration during the change) and the speed (no mechanical coupling/decoupling) and this makes a lot of sense indeed.
I do suspect that this will be a lens designed for rental/lease and potentially "very" pricey.
The 100-400 was a bargain price, but every motorsports photographer I know says to avoid that lens. The AF speed and accuracy just won't cut it for motorsports. If this 200-400/4 is going to be in the $6-8k range it better have lightening fast AF, on par with the super tele primes, as well as great image quality.
Based on the pictures it has the focus preset goodies like the 400mm f/2.8 L, which would lead me to believe that it would have excellent focus speeds (and a very high price tag).
Have to agree, Kdog.
How many posts have we read about whether the 100-400 would suffice for a safari trip. Of course, the new lens doesn't seem that expensive to someone who manages numerous trips to the safari lodge a year! Lol
What criteria I'd be looking for is:
Weight
Quality @ 560
Bokah @ 5.6
Focus speed (I suspect it is excellent) at that high price
Guessing $8799
Dream lens for me if it weighs less than my 500 f4 IS and similar quality.
While many are asking me if the 200-400 is the upgrade for the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens, and while I expect that the 200-400 L will be a significant upgrade from the 100-400 L in all ways, I do not see these two lenses being in the same class - in size, weight, image quality - or price.
Price first. Being a super-telephoto lens with high-grade specs, I fully expect the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4 L IS USM Ext 1.4x Lens to wear a super-high price tag. Hitting the buy button on the similarly-spec'd Nikon 200-400mm f/4G AF-S VR II Lens reveals the USA version currently selling for $6,800. With the built-in extender, I would not be surprised to see the Canon 200-400 L selling for $7,500 or $8,000. And with the announced-at-the-same-time Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS L USM Lens arriving with a $9,500 price tag, I am perhaps being conservative with that estimate.
My guess is this lens will be at least $8K. It is apparent that Canon is finally starting to price like Nikon. The new Canon 500 II is $9K, which is $500 higher than the current Nikon 500.
There's no way this lens is going to be thousands less than the Canon 500 II. The Nikon 200-400 is almost $7K. The Canon is a newer design plus, it has the integrated TC. So add $500 for that, and the $500 over the Nikon price because it's a newer design, and you have $1K over the Nikon price and that makes the Canon 200-400 at $8K. Minimum.
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these lenses are not for weekend warriors. they are for either A) rich folk.
When you engage the 1.4x it is no longer f/4 of course.
bingo!
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Absolutely.
There is an opportunity for the built-in teleconverter to be optically designed just for this lens. It could be better image quality than the lens plus a more universal teleconverter. Add in the environmental benefits (no dust migration during the change) and the speed (no mechanical coupling/decoupling) and this makes a lot of sense indeed.
I do suspect that this will be a lens designed for rental/lease and potentially "very" pricey.
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A former sports shooter
Follow me at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjurasz/
My Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mercphoto?ref=hdr_shop_menu
How many posts have we read about whether the 100-400 would suffice for a safari trip. Of course, the new lens doesn't seem that expensive to someone who manages numerous trips to the safari lodge a year! Lol
What criteria I'd be looking for is:
Weight
Quality @ 560
Bokah @ 5.6
Focus speed (I suspect it is excellent) at that high price
Guessing $8799
Dream lens for me if it weighs less than my 500 f4 IS and similar quality.
Flickr
That's pretty much the same analysis and conclusion I posted earlier in this thread.
Link to my Smugmug site
Yep, that's why I posted it.