Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

[Levina de Ruijter]

One of the last pics shot with my Canon 1D mark IV and the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM. It was a great combo.

Black-tailed godwit

 

[blackplanet]

In the reverse of the above, one of the first pics shot with my 1D X and the 400mm 5.6L, it certainly seems a good combo so far.


ISO 1600 - f/6.3 - 1/1600s

 

[bobpal]

I loved the 1DIV. It fit my hand perfectly and exuded a well built feel. It was my first 1D body and I shot a lot of sports with it and a 300/2.8. Another great combo.

I had hoped the R3 would have a similar feel but it does not.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

I had hoped the R3 would have a similar feel but it does not.

No? I think it's somewhat smaller, no?
I too loved the 1D bodies. I had the 1DIIN, 1DIII and the 1DIV and I loved them all. They were heavy, sure, but so comfortable in the hand. It took me a while to adjust to mirrorless but couldn't go back now.

 

[jimmy_racoon]

today with Canon 400mm f/5.6L & Canon 7D Mk2...

February fade by James Stewart, on Flickr

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

I shot birds with this lens for some 10 years. Then I bought the R6, the RF 800/11 and the RF 100-500 and now it's gathering dust. But what a great lens it was, on all my 1D bodies.

Robin



Great tit

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

And the best lens for BIF:

Barn swallow. Composite of three consecutive shots.



Western marsh herrier

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Oystercatcher



Canada goose

 

[jimmy_racoon]

And the best lens for BIF:

Barn swallow. Composite of three consecutive shots.

View attachment 60759

Western marsh herrier

View attachment 60760

Agree completely. Still have my Canon 400mm f/5.6L prime. What a great lens to fine tune your BIF techniques and skill! Neither my bodies nor this lens had any IS, so you just had to rely on improving with practice. Don't think I'll ever part with it.

 

[jimmy_racoon]

Even from a kayak this lens performs...
stealth approach by James Stewart, on Flickr
from the kayak by James Stewart, on Flickr
buzzing the kayak by James Stewart, on Flickr

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Agree completely. Still have my Canon 400mm f/5.6L prime. What a great lens to fine tune your BIF techniques and skill! Neither my bodies nor this lens had any IS, so you just had to rely on improving with practice. Don't think I'll ever part with it.

The lack of IS never bothered me with this lens. It is so light and like you say, you develop ways of steadying yourself and the gear. I'm not selling it either.

 

[ShipleyNW]

When I was putting together my first EF kit four years ago, Tony and Chelsea on Youtube, whenever they were reviewing the latest superzooms, always mentioned the EF 400/5.6L. Sharp, light, affordable. I buy all my gear used so I kept an eye out. I found one on Craigslist for $350.

That lens went everywhere with me, mounted on whichever XXD body I had at the time. It was my wildlife lens, bird lens, sports lens. I cycled through a ton of gear in 2021 but that was always my telephoto lens, start to finish. The 400/5.6 is just a sharp, well-built lens. It's nothing fancy so it's easy to use.

I got this elk shot the first time I had it out. There's a herd that lives in a meadow nearby. I finally had the reach to get after them.

Last year I went all RF. I had to liquidate all my EF stuff to make that work. I've got an RF 100-500 now and I'm growing pretty fond of it. But it's a beast, not as light on its feet as the 400/5.6L.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

When I was putting together my first EF kit four years ago, Tony and Chelsea on Youtube, whenever they were reviewing the latest superzooms, always mentioned the EF 400/5.6L. Sharp, light, affordable. I buy all my gear used so I kept an eye out. I found one on Craigslist for $350.

That lens went everywhere with me, mounted on whichever XXD body I had at the time. It was my wildlife lens, bird lens, sports lens. I cycled through a ton of gear in 2021 but that was always my telephoto lens, start to finish. The 400/5.6 is just a sharp, well-built lens. It's nothing fancy so it's easy to use.

I got this elk shot the first time I had it out. There's a herd that lives in a meadow nearby. I finally had the reach to get after them.

Last year I went all RF. I had to liquidate all my EF stuff to make that work. I've got an RF 100-500 now and I'm growing pretty fond of it. But it's a beast, not as light on its feet as the 400/5.6L.

View attachment 60802

Wow, what a great shot! You must have been over the moon with it. Especially since it was your first time out with the lens.

 

[DavidWatts]

One of my very first couple of pics taken with my 400 5.6 L, almost 20 years ago. It continues to be one of my sharpest lenses. Sure came in handy with both the 2017 and 2024 Solar Eclipses. Great bokeh too.

 

[DorsetWildlife]

Skylark, already posted in Wild Birds of Europe

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Northern shoveler

 

[jimmy_racoon]

simply beautiful
love the background separation and crisp detail
love that lens!

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

simply beautiful
love the background separation and crisp detail
love that lens!

Thanks very much, James.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Great crested grebe. Taken with the R6.

Taken late in the day. The low sun easily blows out the whites on these birds so I exposed for the whites and hoped for the best. All I needed to do in post in bring out the crest a little bit.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Barn swallow

One of the last images taken with the 1DIV, before switching to mirrorless and the R6.