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Long
Lens Selection
This page is focused on looking at the Canon
options for achieving longer focal lengths. The investigation is limited to
Canon’s own lenses for quality and compatibility reasons, although third party
possibilities are mentioned.
The main constraint in this study is cost.
Long lenses of any quality are expensive, possibly very expensive.
Typical applications for these lenses would
be sport and wildlife and possibly some specialist landscape work.
Generally for wildlife work in particular the
lenses need to be as long and fast as possible so only prime lenses are studied.
Canon produce teleconverters that are
specially matched to their L-series telephoto lenses including MTF data for each
combination in their Eyes of EOS III book. See this information for
background on MTF data.
In this study lenses of about £1000 are
considered affordable but two slightly more expensive lenses of over £3000 are
also looked at.
This section tabulates various lens
information in a convenient way.
The following two tables list the basic
information regarding the lenses and teleconverters, the two expensive lenses
are highlighted in red.
Some of the lenses have image stabilization. Some have IS mode 2 (for panning) and some are tripod compatible (this seems to just mean they turn themselves off so perhaps is not too important). The Canon literature seems to suggest that IS has benefits with monopods (See test here) also but it is not clear if all lenses have a stable IS control loop for monopods.
Make
|
Model
|
Dia
mm |
Length
mm |
Volume
mm^3 |
Mass
g |
Filter
Size |
FE
Rotation |
Focusing
|
IS
Mode 2/Tripod OK |
Tests |
CANON
|
EF
200mm f/2.8 L USM MK2 |
83.2 |
136.2 |
740481 |
765 |
72mm
|
AN
|
RFS
|
N/A |
[1] [2] [3] [3 1.4X] [3 2X a] [3 2X b] |
CANON |
EF
300mm IS f2.8L USM |
128.0 |
252.0 |
3242727 |
2550 |
52mm
Drop-in |
N |
IFS |
?/? |
[1] [2] [2 1.4X] |
CANON |
EF
300mm f4L IS USM |
90.0 |
221.0 |
1405941 |
1190 |
77mm |
N |
RFS |
Y/? |
[1] [2] [3] [4] [4 1.4X] [5] [5 1.4X] |
CANON |
EF
400mm f4 DO IS USM |
128.0 |
232.7 |
2994375 |
1940 |
52mm
Drop-In |
N |
IFS |
?/? |
[1] |
CANON |
EF
400mm f5.6L USM |
90.0 |
256.5 |
1631782 |
1250 |
77mm |
N |
IFS |
N/A |
[1] [2] [3] |
CANON |
EF 500mm f/4L IS USM |
146.0 | 387.0 | 6478979 | 3870 | 52mm Drop-In | N | IFS | ?/? | |
CANON |
EF600mm f/4L IS USM |
168.0 |
456.0 |
5360 |
52mm Drop-In |
N | IFS | ?/? | ||
CANON |
EF
1.4X II |
72.8 |
27.2 |
113220 |
220 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
[1] [2] [3] |
CANON |
EF
2X II |
71.8 |
57.9 |
234432 |
265 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
[1] [2a] [2b] |
CANON |
EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM |
146.0 | 383.0 |
3190 |
52mm Drop-In | N | IFS | ?/? | ||
CANON |
EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM |
168.0 | 448.0 | 3920 | 52mm Drop-In | N | IFS | ?/? | ||
CANON |
Extender EF 1.4X III | 72.0 | 27.0 | 225 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
CANON |
Extender EF 2x III | 72.0 | 52.7 |
325 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
Make
|
Model
|
AF
Actuator |
FTMF
|
Distance
Scale |
DOF
Scale |
Zoom
Control |
Max
Mag |
Closest
Focus M |
Apr 05 Price UOS |
CANON
|
EF
200mm f/2.8 L USM MK2 |
USM
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
N/A
|
0.16 |
1.5 |
£529 |
CANON |
EF
300mm IS f2.8L USM |
USM |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N/A |
0.13 |
2.5 |
£3,249 |
CANON |
EF
300mm f4L IS USM |
USM |
Y |
Y |
N |
N/A |
0.24 |
1.5 |
£949 |
CANON |
EF
400mm f4 DO IS USM |
USM |
Y? |
Y |
N |
N/A |
0.12 |
3.5 |
£3,799 |
CANON |
EF
400mm f5.6L USM |
USM |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N/A |
0.12 |
3.5 |
£899 |
CANON |
EF 500mm f/4L IS USM |
USM |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N/A |
0.12 | 4.5 |
£4499 (02/07) |
CANON |
EF600mm f/4L IS USM |
USM |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N/A |
0.12 |
5.5 |
|
CANON |
EF
1.4X II |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
£239 |
CANON |
EF
2X II |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
£239 |
CANON |
EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM |
USM |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N/A |
0.15 | 3.7 |
£7765 (Apr 13) |
CANON |
EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM |
USM |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N/A |
£10589 (Apr 13) |
||
CANON |
Extender EF 1.4X III |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
£395 (Apr 13) |
CANON |
Extender EF 2x III |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
£399 (Apr 13) |
Y? Canon data is contradictory.
