Bill Butcher wildlife and bird photography

I like many in the Canon community , have often dreamed of a camera in a non pro body , or a version of a lens similar in cost as the current 100-400 L IS model , (one of canons hottest sellers) , but that would autofocus with an extender added. Or to have canon listen and finally supply their very supportive , non pro , novice users with a lens that is or can be extended into the often sought after 500mm plus territory without having to rob a bank or two to do so. Something in qaulity of the 100-400 L IS , but in the 100-500 mm version.. Is this asking to much? Is Canon willing to let Nikon best them in this area? Since it's introduction without a doubt canons 100-400 has been one of thee hottest selling lens in the L stables... It has not been upgraded since its inception ...Why?
Many would point to cost , many would point to buyer spending, or popularity ..people buy it so don't change it ..similar to the old addage if its not broke don't fix it. This is so true as it is not really broken . Some would point to the fact that no one has contested the lens, ... until now...  Enter Nikon ... Let the battle begin.
            Nikon for years had always been thought of as a great landscape, or portrait camera , with Canon focusing on the more pro users , and sports shooters . Then canon had the 100-400 , which really cattered to that guy , gal that wanted to shoot wildlife and birds with an L qaulity lens . For years, and years many switched from Nikon to Canon because Canon had more lenses in its stables , that were geared to the intermedite shooter. Nikon basically had its old 80-400 VR lens . This lens was said to have stellar image qaulity but focused slower than the canon 100-400 , or 400 5.6 , or 300 4.0 , all of which seemed to also be slightly less expensive , than the Nikor offerings . This was appealing to many that were contemplating changing brands, add onto that the canon was coming out with what appeared to be some pretty nice mid level and entry level cameras ... So many jumped ship for the bright white lenses, and quicker focusing cameras , great for sports shooters. Great for Canon. The question now arises will Canon raise the bar , listen to its faithful consumers , and come up with a lens to keep the people showing up white ? Will Canon design an updated version of the 100-400 or better yet introduce an all knew model a 100-500 L IS that will leave the competition seeing and saying iceburg dead ahead , as all they will see is white . There would be so much white our forests would be aglo and basking in bright white people would think they were in a blizzard.
          Will Canon's faithful see this dream come to reality ? There has over the last 10 years ,mostly since the huge digital invasion ,been a lot of internet chat line chatter on the photography, wildlife, bird and sports sites with people from all walks of life , practically begging for a new white glass to come out. I flip back and forth to many of these sites and its always the same thing you read. I have a Canon blank d and was thinking of getting a new lens , something for wildlife , and birds..i need something that has good optics, fast accurate focus, good bokeh , produces excellant image qaulity , has good build and focus motor ..I have been looking at the EF300L IS 4.0, 100-400 L IS, 400 5.6 , Tamron 200-500 , or the bigma or sigma 150-500 , what do you recommend ..i cannot afford the $10,000 piece of white 500 mm L glass , though the dream about it is nice , just can't afford it .
Ok has anyone else seen these types of posts or maybe have made one your self ? And you generally will see , albeit you dont really know from who , or if they have ever even used said pieces of glass before, or who they even represent , but you will receive or see much feedback on this question . Everything from the 100-400 is awesome just not as sharp as the 400 5.6 or 300 , or use the 300 with a 1.4 extender for a quick sharp all around lens , to the 150-500 has great reach but poor image qaulity etc.. all of these comments are true , and partially based on the user , camera settings etc ..but here that is not my point . My point here is to ask why? Or better yet why does Canon not listen to the chatter , the requests, and see a truly viable market for a 100-500 L IS , that would cost less than $2500 , and still create plenty of cash flow profits for Canon , give the long time Canon supporters a lens that not only is what everyone really wants , but would also be affordable and become the hottest selling lens ever , especially if priced under that $2500 price tag . Why Not , it is doable, isn't it.
          Nikon with the recent introduction of their 80-400 VR , has in my opinion drastically changed the options photographers like me and so many others have. People that are looking to capture the best images they can with equipment that is top of the line , but doesn't require me to wear a ski mask and become John Dillanger to do it. Nikon albeit does come in a bit more expensive than their Canon counter part with the 80-400 VR selling for some where over $2,200. What does this mean for the average wildlife ,bird and sports photographer ? Well i think what it will allow us to do is add a teleextender to the lens increasing our reach to well over 600mm if your using a crop sensor body , at a price ,well, well below any of the white glass in a similar zoom distance. But the real excitement for this lens comes in the fact that it will allow auto focus with the extender on a non pro nikon body . The white guys just don't offer this nor does it look like there are any plans to do so. Instead you will read things about tapping pins to fool the auto focus system in your body to work with an extender and the antiqauted 100-400 ... Now many ,many people on blog sites and chat lines are commenting that canon cannot alter the 100-400 to allow for autofocus with non pro bodies , as though its some unattanable goal ,and fail to see that Nikon did just this feat. I have also read where many people have the notion that if Canon did decide to upgrade the 100-400 , it would cost a small fortune to the consumer ,and the users of said glass seem to be content with it ,as long as the price is so low. Now me i think an upgrade