Well, those that frequent this part of the board know that I've rented a Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM to try out to see if I want to buy one.

I went out today to do some shooting and I'm having mixed feelings. Granted today was a really lousy day to be testing - unless you're testing for the really crappy conditions but I was a little disappointed. So, maybe those that have this lens can lend a hand and let me know if they've found the same things.

I really had to bump the ISO up to get any decent shutter speed today. I was shooting all by hand (no tripod) as part of my testing. I could have shot quite a few of the pictures at a lower shutter speed and reduced the ISO too I guess. I'm not going to post all the EXIF info. If anyone is really interested in seeing it let me know and I'll turn the gallery on at my Smugmug page.

Here are the photos. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so hopefully I'll get some more shooting done to compare. I really shouldn't be that worried I guess. We don't get a lot of overcast weather here.

The conditions (yes I know I need to wash my truck)
http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263382012_h9h8h-XL.jpg

Icefishing
http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263381569_skHbp-XL.jpg

Some kind of water bird (if you know what it is please let me know)
http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263381457_hvjX9-XL.jpg

It's a diver anyway
http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263381182_LaTLb-XL.jpg

http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263381251_qpfsk-XL.jpg

http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263381351_zrGkB-XL.jpg

http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263381418_XXSLP-XL.jpg

The Clydesdales at Fort Steele. They just had some hay dropped off to them so weren't interested in coming any closer to me. Usually you can get them right up to you. Not today :(

http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263381091_jBx4Z-XL.jpg

http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263380794_38kSV-XL.jpg

http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263380572_NJTxd-XL.jpg

Last week I saw a friend up in his R-44. This week another guy I've flown with a lot came screaming up the valley in his "sportscar" a Hughes 500D owned and operated by Bighorn Helicopters. He uses this bird mainly for tagging game. We don't use it for SAR because it's pretty limited in what it can carry. I had to scramble to get it he was moving so fast so not a very good shot. :D

http://herc.smugmug.com/photos/263380827_GzBE7-L.jpg

The bird shots are amazing! That is a Common Goldeneye.

I like the detail on the bird & water droplets, just before it goes under. Have you rented a 400 prime yet?? Maybe compare those together??
The last two of the horses shows nice detail around the feet. I can make out feathering.

Just a couple thoughts ...

You have to remember it is f/4.5-5.6 so light is a major factor, especially at 400mm. I think you will find it works best in bright sunlight too.

Also remember, that the lens you have may not be perfect because it's a rental. Not saying that likely would be a reason but you really don't know how much it's been used and what it has been through previously.

I'm out of here in about 20 minutes for a 5 hour photo vacation (that's what I call every trip out with my cameras) I'll be sure my 100-400 gets some use in the sunlight ... beautiful March day here :thumb4:

Shayne, curious ... what mode are you shooting in? You might do some experimenting in Manual and play around with the shutter speed and aperture (as well as ISO) I don't like shooting any "landscape" shots using anything higher than 200 ISO (MUCH prefer 100) and instead like to use M mode and adjust from there.

Just a couple thoughts ...

You have to remember it is f/4.5-5.6 so light is a major factor, especially at 400mm. I think you will find it works best in bright sunlight too.

Also remember, that the lens you have may not be perfect because it's a rental. Not saying that likely would be a reason but you really don't know how much it's been used and what it has been through previously.

I'm out of here in about 20 minutes for a 5 hour photo vacation (that's what I call every trip out with my cameras) I'll be sure my 100-400 gets some use in the sunlight ... beautiful March day here :thumb4:

Shayne, curious ... what mode are you shooting in? You might do some experimenting in Manual and play around with the shutter speed and aperture (as well as ISO) I don't like shooting any "landscape" shots using anything higher than 200 ISO (MUCH prefer 100) and instead like to use M mode and adjust from there.

Shooting strictly in M. I made a deal with myself that I would not shoot any other mode until I understood everything about manual mode inside and out.

I went out this morning and it is bright sunlight. Just got back after about 4 hours of shooting so I'll go through the pictures and see how things came out. Shot in the exact same locations so should have a good comparison.

Have fun on your "vacation".

Shayne

Shooting strictly in M. I made a deal with myself that I would not shoot any other mode until I understood everything about manual mode inside and out.




This is probably the only reason I am starting to feel comfortable with my camera now. I'm in a photography class and our teacher requires us to shoot in full manual. (we're using film SLR's so you can't even see the finished product until you're in the darkroom)

I doubt I'd have ever gotten to this point if I wasn't forced to, but what a way to learn :)

I'm pretty sure the bird is a loon.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/common-loon.jpg

I'm pretty sure the bird is a loon.

I thought so at first glance but the eye is much different and the markings are more dramatic:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Goldeneye.html

Oh yeah you may be right.

This is probably the only reason I am starting to feel comfortable with my camera now. I'm in a photography class and our teacher requires us to shoot in full manual. (we're using film SLR's so you can't even see the finished product until you're in the darkroom)

I doubt I'd have ever gotten to this point if I wasn't forced to, but what a way to learn :)

Thats very cool Whitney..I am thinking about taking a photography course and a photoshop course at the college during the summer :)

Great pictures Shayne! I love the birds..i've never seen them before, they kind of look like loons but they have a different beak :)

Those birds were definitely the Common Golden Eye. Loons are huge compared to the birds I photographed. We have a lot of Common Loons here, and there are usually one pair on this lake. They're quite territorial and one of them got quite upset with me fishing on his lake!

Anyway, off to process some of today's pictures to see how they came out.

Shayne