Canon 100-400 'L' zoom

[Pune]

Hi,
I have been offered the above lense at a reasonable price and wondered if anyone has any issues that I should look out for before making the purchase?
Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Cheers
Pune

[Pune]

Thanks Reggie, that all sounds very positive and a good recommendation, so I'll try it out and go from there.
Thanks again.
Cheers
Pune

[joe spares]

Had mine 10years, had bearings done 4 times, mainly due to my carelessness when it was new (fell off steps with it!!), last year it was totally rebuilt by Canon UK for £130 including parts, now as good as new again, so you can factor in that cost if they seem iffy on the one you are looking at. Whilst without it, I used a standard 75-300mm lens, and could see the difference, 100-400 far superior quality, only lens I'd swap it for would be 300f4, but then you loose the flexibility of the zoom and top end reach.

[Pune]

Thanks Joe, great, more positive stuff, I think the one I am trying has been well looked after and the results so far are superb, so I'm beginning to think it's an easy decision.
Cheers
Pune

[nellis6]

although these lenses do get some bad press from time to time you only have to look at the amount of people who use them, that in itself tells a story! They ain't perfect and not great in poor light, but I have had no problems with mine over the years and in good light it gives good images. Look after it and treat it with respect and it will be fine. Never going to be as sharp as a prime but nor is anything else. Gives you flexibility over say a 300mm or 400mm prime and is nowhere near the price. If it's what you need then buy it

[Pune]

Thanks Nellis, I think I am now sold on the idea.
Cheers
Pune

[gaviscon]

It works for me! In good light it really can produce some cracking images.
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=81085

Cheers

Gav

[Pune]

Cracking images, the 100-400 certainly does the business, thanks Gaviscon..

[alanp]

The lens works really well as long as you try not to go above f8, autofocus and sharpness aren''t nearly as good at 5.6-7.1 particularly with grey jets on grey days. I recently switched to auto ISO and AV at f8 and the improvement in quality and hit rate was marked. Use the auto ISO limit function to keep it from going higher than you'd like.

[Pune]

Thanks alanp, nice tip to try out, cheers. Pune

[nellis6]

The lens works really well as long as you try not to go above f8, autofocus and sharpness aren''t nearly as good at 5.6-7.1 particularly with grey jets on grey days. I recently switched to auto ISO and AV at f8 and the improvement in quality and hit rate was marked. Use the auto ISO limit function to keep it from going higher than you'd like.

I also always shoot on AV mode and if possible use F.8, providing you have adequate light etc. F.8 does seem to be this particular lenses 'sweet' spot

[Pune]

Thanks nellis6, I'll keep that in mind, all sound advice from you guys, thanks, really appreciated.