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Mike Bishop | profile | all galleries >> The Rest (14) >> seasons >> Winter 2006 Wildlife >> The 400mm shootout tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

The 400mm shootout

The 100-400 IS L handheld (wide open) vs the 400 f/5.6 + 1.4x TC (stopped down +2/3) on a tripod

The controlled tests can be found here: https://pbase.com/maxwebster/400_money_test and here https://pbase.com/maxwebster/400mm_shootout_

Now this test was performed in real (and cold) life situations...
Top row: The prime and TC combo stopped down 2/3 - not too shabby
Middle row: The zoom hand-held and wide open
Bottom row: 100% crops from the zoom on a tripod (IS off), wide open

Note: the deer are handheld wide-open with the 100-400 zoom
chicadee-006_sml.jpg
chicadee-006_sml.jpg		 chicadee-002_sml.jpg
chicadee-002_sml.jpg		 Slate Coloured Junko
Slate Coloured Junko		 chicadee-001_sml.jpg
chicadee-001_sml.jpg
g3/21/332221/3/55941654.EGW2_0001sml.jpg chicadee-003.jpg
chicadee-003.jpg		 chicadee-004.jpg
chicadee-004.jpg		 chicadee-005.jpg
chicadee-005.jpg
EGW2_0001 copy.jpg
EGW2_0001 copy.jpg		 g3/21/332221/3/55394413.EGW2_0002copy.jpg EGW2_0005 copy.jpg
EGW2_0005 copy.jpg		 EGW2_0015 copy.jpg
EGW2_0015 copy.jpg
Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove		 deer in the snow
deer in the snow		 g3/21/332221/3/56559454.8149.jpg Untitled.jpg
Untitled.jpg
g3/21/332221/3/56561020.8152.jpg Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker		 Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker		 Ringed Neck Duck
Ringed Neck Duck
Ringed Neck Duck
Ringed Neck Duck		 Northern Harrier male
Northern Harrier male		 Tundra Swans
Tundra Swans		 Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Marsh Hawk
Marsh Hawk		 Marsh Hawk
Marsh Hawk		 Fifty plus Mallards Landing
Fifty plus Mallards Landing

comment
Ray Akey18-Feb-2006 19:05
I also have both of these lenses and the only reason I would use the zoom is if I know I'm going to be shooting more subjects than just birds and/or I cannot carry my tripod for whatever reason.

The 400 F5.6 is sharper and has better contrast than the zoom.

However, both are excellent lenses!
Mike Bishop12-Feb-2006 20:19
why compare 400mm to 560mm, hand-held to tripod?

Good question.

I'm already sold on the zoom - it is a very good copy - the only reason I would consider the prime, is if it's performance with the 1.4x TC at 560mm was comparable to the zoom at 400mm

does this make sense?


in other words, I would not use a TC on the zoom since I could use my feet and IS to get the shot, but since the prime would be mounted on a tripod anyways, I would likely keep the TC on the prime the majority of the time

this test shows me that the prime + TC is a very good combination if there is good light and so, my decision is not fuly made but I think I am keeping both

hope this helps
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