to the 100-400 is long ,long over do , however i agree that if it were to be upgraded the price would have to remain similar for it to still be a hot seller as i like most of its users cannot afford or do not want to spend much more than its cost at present for any similar type of glass. However for me i would much rather see IS added to the 400 5.6 , and a totally new lens a 100-500 . or 50-500 L IS lens for under $2500 ..That to me would blow the market wide open , not only should and would this lens sell like hot cakes , but the number of Canon Bodies purchased would sky rocket as well. Now for years its not been a secret that Canon feeds its users just enough camera and lens to get them hooked then gears there selling efforts at entry level and pro level equipment. They try to get you in , then hope to sell you on a pro body ..Where Nikon tends to focus more on the what i like to call Mid sumer or more advanced yet not pro photographers, at least with their bodies , and now with this 80-400 seem to be gearing lens to that markert as well. The folks over at Nikon are smart , not worrying about selling a few top of the line bodies at anormous prices but shooting for the numbers and aiming at us the advanced user... Smart Move Nikon. So now a Nikon user can be out and about , notices a bald eagle , a skittish when approached bird , he has his 80-400 , his extender attached , and knows that if that bird flies , he can still track it with his auto focus , as the eagle flies off you have him , a tack sharp shot. You smile as you walk away with shot in tow. Now this is not saying that a guy with the old whitey can't also grab the shot with a mer 400mm ,and not get a great shot ,because he can no doubt. But think of how many times we are out and about and we are like dang wished a had a bit more reach , i dont think i ever hear anyone say wow i could have used less.
            That New 80-400 also has increased focus ability in the amount of points and updates to the points as well.. So clearly Nikon is out of the pit and zooming ahead , while Canon is still muttling with an old spring jack , and can;t seem to get all 4 replaced , back down and off , using a bit of nascar termonology ..you know it was a race weekend . Go Jimmy , Go Jeff ... But anyhow heck even if Canon came out with a EF500 L 5.6 non IS wouldnt that be sweet as well , especially if it came in under $2500 ..After all every comment i read when it comes to lenses and advanced users and wildlife always boils down to which lens 100-400, 300, 400 5.6, 50-500 sigma, tamron 200-500 ..and No Canon you cannot base your reason for not offering a 50-500 or 150-500 on poor sigma sales or not enough sales , because most users do not trust the qaulity or at least tend to perfer the sweet magic of the old tighty whitey , and opt for the 100-400 , as its all that fits the bill at this time . We shoot for sweet optics, great contrast , great build , faster focus albeit by not much , more accurate focus in a busy back ground situation Canon is a clear winner here, no doubt , great bokah Canon again .... that doesnt mean that a sigma , or Tamron, cannot deliver some stellar images and at a reach of 100mm more ... I just wished Canon would throw us a bone or two ... Comeone guys in white , bring us a bit of that heavenly sweet optic joy , fire us a 50-500 , 100-500 , or 500 5.6 /6.3 and bring it in at a reasonable price , and a winner you will be ...and in this economy a winner may mean just keeping your present users from jumping onto the life boat called Nikon, because baby that 80-400 VR is looking pretty sweet ...Can you say autofocus baby ...
When dealing with moving subjects like birds, and wildlife having autofocus ability while retaining sharp results , may be all the difference in the world , to a sharp wall hanging masterpiece and a heavily cropped 8x10. You as the consumers need to decide how this story ends ...let Canon know your thoughts .if your content with same o , same o , just because of fear of a much higher price , and simplicity , then do nothing. But if your like me and find no reason why an affordable white option cannot be made then let them know ..after all if Nikon can ,make one that works in an 80-400 VR which many Canon guys seem to find or thing that was and still is impossible because they think its all in the body to make glass autofocus ...Then they need to read and check out the 80-400 VR because its doing just that autofocus retention up to f8.0 ..After all think about it if you can tape pins and make a non pro body autofocus all for a $.19 cents in tape , how much would it costs to revamp the processor with a little firmware ...and get the same results .. back yard and garage engineers sure figured out the tapping process and it works quite well ...So why can't or Shouldn't Canon engineers be able to add a little bit more reach , firmware the processor , give a little tweak and give us a descent 100-500 L OR 50-500 L for an affordable under $2500, or even $2000 for that matter ..as well all know that if Sigma can make a 50-500, and or a 100-500 and sell it for less than a $1,000 , and still make huge profits there is a huge mark up involved ..So Canon give us advanced users a gift in this economy , and bring out that 100-500 , or 50-500 ...you'll make more cash than you could dream of... because once you go white its hard to go back.   No racial pun intended ...
if your with me here and think this is a great idea and you would love to purchase a 50-500, 100-500, or 500 5.6/6.3 L all with or without IS what ever can keep it affordable and less than $2000- $2500 .. send me your comments and maybe we can find a way to petition Canon and make this happen...Or else i will see you over at the Nikor window ...

www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/80400vr.htmShare

if you check out Kens site tell him i sent you and offer his something for his time he does a great job reviewing alot of Photography equipment ..and his reviews are spot on ..

Bill Butcher wildlife and bird photography

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Nikon new 80-400 has the Ante been upped

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Montana dreaming

Some recent pictures

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