Canon RF 100-400mm f5.6-8 zoom on EOS R5 at the zoo. 24 February 2022

 

I was photographing  giraffe when I saw this ibis flying . I switched modes quickly using the custom shooting mode facility on the R5 and grabbed a few frames of the ibis as it flew along.

The recently released RF 100-400mm f5.6-8 is one of  Canon’s more appealing lenses. It delivers exactly what many enthusiast or part time pro photographers want.

That is high optical and mechanical quality in a light compact package at a budget friendly price. In addition it is compatible with Canon’s 1.4x and 2x extenders without having to zoom out to mount the extenders.

It has very fast, accurate USM autofocus, a very good stabiliser and the ability to focus very close even at 400mm .

This could be the only tele-zoom lens many Canon RF mount full frame users require. Match it with a 24-105mm STM and a 1.4x extender and you have the full focal length range with just two main lenses in a compact package at a reasonable price.

I spent some time at Taronga zoo in Sydney with the lens on an EOS R5 recently.

Some user forum members have expressed concern about the aperture range of f5.6-f8. They need not be worried. The latest crop of camera bodies can use very high ISO sensitivity settings to advantage and can focus accurately and quickly at small lens apertures.

The endangered regent honeyeater lives higher up in the canopy ISO 2500

Looking across to the opposite side of Sydney harbour. The cranes and navy ship are 2.5 Km away. Although there is considerable atmospheric distortion on a warm summers day the lens is still able to tease out fine subject detail.

Whip bird. Although the bird is in a tangle of branches and leaves the camera was able to find and focus on the  eye

Rose crowned fruit dove  ISO 10000

Close-ups are no problem hand held

Golden whistler ISO 10000 in low light

Regent bower bird  All the birds in this portfolio are housed in a rainforest aviary with dim lighting near the ground which is the bower bird's habitat. ISO 25600. 

Hey, is that the new RF 100-400mm lens ? White browed woodswallow