Canon 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 vs Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II

[James Cutting]

Afternoon all,

Currently, I use the Mark One variant of the Canon EF 100-400mm lens, paired with my EOS 80D. I'm very happy with the results I get with this setup and find it such a versatile, all round brilliant lens.

However, of late, I have had the chance to use the Canon 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 lens, and have found that a fantastic piece of kit to use. It is suited perfectly to local bases, getting some incredibly sharp shots and has ultimately got me thinking of an upgrade I have used the MK2 100-400mm, but not recently - though I can tell it is a jump up from my Mark 1.

Now my question is, has anyone had use of both lenses, and if so what would you say about both? I have heard from a couple that the 70-300mm is sharper at the 300mm end than the 100-400mm is at its 300mm end (if that makes sense!) Not only is the 70-300 cheaper it is also gets some top mark reviews.

The biggest obstacle though, would be losing 100mm of reach at airshows. My main airshow is RIAT, with the occasional Duxford one thrown in, more often than not I am at local bases. Has anyone used that 70-300mm lens at shows and how do you find it?

I may not go ahead with this, I just wanted to open this up as a discussion to get some people's thoughts!

Let me know what you think. Thank you

James.

[Weazel69]

In the past pre-digital I used a Canon 35/350 Lens which was very very handy for all round as it required no lens changing for most of the time.
then when I had to go digital, my 1st body if I remember rightly was a 30D, Horrendous could not get on with it at all, so purchased 5D Mk.1 - luvvly jubbly
then upgraded to 100/400 lens for that slightly longer focusing
next upgrade was a 5D Mk.III with the Mk.ii lens which was going well for a time until I decided that I required more focal length so purchased the Sigma 150/600 lens which was going reasonably well until they Sigma that is brought out the 60/600
well I can tell you that it's two different worlds. I am finding this lens so far to be magic - main negative - weight but even so lighter than the previous one

thats if this little story is of any use to you

[Nighthawke]

I presume you mean the Sigma 60-600

[Weazel69]

Hi Nighthawke if you look surely thats what I have put!!
but yes I have to admit I did put it incorrectly first,but then a quick edit corrected it.cheers

[James Cutting]

Thanks for your comments but I don't particularly feel like I'm looking at going for a Sigma - I'm looking between the 2 mentioned lenses so anything useful for those would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Nighthawke]

Sorry - bit quick off the mark there!

[Weazel69]

hey Nighthawke No need for apologies, my 2nd comment was made as a bit o' banter, boring day like today is/was
James I might have put some comments that you felt were a bit useless, but what I was really trying to say is it all depends on what you really want out of a lens
as I said I have used both the Canon 100/400 lens and had no probs with those except until you are confronted with a large A/c and you cannot wind back less
been there done that

[Pat Murphy]

I am presuming you mean the 70-300 L? If so then I had that lens for about 6 years. It was the best piece of glass I ever owned....until I swapped it with MPB for a 100-400 ii. I finally got to that via a Sigma 150-600 C which was just too heavy and I always felt with that lens that the last 50mm or so weren't really useful, as it softened up towards the end of the reach. You could get around this to a degree, by stopping down 1 stop, but that put you at f8 as your first useful aperture and it started to diffract by f13, so I found it was a bright sunshine lens only.

Back to the 70-300. It was always sharp as a tack through the range even at 300mm and didn't need any stopping down, you could get some great shots in iffy light and it only ever had one issue for me, which has gotten worse since the rules at airshows changed, that's range, it's at least 100mm short for airshows and also wildlife.

So the 100-400 ii is the way to go. I got a practically new one from MPB late last year ( I have no connection btw, just very happy with their service) I took it on holiday to OZ/NZ in December. I'm still working my way through all I took but it's truly an awesome piece of kit. If you have the money for it, then it's my recommendation. If reach is more important, then consider the Sigma or Tamron long reachers but be warned, you WILL need a decent strap if you have any neck/back issues. I use a Black Rapid on the 100-400 with a 70D and Battery Grip. Makes all the difference if you are carrying it round all day. The other issue with the Sigma/Tamron lenses is lack of weatherproofing. I did a Pelagic Bird shoot (Albatross and Skuas) from Stewart Island. There was water splashing around all over the place and the Sigma would have had to stay in the bag. No such issues to be fair, with the 100-400. Just a good clean after to get the salt off

Hope this helps but if you have any more Q's I am happy to be Pm'd.

Pat

[James Cutting]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for your reply, massively appreciated. Yes, I was on about the 70-300L lens, the reach was the biggest downside I had about the lens, and thinking logically about it, upgrading from a 100-400 MK1 to a 70-300mm wouldn't be too helpful losing 100mm as I still visit airshows regularly.

HDEW have the 100-400ii at £1299 brand new, so will keep an eye on that and hopefully I'll be able to sell my 100-400mm MK1 to part-fund the upgrade thanks for the words of advie on MPB, never dealt with them but have heard they are great and have got quotes from them before.

Do you have any sample shots on your flickr?

Many thanks.

