Okay, not the 200-500/2.8 I had been hoping for , but still a dream lens!
Posted by Carol Nichols on February 7, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Thanks for the info Vincent. I have been hoping for a 200-400mm for some time now - the 1.4X Extender is a huge bonus. I wonder how many 1,000s it will sell for.
Posted by dan elster on February 7, 2011 at 10:23 AM
As someone hoping to upgrade in the new year, I'm curious about cost too...Anyone?
I couldn't find an expected retail price anywhere on the net yet. No doubt it will be a pricey lens, but the versatility a zoom offers versus fixed lenses, combined with AF performance and IQ similar to a prime (if that indeed will be the case) is worth a lot IMO.
Posted by Luke Ormand on February 7, 2011 at 12:22 PM
If I ever have the $$$ to totally upgrade my photo gear, this lens will go a long way in convincing me to switch to Canon. Given I can get the 500mm f4 + Canon 7D for less than the price of a Nikon 500mm f4, and given that Canon now has a 200-400 WITH a built in TC... it would be very hard to justify sticking with Nikon, even if I prefer the look and layout of the cameras...
Hoping Nikon comes back with a response - but didn't they update their 200-400 recently with VRII technology? Guess they don't have the tech wizards to put a TC inside the lens.
Posted by Bret Edge on February 7, 2011 at 9:23 PM
I'm eagerly awaiting reviews on this lens. If the IQ is there, I'll likely sell my 500mm f/4 for this lens. It'll be really interesting to see where this bad boy is priced.
Posted by Howard Cheek on February 9, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Just read this and was going to post here..Ya beat me to it Vincent!
Sounds good, almost too good.
Will see how it performs in the real world after release..
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 10, 2011 at 2:37 PM
At 400 mm this is an f/4 896 mm equivalent on my 50D!! I'll bet it comes in at about $10 per mm. I wonder if I could skip several mortgage payments?
Posted by David Bostedo on February 10, 2011 at 3:14 PM
...$10 per mm...
I bet it's more like $10 per equivalent mm (i.e. closer to $9K than $4K)
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 10, 2011 at 10:24 PM
Exactly what I meant David, $10 X 896 = $8,960.00. If it does come in at $4K they won't be able to keep them in stock.
Somewhere in between $4-9 is my guess, i.e. around $6; let's ask Canon to do a quiz, the NPN member that guesses the correct retail price, wins one!
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 11, 2011 at 8:26 AM
I like your thinking Vincent. That would be a great promotion targeted to the best nature photography website on the net. Jim, could you hit them up for us?
Posted by Max Waugh on February 17, 2011 at 10:17 AM
I'm seeing guesses in the $8000-8500US range, which sound about right to me.
This is a lens I'm looking forward to, since it would work as a nice sports lens too. I'll definitely get rid of my 100-400. The only question is whether to also sell my 300mm 2.8IS. If I can somehow upgrade to the 1D line, which has better high ISO handling than my 7D, then I don't think I'll have to rely on the 2.8 as much.
Max, I was contemplating purchasing the 300/2.8, but with this one lined up I changed my mind! I don't think I would ever use the 300 if that 200-400 lens turns out to have great IQ and fast AF!
Posted by Ed Cordes on February 17, 2011 at 10:15 PM
I agree it will be pricey and in the $9000 range. I would want to see how it really performs before I committed. The 1.4 built in is a novel idea and certainly avoids changing lenses and would be fast to change focal range. However, for the price it will most likely fetch it had better have outstanding IQ!! Time will tell.
Discussion
15 replieshttp://www.dpreview.com/news/1102/11020708canon200400mm.asp
Okay, not the 200-500/2.8 I had been hoping for
Hoping Nikon comes back with a response - but didn't they update their 200-400 recently with VRII technology? Guess they don't have the tech wizards to put a TC inside the lens.
Jagdeep Rajput
Sounds good, almost too good.
Will see how it performs in the real world after release..
I bet it's more like $10 per equivalent mm
This is a lens I'm looking forward to, since it would work as a nice sports lens too. I'll definitely get rid of my 100-400. The only question is whether to also sell my 300mm 2.8IS. If I can somehow upgrade to the 1D line, which has better high ISO handling than my 7D, then I don't think I'll have to rely on the 2.8 as much.
Max