Canon 200-400mm Super Zoom Replacement For Canon 100-400 Mark II

by Stephen Baird-Parker
(Kidderminster, UK)

Canon 200-400mm Zoom With Built in 1.4x Tele Converter

Canon 200-400mm Zoom With Built in 1.4x Tele Converter


I have a 100-400mm mk2 which is amazing. I am thinking of stepping up to a 200-400 with 1.4 ex. (tele extender)
One thing that I have noticed is that there are a lot of these available second hand.
I presume that after people have had the lens later trade it in.
So, the question is: what do people then trade up to? 600mm? 800mm?
I would really like to know before I buy the wrong lens.

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for your questions about upgrading from the Canon EF 100-400mm II. This is a fascinating topic because of the large amount of money involved.

First of all, I have to come clean and let you know I've never used the 200-400mm, although I took a serious look at it also. I graduated from a 400mm f/5.6, which I loved, to a 100-400mm Mark II also.

My biggest disappointment is that I lose auto-focus with 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 combined a 1.4x II tele converter when used with a Canon 70D or a 5D Mark II.

Advantage of a Canon 200-400mm f/4.0

I've also considered a 150-600 Tamron (or Sigma), then a Canon 400mm prime f/4, as it's half the price of the Canon 200-400mm f/4.0 with tele extender that you're talking about. Certainly the f/4.0 maximum aperture of the 200-400mm lens is a big advantage of the lens, but is it worth the $10,999 investment?

On the surface, it's possible that there are many of the 200-400mm lenses available because many of the original owners were not thrilled with its zoom range? I have no data to support this, but the number of photographers who purchase an 800mm lens must be minuscule. It's more likely that they would get the extra magnification using a high power prime like a 600mm and pair it with a 1.4x or 2.0x tele extender,

Thanks,
Bruce

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Author Bruce Lovelace
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