Canon 100 400 vs canon 100 400 ii – Canon 100-400mm vs Canon 100-400mm II sets the stage for this enthralling narrative, offering readers a glimpse into a story that is rich in detail and brimming with originality from the outset. These two lenses are titans in the world of telephoto photography, favored by wildlife enthusiasts, sports photographers, and anyone seeking to capture distant subjects with stunning clarity.
This comparison delves into the heart of their differences, exploring their optical prowess, autofocus capabilities, and overall performance to determine which lens truly reigns supreme.
The Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and its predecessor, the Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS USM, both cater to photographers seeking a versatile telephoto lens capable of capturing breathtaking images of wildlife, sports, and distant landscapes. The newer model, the Canon 100-400mm II, boasts a host of improvements over its predecessor, aiming to provide superior image quality, autofocus performance, and handling.
But is the upgrade worth the price difference? This in-depth comparison will dissect the nuances of each lens, revealing their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.
Specifications and Features
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM are both popular telephoto zoom lenses designed for Canon DSLR cameras. While they share a similar purpose, they differ in several key aspects, including optical design, autofocus system, and image stabilization technology.
This section delves into the detailed specifications and features of each lens, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
The Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS II USM lens boasts impressive image stabilization, a feature crucial for capturing sharp images, especially at longer focal lengths. This technology is also vital in other optical instruments, such as binoculars. For those seeking to enhance their wildlife viewing or birdwatching experience, exploring the world of best image stabilised binoculars is a must.
Just like the Canon 100-400mm lens, these binoculars offer exceptional stability, allowing you to observe distant subjects with remarkable clarity and detail.
Optical Design
The optical design of a lens plays a crucial role in its image quality. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM features a more advanced optical design compared to its predecessor.
- The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM consists of 21 lens elements in 16 groups, including two fluorite elements and one Super UD element. This sophisticated design helps to minimize chromatic aberration and improve overall image sharpness.
- The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM, on the other hand, features 17 lens elements in 12 groups, lacking the specialized elements found in its successor.
Autofocus System
The autofocus system is critical for capturing fast-moving subjects. Both lenses feature a ring-type ultrasonic motor (USM) for fast and silent autofocus.
- The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM boasts a more advanced autofocus system with a maximum of 45 autofocus points, offering wider coverage and improved accuracy, especially when tracking moving subjects.
- The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM has a slightly less sophisticated autofocus system with 19 autofocus points, providing adequate performance but potentially lagging behind in tracking challenging subjects.
Image Stabilization
Image stabilization technology is essential for hand-held shooting, especially at longer focal lengths.
The Canon 100-400mm II boasts significant improvements over its predecessor, offering sharper optics and enhanced autofocus performance. For those seeking the ultimate in detail capture, a dedicated macro lens is essential. The best Sony macro lens for DSLR scanning will offer superior sharpness and magnification, allowing you to capture the intricacies of your subject with stunning clarity.
This level of detail is particularly important for photographers using the Canon 100-400mm II, as the lens’s long reach can sometimes make capturing sharp images challenging.
- The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM incorporates a 4-stop image stabilization system, significantly reducing camera shake and allowing for sharper images at slower shutter speeds.
- The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM features a 3-stop image stabilization system, providing effective stabilization but not as robust as its successor.
Other Features
Beyond the core specifications, both lenses offer additional features that enhance their usability.
- Both lenses feature weather sealing, making them resistant to dust and moisture, allowing for reliable performance in challenging conditions.
- The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM incorporates a focus limiter switch, enabling faster autofocus by limiting the focus range to a specific distance.
- Both lenses offer a tripod collar for stable mounting on tripods, ensuring precise framing and stability.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM | Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM |
|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 100-400mm | 100-400mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/4.5-5.6 | f/4.5-5.6 |
| Lens Elements/Groups | 21 elements in 16 groups | 17 elements in 12 groups |
| Autofocus Points | 45 | 19 |
| Image Stabilization | 4 stops | 3 stops |
| Weight | 1,360g | 1,190g |
| Dimensions | 102.5mm x 207mm | 97.5mm x 192mm |
Image Quality
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and its predecessor, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM, are both popular telephoto zoom lenses known for their versatility and image quality. However, the newer Mark II version boasts significant improvements in various aspects, including image sharpness, chromatic aberration control, and low-light performance.
