Any guesses?

From last weekend .......

100-400 ?

Yes, IMHO. I often use the 1.4x and the image quality does not suffer and in some cases, it's better. Adding the 1.4x turns the 100-400II into a nice macro lens and a super zoom at the other end of the spectrum. Limitation is not a good lens in low light. I have upgraded over the years to some excellent L glass (up to the 500mm II) and the 100-400mm is currently the one lens I grab for a "do it all" lens.

Thats great to hear. We have the 100-400 II and we really like it. Great to hear about the 1.4X I'll probably order one.

Few examples w/1.4x .....




Eagle at around 50yds, cropped.



Mountain is around 2 miles, no crop. On a 7DII plus 1.4x so 896mm focal length.


Heavy crop.

Without 1.4x, near sunset so not too bad after post processing.



I shoot RAW most of the time.

The IS is so good. I cant always get my wife to remember tripod or at least the shooting stick, but she gets some caprures hand held that are just pure gifts from the IS.

Those are great. Whats the min focus distance for the lens with extender? Shooting mostly @ 100 up close?

I shoot indoor sports with the 70-200 on a full frame which is perfect but I could potentially give up the 500mmI II for the 100-400. I do wish it wasn't single focus point only with the 1.4x. Makes those BIF shots a bit challenging.

Not sure on min focusing distance with the 1.4x but I do know it is shorter than without using the 1.4x. Most or all of the above close shots using the 1.4x were shot at 400mm (560mm). Need to experiment with some extension tubes for even closer/better macro.

Save a few nickels and look for a used 1.4x II. Not worth the cost for getting the 1.4x III. However, the 2x III is better than the II.

Just traded my Canon 70-200 F2.8 for their version II 100-400. Wow...having a great time wringing this lens out and getting used to it. Nice glass.

Agree. That's what Cookie packs when she's out and about just looking for opportunity. Over the fourth:

Extremely rare for us and must be in parent mode looking at its condition. Then again, hugging tree sap sources all day might be rough on ones feathers too. For being in the wilderness the bird was quite tame allowing one within 8 to 10 ft. Also, it seemed to return to each of its stations at about 5 minute intervals making it a dependable target.
Red-napped sapsucker.


Found mostly in boggy areas and appropriately named.
Elephant Head


And hanging around camp but rarely out where one could see him.
Yellow Warbler


A handy instrument and not excessively spendy. Some challenges with depth of field though.

Fair Chase: Great capture on the Wood Pecker. Can't seem to get close to one of those here.

I was thinking of looking for a Cannon 100-300 or 100 -400 for my Cannon 1DS 111. There was one for about 800 dollars used at the camera store about 6 months ago. It is not the newer one neither. A new one is about 1700 dollars , I think.

you DO want version 2 with the twist barrel.

Agree, great lens.

Cookie has both versions of that lens and carries the newer twist unit on a full frame body (7D) and the extend a tube on a crop unit (70D). Short of setting up an extremely controlled environment, I don't see any obvious difference in image quality between the two. For off hand shooting, if I get a chance, I prefer the older unit. With its longer dimension, I can get more stability by gripping the camera body with the right hand and use the left to grasp the extreme far end of the lens hood. Don't think one is making a serious error at all by going with either version.

good to know.

Canon 7D is not full frame.

My bad, the 5D