I am looking for a lens to cover sports events (I have just got 2 commisions to follow polo players season for a book for each). I have a 70-200 2,8 IS and was using it today with a 2x extender with disapointing results as the images are very soft. Does anyone have and impu ton either of the 100-400 or 300 IS with a 1.4 extender? I may need to cover an kite surfing and general extreme sports event later this year. My usual field is weddings and portraits.
I, too, have had disappointing results shooting with the 70-200 and 2x extender. I prefer the 100-400, and have plans to get one. Last year I shot a seaplane splash-in with the Nikkor 80-400. This year I shot some action seaplane work with the 70-200 with 2x and the results were disappointing, so I'm looking to get the 100-400 for this September's show. I don't have the 1.4 yet, but I think the 100-400 will do the job without it. From my reading of the reviews and comparisons, I think the 100-400 will do the job as well as the 80-400 did last year. I think you're on the right track with the 100-400.
__________________ Dennis
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I have them both. Both are good lenses. My biggest complain with the 100-400 is the dang push pull zoom. I hate that. Other than that, its a good lens. I use the 300 F4 IS for low light football mostly for friends and such. Works well hand held. The advantage to the 100-400 is that you have the zoom feature incase what ever you are shooting starts getting closer. Hope that helps.
Oh and yah, I have not found too many times to use the 2x. I actually got rid of mine and only have my 1.4x as its a lot sharper. Besides, if I need the extra reach, I can always put it with the extender on my 30D and get that 1.6x crop factor to come into play too.
Charlie, I've not been on here so much lately so sorry for not giving my input sooner, not sure if you have already got your lens sorted. I have both the 70-200 2.8 and the 100-400. Putting an extender on the 70-200 definitely degrades its otherwise fantastic performance. The 100-400 is a great lens, been using it for a while now, great versatility, tough and a real workhorse of a lens. I happen to be OK with the push pull thing, you soon get used to it. A few limitations as the light gets a bit lower, but I doubt you would ever regret having the 100-400. For the stuff you suggest I've always felt the zooms are good for rapidly changing action. One minute the subject is far away the next they are close. If you are going to do the kite surfing etc I'd get a lens cover of some sort, not that I've really had a problem I was just conscious of the push pull system around sand and mud. The 70-200 is sealed and don't move on the outside, the 100-400 isn't sealed and extends quite a distance. It is heaveier too, you'll definitely need to hold most of the weight of the lens and body with the lens, puts less stress on the join. You will feel it in your arms the next day if you put a full day in with it, saves going to the gym for those biceps!!.
Cheers, Muse
__________________ Muse
If I can make today a tiny bit better than yesterday, then I think I'm winning.
(Muse)
Colin Muse
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I shot some field sports (not polo; rather youth football) for a few years with it. It's very versatile, and the ability to zoom gets you better framing as action moves across the field.
Somewhere I have a halfway decent 100-400 shot online... Ah, here it is. This was from all the way across the field.
The one downside to the 100-400 is that it's not very fast, so as the light begins to fail in the evening you have to go up with the ISO in a helluva hurry. It's really no good at all for night work.
I don't shoot sports, but I've had the 100-400 for about a year and I've liked the lens far more than I expected to. Its strength is clearly its versatility: it does things no other Canon lens can do. I would prefer if the zoom could be operated with a ring, rather than the push-pull, but that's probably impractical given the extreme distance the front element(s) need to travel. This lens is a tremendous value, I think. I'd even be interested in a somewhat larger/heavier/faster version, but I'm not holding my breath.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
As a follow-up to my previous message, I did the Splash-In shoot last September with a borrowed 100-400, and it was everything I expected it to be. Pictures at:
It was great to sit at the splash line for the spot landing contest, and photograph all the contestants with my 1Ds. I probably should have used the 5D as it was a gray, overcast, chilly day, most unusual in September in California. But I think it turned out ok.
__________________ Dennis
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Muse 
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