Make
|
Model
|
Dia
mm |
Length
mm |
Volume
mm^3 |
Mass
g |
Filter
Size |
FE
Rotation |
Focusing
|
IS
Mode 2/Tripod OK |
Sigma | 300mm f2.8 EX APO HSM | 119 | 214 | 2380100 | 2400 | 46mm Rear | ? | ? | N/A |
Sigma | 2x EX Apo | 68.5 | 52 | 191630 | 243 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Sigma | 1.4x EX Apo | 68.5 | 19.5 | 71863 | 143 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tamron | SP 150-600mm Di VC USD | 105.4 | 266 (F=150mm) | 9214386 | 1951 | 95mm | N | IFS | N/OK |
Make
|
Model
|
AF
Actuator |
FTMF
|
Distance
Scale |
DOF
Scale |
Zoom
Control |
Max
Mag |
Closest
Focus M |
Apr
05 Price |
Sigma | 300mm f2.8 EX APO HSM | HSM | ? | Y | ? | N/A | 0.13 | 0.2 | £1499 |
Sigma | 2x EX Apo | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | £169 |
Sigma | 1.4x EX Apo | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | £139 |
Tamron | SP 150-600mm Di VC USD | USM eq | Y | Y | N | Y | 0.2 | 2.7 | <£1000 |
The Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD has the following maximum apertures vs focal length:
Focal Length (mm) | Max Aperture |
150 | f/5 |
200 | f/5 |
250 | f/5.6 |
300 | f/5.6 |
350 | f/5.6 |
400 | f/5.6 |
450 | f/6.3 |
500 | f/6.3 |
600 | f/6.3 |
The following table lists the basic effective
lens performance with and without teleconverters.
Where the converted maximum aperture falls
below f5.6 autofocus will no longer be possible on Canon bodies such as the 20D,
these are marked in green.
Some Canon professional bodies may provide autofocus down to f8.
The stopped down columns refer to the less
that maximum aperture MTF trace in the Canon MTF plots. Thus listed is the
converted stopped down aperture that Canon quote in the plots; the effective set
aperture on the lens (this converted aperture will appear in the viewfinder);
and by how many stops from maximum aperture this trace is.
The closest focus is assumed to be unchanged
by the teleconverter (should be a safe assumption), so the maximum magnification
for the lens is then multiplied by the conversion factor.
