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Friday, May 31, 2013

Canon EOS-1D X and EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x Lens


Humpback whale calf breaching in Maui, Hawaii


Dueling Canines - Polar Bears sizing each other up on the frozen tundra in Canada


I took delivery of the Canon EOS-1D X camera in August and have been using it as my main body for about 10 months now. Since then, the camera has accompanied me to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and all over Europe. It has operated in temperatures from about -25 to over 100 Fahrenheit and under all kinds of harsh field conditions. It is still impressing me every time I go out to take photos. You can read my original review here. 

Canon released their eagerly awaited EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens (read my review) on May 14. I have taken delivery of this lens now. This is my photography dream to mate this lens with the EOS-1D X and EOS-1D Mk IV cameras. Both cameras have the latest firmwares installed and ready to go. Now is a good time to revisit these cameras and see how remarkable these machines can be.

You can take a look at my equipment bag and see what I bring on my photo shoots. My readers know by now I like to travel light and handhold my camera as much as possible. It gives me maximum flexibility and mobility but handholding the EOS-1D with the EF 200-400mm lens for anything longer than a very short period of time will be a challenge. I plan to use a super light, carbon fiber monopod or tripod and ball head.

I am not a big fan of using pods with wildlife photography because I like to get close to the action but will make an exception for this camera/lens combination. My first photo shoot will be in Svalbard (the high Arctic) for the Polar Bears. It will be interesting to see how the zoom capability of this new Super Telephoto lens comes into play on a bouncy zodiac. First, I plan to go out in the next few weeks and perfect my techniques with the new combo before going on any wildlife shoots. Then, I will write a few detailed reviews on the new lens and how it works with the EOS-1D X and Mk IV cameras. Keep checking back for the latest information.


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