Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

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Krazy
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Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by Krazy »

My (very) old Canon 100-400L Mk1 is starting to have problems with the zoom getting stuck. A well known problem for the lens, and it usually means game over for it. So, I am looking for a replacement to use with my 90D.

I am tempted to go for a used Canon 100-400L II, or switch to a (new) Sigma 150-600 Contemporary. I've read several reviews of both, but I was wondering if someone has some 'on the job' experience with both, and would want to share that.

Thanks in advance!
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by patrick dirksen »

I have the first one, the Canon 100-400L mark II, and am very pleased with it! Can't compare with the Sigma though.
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by Krazy »

patrick dirksen wrote: 17 Apr 2024, 21:23 I have the first one, the Canon 100-400L mark II, and am very pleased with it! Can't compare with the Sigma though.
Thanks for the reply Patrick.
I have found a way to repair the 100-400 for now, but I think it will stop working permanently in the very near future. Found some affordable options for the Mk II, so I'll go that way. If I want the extra range, I'll add an extender.
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by ErwinS »

Sigma 150-600 is ok. But suffers from vignetting on the high end of zoom and quite soft beyond 500mm

I also have a Sigma 100 - 400 which is better then my 150 - 600 I must say. Not so heavy and very sharp.

On an Nikon frame btw;-)
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by Krazy »

ErwinS wrote: 22 Apr 2024, 10:52 Sigma 150-600 is ok. But suffers from vignetting on the high end of zoom and quite soft beyond 500mm

I also have a Sigma 100 - 400 which is better then my 150 - 600 I must say. Not so heavy and very sharp.

On an Nikon frame btw;-)
Thanks Erwin,
Heard about that vignetting on the high end a lot more. The extra range was one of the bonus points for the lens for me, and on an EOS90D (which has a 1.6 crop) the problem seemed smaller then on full frames. But all in all, it seems putting in more budget for a (used) 100-400 mk II will be the better choice.
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by herky »

I have the Sigma 60-600mm sports and I'm very satisfied with the lense. Especially the 60mm is fine.
I use it in combination with a EOS 1DX. I also have used it with a EOS 7D II but 960mm (600 x 1.6) was a little bit too much for me. Pictures were fine but often heat haze and hard to control because of the lots of millimeters.
Two negative points in combination with a full frame could be: a bit of vignetting at full aperture at 600mm and the weight of the lens.
With a 1.6 crop factor lens you won't have that problem with vignetting.
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by Krazy »

You don't make it easier for me by adding another option Herky :), but it is appreciated, because I didn't even look at that one!
Price seems closer to the price of a used, but well maintained, 100-400 currently.

But the weight is a thing with the sport lenses from Sigma in my opinion. The 60-600S weighs in at 2.7kg.
The 150-600C hits 1.9kg, the 150-600S even goes to 2.8. The Canon 100-400 II is 1.4kg..
As you mentioned, using it on a camera with a crop factor that will become a lot of mm to handle. If you have the light to reach the required shutterspeeds, I can also imagine a day at an airfield will be a bit of a workout.

The choices we need to make in life ... ;)
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by Thijs »

Assume makes an ASS of U and ME.
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by Krazy »

Thijs wrote: 22 Apr 2024, 13:01 This could be a handy tool; https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Rev ... Crops.aspx
Thanks Thijs.
If I compare the Sigma lens to the 100-400 II on that site (using the same camera) it scares me a lot. The difference appears to be huge. Leaning more and more to the Canon lens.
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by Krazy »

After reading all the comments, and a lot more reviews on the internet, my final decision has been made.
I purchased a Canon 100-400 II. The reasons behind it:
- If I want to have more range, I could add a (used) 1.4 Extender III to the set, giving me more flexibility. It would limit the 100-400 to F/8 then, but I'll take that loss.
- The weight of the Sigma lenses are a point of concern for me. Especially when used as my 'daily' lens.
- The quality of the images and the vignette remarks did not convince me enough to go for the Sigma over the Canon.

Thanks to all that commented and/or sent me DMs about the topic. Highly appreciated!
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Re: Replacement for Canon L 100-400 Mk1?

Post by brno »

I was shooting with the 100-400II from the launch,before my switch to the 500 f4; but sometimes i regret it that i sold him. In this time with the 50D/1D4/1DX. And i can say an amazing lens! I don`t see an lot of improvement with the 500 f4 family, so sharp is the 100-400II.

Even with the 1.4III extender he is good sharp; and you have an quite good 560 mm lens. Better than the bare 150-600 Sigma from an friend..
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