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Saturday, July 12, 2014

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II Lens Specs


Canon EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6L IS II zoom lens?

Now that the eagerly awaited EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens has been out for over a year, attention has turned to Canon's other venerable lens, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS. This is my other favorite zoom in Canon's  'L' lens lineup. You can read my review of this lens here.

Unfortunately, the lens is showing its age. Released in 1998, it quickly became a staple in my photography bag for wildlife photo shoots. The lens is perfect for mobility and handholding. Although not a fast lens, its versatility and great zoom range more than offset the other shortcomings. The replacement lens has been spotted out in field tests and may be slightly faster (f/4) on the short end (100mm). The current lens is one of Canon's best selling zooms and there may be plenty of inventory around the world. Some dealers are selling the lens at quite a discount in order to clear out inventory before the official intorduction of the Series II lens the first week of September.

As my readers know, I prefer to travel light and handhold my equipment while on photo shoots. The EF 100-400mm II lens will offer me unmatched mobility and versatility. Cannot wait to get my hands on this replacement lens. Nikon announced their 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S zoom lens to great excitement last year.

Possible specs for EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens :

  • Rotating zoom ring, like the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
  • Latest generation optics and coatings
  • Latest generation 4 stop Image Stabilization system
  • Latest material, offering a slight weight reduction to current model
  • 82mm filter thread
  • List price under $2,500

Canon has announced the Canon EOS-7D Mk II camera on September 15 but chose not to announce the EF 100-400mm II lens at this time. This is my favorite wildlife zoom lens for handheld photography. I expect the Series II lens to be announced before the first half of 2015. Keep checking back for the latest information and you can see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com

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