Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

introduction

announced in late 2014
a much awaited telephoto zoom lens to replace the much maligned pump-action style 100-400mm 1998 era lens designed before dust on digital sensors was a problem
4x zoom and big and heavy weighing in at 1.64kg with the tripod mount and extends out to 19cm at 400mm focal length, and as such is best used on a pro-grade larger dSLR to give improved balance
well built and with very close focus, it should be a popular lens for wildlife and sports photographers

100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 giving 160-640mm field of view when used on cropped sensor APS-C dSLRs
“4-stop” image stabiliser with 3 modes including tripod detection and Standard, Panning, and During Exposure Only
- supposedly gives reasonably sharp hand held images at 400mm down to 1/15th sec
dust and moisture sealed but not watersealed
focus range limiter
macro to 1m giving 0.31x magnification (working distance 54cm at 100mm and 57cm at 400mm)
77mm filter
21 elements in 16 groups incl. 1 x flourite, 1 x Super ED
Air Sphere nano coatings
flourine outer coatings for durability
9 circular blades
zoom torque adjustment ring allowing you to set the zoom ring from “Smooth” to “Tight” to suit your particular way of shooting
large bayonet ET-83D lens hood with Olympus-style slot to allow rotating a polarising filter
1.64kg with tripod mount
94mm diam x 193mm at 100mm
$US2199 RRP

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_ef_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_l_is_ii_usm_review/
- CA well controlled
- some vignetting at wider apertures and severe at 400mm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/100-400mm-ii.htm
- need to stop down to f/32 to get nice sunstars
- does not AF with a 2x teleconverter
http://livingwilderness.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/hands-on-with-canon-100-400-is-mark-ii.html
- marginally sharper across the frame than version I and a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 with 2x TC III
- does not zoom as far as version I and really only goes to 383mm focal length
- will AF with 1.4x teleconverter but only with the centre AF point and only on some cameras such as 7D Mark II, 5D Mark III and the 1D series, but not on the 60D, 7D, 5D Mark II
http://www.lenstip.com/439.1-Lens_review-Canon_EF_100-400_mm_f_4.5-5.6L_IS_II_USM-Introduction.html
- almost no coma and minimal astigmatism (worst at 200mm)
- 0.75EV vignetting wide open at 100mm and 1.4EV vignetting wide open at 400mm
- still some lens flare although much better than 1st version
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/canon-ef-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6l-is-ii-usm-lens-review-26892
- much better at f/8 at 400mm as f/5.6 is significantly softer
- the Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM is sharper at f/4 and f/5.6 than this is at f/8 at 400mm