Lens + Converter |
Focal Length |
Conv Factor |
loss # stops |
Eff Focal Length |
Natural Max Ap |
Conv Max Ap |
Stopped Down Conv Ap |
Stopped Down Set Ap |
Stopped Down By |
Max
Mag |
Closest
Focus M |
EF
200mm f2.8L II USM + 1.4X |
200 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
280 |
2.8 |
3.9 |
8 |
5.7 |
2.1 |
0.224 |
1.5 |
EF
300mm IS f2.8L USM |
300 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
300 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
8 |
8.0 |
3.0 |
0.13 |
2.5 |
EF
300mm f4L IS USM |
300 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
300 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
8 |
8.0 |
2.0 |
0.24 |
1.5 |
EF
200mm f2.8L II USM +2X |
200 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
400 |
2.8 |
5.6 |
8 |
4.0 |
1.0 |
0.32 |
1.5 |
EF
400mm f4 DO IS USM |
400 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
400 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
8 |
8.0 |
2.0 |
0.12 |
3.5 |
EF
400mm f5.6L USM |
400 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
400 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
8 |
8.0 |
1.0 |
0.12 |
3.5 |
EF
300mm IS f2.8L USM +1.4 |
300 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
420 |
2.8 |
3.9 |
8 |
5.7 |
2.1 |
0.182 |
2.5 |
EF
300mm f4L IS USM + 1.4X |
300 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
420 |
4.0 |
5.6 |
8 |
5.7 |
1.0 |
0.336 |
1.5 |
EF
400mm f5.6L USM + 1.4X |
400 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
560 |
5.6 |
7.8 |
16 |
11.4 |
2.1 |
0.168 |
3.5 |
EF
400mm f4 DO IS USM + 1.4X |
400 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
560 |
4.0 |
5.6 |
8 |
5.7 |
1.0 |
0.168 |
3.5 |
EF
300mm IS f2.8L USM +2X |
300 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
600 |
2.8 |
5.6 |
8 |
4.0 |
1.0 |
0.26 |
2.5 |
EF
300mm f4L IS USM + 2X |
300 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
600 |
4.0 |
8.0 |
16 |
8.0 |
2.0 |
0.48 |
1.5 |
EF
400mm f4 DO IS USM + 2X |
400 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
800 |
4.0 |
8.0 |
16 |
8.0 |
2.0 |
0.24 |
3.5 |
EF
400mm f5.6L USM + 2X |
400 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
800 |
5.6 |
11.2 |
22 |
11.0 |
1.9 |
0.24 |
3.5 |
So ignoring the unconverted 200mm focal
length which falls in the range for general photography, the possible focal
lengths are 280-300, 400-420, 560-600 and 800 mm.
It is worth noting that none of these
solutions would provide autofocus for 800 mm with a non-pro body and the only
options for autofocus in the 560-600 mm range are using one of the expensive
lenses.
Retention of autofocus is a major factor for
most applications of these lenses, however autofocus accuracy and speed can be
expected to be degraded by the use of converters.
A point also worth noting is that the 300mm
f4 has the highest magnification, this almost becomes a macro lens with a 2X
converter.
Length and mass will also dictate handling
largely, even on a tripod.
Clearly these lenses should be used on a
sturdy tripod with a heavy duty head if at all possible. However, many of the
lenses include image stabilisation which in conjunction with the low noise
performance of the current DSLR cameras tempts handheld use.
Only the 200mm f2.8 and the 400mm f5.6 lack
image stabilisation, although in good light the 200mm could be used without
converters and perhaps with the 1.4X and masses up to about 1Kg even with
converters.
Of the remaining lenses this leaves only the
lower cost EF 300mm f4L IS USM as handholdable mostly due to mass of 1.2 to 1.5
Kg depending on teleconverter fitting. Even so, when a 600g+ body is added the
total mass will quite a load and could not be held ready to use for any length
of time.
The two higher cost lenses mass 1.9 to 2.8 Kg
and would be quite a weight to lift.
In this section the relative MTF performance
is compared using the MTF Samples Spreadsheet (download
here).
The plots presented here are maximum aperture;
and are averages of the meridonal and saggital directions at 10 and 30 lp/mm; mostly
because the user will always be struggling for maximum shutter speed to freeze
motion.
NB: The MTF data for the 300mm f4 without
converter is different on the web and in the Eyes of EOS book, here the book’s
data is used.
Each plot pair covers 10 lp/mm (contrast) and
30 lp/mm (detail) respectively.
The comments made in this section are with
regards to the current non-pro bodies (20D et al)
Light enough to be used
handheld but no IS. Autofocus available for all teleconverter combinations but
performance is not so good with converters.
Very good MTF performance,
with autofocus available to 600mm. Too heavy to handhold despite IS. Expensive.
Good MTF performance with
autofocus to 420mm. Light enough to handhold and has IS.
Good MTF performance and autofocus to 560mm. Too heavy to handhold despite IS. Expensive.
Good MTF performance but no
autofocus with converters. Just about holdable but no IS.
Last Updated 17/08/2014
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