[Pat Murphy]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for your reply, massively appreciated. Yes, I was on about the 70-300L lens, the reach was the biggest downside I had about the lens, and thinking logically about it, upgrading from a 100-400 MK1 to a 70-300mm wouldn't be too helpful losing 100mm as I still visit airshows regularly.

HDEW have the 100-400ii at £1299 brand new, so will keep an eye on that and hopefully I'll be able to sell my 100-400mm MK1 to part-fund the upgrade thanks for the words of advie on MPB, never dealt with them but have heard they are great and have got quotes from them before.

Do you have any sample shots on your flickr?

Many thanks.

Hi James, The 2 albums, Peregrine next door and Tornado farewell are both with the 100-400 and all the rest are with the 70-300. Hope this helps.

Pat

[mprl]

Hi James,
I’ve used mpb many times and always been very happy with the service they give, both buying from them and selling to them. They also will do part exchange which might help you upgrade to the mark 2 100-400mm? I upgraded to the mk2 and been very happy with its performance.
Cheers
Matt

[James Cutting]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for your reply, massively appreciated. Yes, I was on about the 70-300L lens, the reach was the biggest downside I had about the lens, and thinking logically about it, upgrading from a 100-400 MK1 to a 70-300mm wouldn't be too helpful losing 100mm as I still visit airshows regularly.

HDEW have the 100-400ii at £1299 brand new, so will keep an eye on that and hopefully I'll be able to sell my 100-400mm MK1 to part-fund the upgrade thanks for the words of advie on MPB, never dealt with them but have heard they are great and have got quotes from them before.

Do you have any sample shots on your flickr?

Many thanks.

Hi James, The 2 albums, Peregrine next door and Tornado farewell are both with the 100-400 and all the rest are with the 70-300. Hope this helps.

Pat

Thanks!

[James Cutting]

Hi James,
I’ve used mpb many times and always been very happy with the service they give, both buying from them and selling to them. They also will do part exchange which might help you upgrade to the mark 2 100-400mm? I upgraded to the mk2 and been very happy with its performance.
Cheers
Matt

Good idea, thanks for that

Glad to hear you enjoy it! Do you notice a difference in sharpness between the MK1 and MK2 past the 300mm range?

[mprl]

I find Mk2 is definitely sharper beyond 300mm and is sharper across the whole zoom on those dull days when need to open the f-stop up to get a decent shutter speed. I also find the twist zoom easier than the push/ pull of the mk1 as I also use the canon 70-200L which is also twist zoom for aircraft and it saves me getting confused and missing that vital shot hopefully
One thing to watch with mpb is that they will only buy uk purchased equipment and will require proof of where you purchased it and won’t touch grey imports. At least that means if you buy any secondhand lenses from them they won’t be grey imports.
Hope that helps and you get yourself a mk2 before RIAT
cheers
Matt

[James Cutting]

Thanks Matt, very helpful Sounds good to hear too! HDEW have good prices but will also keep tabs on MPB

I hope I do too, just need to see how it goes

[Richard B]

The New Sigma 60-600 as some good reviews, it's got good weather sealing also.
Good all round lens, ideal for airshows and other sporting events.

Yes it could be called heavy, but have you ever held a 600mm prime lens, its light in comparison.

Nice thing with the 60-600, you lose the weight by not having to carry other lens about.

My bag at an airshow will have a 600mm, 100-400, then a 70-200. Plus converter etc, so the weight
Can get offset with 1 lens,

The new Sigma 60-600 could seem a compromise, you cannot knock it's range and build quality if like, it's predecessor namely the Bigma 50-500.

[NickC]

Before splashing out on the 100-400L Mk2, see if you can try or hire one first, to compare to your Mk1. I have a Mk1, and a friend has a Mk2. I took some test shots with both lenses using the same settings and at all focal lengths the Mk2 is only ever so slightly sharper. For that reason I decided it wasn't worth trading my Mk1 and spending hundreds of Pounds on. It's a fabulous lens and I do still lust after one, but can't really justify the cost when the Mk1 is ever so nearly as good optically.

I also have the 70-300L and it is superb as other have said above, but I wouldn't suggest it as the only telephoto to have for aviation or wildlife due to its shorter focal length.

[James Cutting]

Thanks Richard, 60-600mm sounds good. I haven't heard a lot about it or seen many shots, so I may have to do some further research into it.

[James Cutting]

Before splashing out on the 100-400L Mk2, see if you can try or hire one first, to compare to your Mk1. I have a Mk1, and a friend has a Mk2. I took some test shots with both lenses using the same settings and at all focal lengths the Mk2 is only ever so slightly sharper. For that reason I decided it wasn't worth trading my Mk1 and spending hundreds of Pounds on. It's a fabulous lens and I do still lust after one, but can't really justify the cost when the Mk1 is ever so nearly as good optically.

I also have the 70-300L and it is superb as other have said above, but I wouldn't suggest it as the only telephoto to have for aviation or wildlife due to its shorter focal length.

Thanks Nick.

I did similar not that long ago, and to be honest I noticed similar results but that the MK2 was a lot more sharper from 300mm onwards (prime for airshows that range) so i noticed a difference there. Thanks for your point, i will consider this while looking into it.