Hi everyone.
Following a considerable amount of research on this and other websites (many thanks to Paul Goode and Nomdeploom) I am on the verge of committing to a Canon 30D and Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens. Having distilled a brain-numbing volume of information I really thought I had cracked it. But, not satisfied, I continued to research and stumbled on a forum discussing the variable quality of the Canon 100-400mm lens - bloody hell. Several "Googles" and further searching of this forum revealed that there appear to be some inferior samples of this lens. I wonder if anyone has any thoughts or experience of this. Was it a quality control issue that has now been resolved? My concern is that as a newcomer to DSLR photography and this quality (and cost) of lens - my current camera is a Canon S2 - how on earth will I know I have a dud until it is too late. I have nothing to benchmark against. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Barry
Hi Barry,
I don't think there is anyone out there with a 100-400is who hasn't read the horror stories and thought long and hard about committing their hard earned cash to a potential pile of doggy-doos.
However, although there probably is some substance to these stories I think, and based my purchase on the fact, that recent lenses are more consistent, IQ wise, than previous models. Romy Ocon, Keith Reeder, PostcardCV and plenty of others who I apologize for not mentioning have recently acquired these lenses and are very happy with them.
I suppose its a fact that bad news spreads like wildfire, especially on the internet, and the majority of people who are perfectly happy with their purchase don't make a song and dance about it.
I think in some ways the 100-400is is a victim of its own success. It sells in big numbers and inevitably some people who's experience of long lenses is limited maybe a bit quick to criticize.
Using long lenses is something that has to be learned, good images don't come on the first afternoon, well certainly not for me they haven't!! if you look long enough you'll find someone criticizing every lens ever made. Not many question the big primes though because so few people can afford to actually get their hands on one...
Undoubtedly there are duds of every lens etc out there but I honestly don't believe you are any more likely to get a dud 100-400is than any other lens.
Paul
Hi again,
Been thinking.
When you get your new lens.
Aim at something stationary thats fairly contrasty, with
Good light
IS off
Lens on a tripod
One shot focus set
centre focus point set
iso 100/200
shutter speed at least 1/250
fire shutter with self timer
If the resultant image looks good (after pp'ing!) the lens is fine, what happens afterwards is all down to technique.
Paul