Image Sharpness and Resolution
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM delivers noticeably sharper images compared to its predecessor, especially at longer focal lengths. This improvement is attributed to the lens’s redesigned optical formula, which incorporates a new fluorite element for enhanced image clarity.
The Mark II version also exhibits better resolution, particularly at the edges of the frame, resulting in more detailed images.
- At wider apertures (f/4.5-5.6):Both lenses perform well in terms of sharpness, but the Mark II shows a slight advantage, particularly at longer focal lengths. The improved sharpness is noticeable in the details of subjects, such as feathers on birds or textures on distant objects.
- At narrower apertures (f/8-f/16):The Mark II’s superior performance becomes even more evident. The increased sharpness and resolution are particularly noticeable in landscapes, where details in the foreground and background are rendered with greater clarity.
Chromatic Aberration and Distortion
Chromatic aberration, a common optical phenomenon that causes color fringing around high-contrast edges, is effectively minimized in both lenses. However, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM demonstrates even better control, especially at longer focal lengths. Distortion, which can cause straight lines to appear curved, is also well-managed in both lenses.
The Mark II exhibits a slightly lower level of distortion, especially at the wider end of the zoom range.
Bokeh Quality, Canon 100 400 vs canon 100 400 ii
Bokeh, the aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas in an image, is subjective and can vary depending on the lens and shooting conditions. However, both lenses produce pleasing bokeh with a smooth and creamy appearance. The Mark II, with its updated optical design, might exhibit slightly more pleasing bokeh, particularly at wider apertures.
The Canon 100-400mm II lens offers significant improvements over its predecessor, boasting a faster autofocus system and better image stabilization. While the Canon 100-400mm lenses excel in capturing distant subjects, achieving the highest resolution often requires a camera with a large sensor and a high megapixel count.
The highest mp dslr camera currently available boasts an impressive 61.2 megapixels, offering exceptional detail and flexibility for cropping and printing large images. This combination of a high-performance lens like the Canon 100-400mm II and a high-resolution camera like the 61.2MP DSLR can produce stunning images, capturing even the most minute details from afar.
Low Light Performance
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM features a faster maximum aperture at the long end (f/5.6 vs f/6.3 in the original). This allows for better low-light performance, enabling photographers to capture images with lower ISO settings and reduced noise levels.
- Noise Levels:The Mark II demonstrates lower noise levels at higher ISO settings compared to its predecessor. This is particularly noticeable in images captured in dimly lit environments or at night.
- Dynamic Range:The Mark II also exhibits improved dynamic range, which refers to the range of tones that a sensor can capture. This allows for greater detail in both the highlights and shadows of an image, especially in high-contrast scenes.
Performance and Handling
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM are both renowned for their versatility and performance, particularly in wildlife, sports, and action photography. While they share the same focal length range and optical design, their performance and handling characteristics can vary significantly.
The Canon 100-400mm II lens boasts significant improvements over its predecessor, offering sharper image quality and faster autofocus. This is especially important for capturing wildlife in action, where a split-second can mean the difference between a blurry shot and a masterpiece.
Choosing the right camera body for this lens can be just as critical, and for that, you might want to check out a detailed comparison between the Canon R8 and the R6 Mark II, canon r8 vs r6 mark ii.
Ultimately, the decision between the Canon 100-400mm and the 100-400mm II boils down to your budget and the level of image quality you prioritize.
Autofocus Performance
The autofocus speed and accuracy of a lens directly influence its ability to capture fast-moving subjects. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM boasts a significant advantage in this regard. It features a ring-type ultrasonic motor (USM) for swift and silent autofocus operation, while the older version relies on a micro-motor.
This difference translates to faster and more accurate autofocus, especially in low-light conditions. The newer lens’s autofocus system is also more responsive, making it ideal for capturing fleeting moments.
Focusing Range and Minimum Focusing Distance
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM offers a slightly extended focusing range compared to its predecessor. This means that the lens can focus closer to the subject, enabling photographers to capture more intimate and detailed shots. The minimum focusing distance of the newer lens is 1.2 meters, while the older lens has a minimum focusing distance of 1.3 meters.
This difference, though subtle, can be crucial in situations where space is limited.
Ease of Use and Handling
The handling of a lens plays a crucial role in overall user experience. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is designed for comfortable and intuitive handling. Its weight distribution is well balanced, minimizing fatigue during extended shooting sessions.
The zoom ring action is smooth and precise, allowing for quick and accurate focal length adjustments. The lens also features a focus lock switch and a tripod mount, further enhancing its usability. In comparison, the older lens might feel slightly heavier and less balanced, especially when used with larger camera bodies.
Performance in Shooting Scenarios
Both lenses excel in capturing wildlife, sports, and landscape images. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, however, exhibits a noticeable improvement in sharpness and image quality, particularly at the longer focal lengths. Its enhanced autofocus system allows for more precise tracking of fast-moving subjects, while the improved image stabilization system helps minimize camera shake, even in low-light conditions.
The Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS II USM lens is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS USM. The newer lens boasts improved image quality, faster autofocus, and a more compact design. However, the question of how much storage you’ll need arises, especially when capturing high-resolution images.
A 128GB memory card can hold a substantial number of photos, and the exact amount depends on the image size and compression settings. To get a sense of how many photos you can fit on a 128GB card, check out this helpful guide: how many pics will 128gb hold.
With this knowledge, you can confidently choose the right memory card for your Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS II USM and capture stunning wildlife and sports shots without worrying about running out of space.
Price and Availability: Canon 100 400 Vs Canon 100 400 Ii
The Canon 100-400mm lenses, both the original and the Mark II version, represent a significant investment for photographers. The price difference between the two lenses is a key factor to consider, alongside their availability and the value they offer.
Current Market Prices
The prices of both lenses fluctuate depending on factors such as retailer, condition, and availability. However, generally, the original Canon 100-400mm lens is significantly more affordable than its Mark II counterpart. This price difference is largely due to the age of the original lens and the introduction of the newer model.
- Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS USM: This lens is typically available for around $1,000-$1,500 depending on condition and seller.
- Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS II USM: The newer version of this lens usually retails for around $2,000-$2,500.
Availability and Accessories
Both lenses are widely available through authorized Canon dealers and online retailers. However, finding the original 100-400mm lens in pristine condition might be challenging due to its age.
- Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS USM: This lens is still available through various channels, but finding a new or mint condition lens can be challenging. It is often sold as a used or refurbished lens.
- Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS II USM: This lens is readily available as a new lens from authorized Canon dealers and online retailers. It is also commonly found as a used lens in good condition.
Value Proposition
The value proposition of each lens depends on the individual photographer’s needs and budget. The original 100-400mm lens offers a more budget-friendly option for photographers seeking a versatile telephoto lens for wildlife, sports, and other subjects.
- Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS USM: This lens provides a good balance of price and performance for photographers who prioritize affordability and don’t require the latest features.
- Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L IS II USM: This lens is a premium option that offers improved image quality, autofocus performance, and build quality. It is suitable for professional photographers and enthusiasts who demand the best performance.
Wrap-Up
In the final analysis, both the Canon 100-400mm and Canon 100-400mm II lenses excel in their respective niches. The original 100-400mm remains a solid choice for budget-conscious photographers seeking a capable telephoto lens. However, the Canon 100-400mm II, with its improved image quality, autofocus performance, and handling, offers a compelling upgrade for those seeking the best possible results.
Ultimately, the decision hinges on your specific needs and budget, but both lenses are capable of producing stunning images in the hands of a skilled photographer.