How to buy the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM??

The Canon 100-400mm L IS lens gets mixed reviews. Mostly the reviews
are very positive, but there are some bad ones too. Some sources have
tested more than one and the results show that there is quite a bit of
variability.

I want to buy one, but natch I want one of the good ones. So... how
the heck do I pick a good one?

Wally

"Wally" wrote in message
...
The Canon 100-400mm L IS lens gets mixed reviews.
I want to buy one, but natch I want one of the good ones. So... how
the heck do I pick a good one?

The early ones were fine but it got so popular that they skimped on quality
to up the output. [At an airshow for example every man and his dog have
one].
You should be fine with a new one again now as long as its fresh stock or an
old one like mine.

"Wally" wrote in message
...
The Canon 100-400mm L IS lens gets mixed reviews. Mostly the reviews
are very positive, but there are some bad ones too. Some sources have
tested more than one and the results show that there is quite a bit of
variability.

I want to buy one, but natch I want one of the good ones. So... how
the heck do I pick a good one?

There is no way to buy a guaranteed good copy. So, be sure to buy from a
retailer who is liberal with returns.

BTW, the lens-to-lens variation is not as large as some believe. Chances
are way better than even that you will get a good one the first time (again,
choose a reputable dealer to avoid getting a returned copy).

Make sure that you buy from a reputable vendor who will accept returns
within a reasonable period without question and then run tests for exposure,
focusing and distortion.
Kit level lenses are what they a equally mediocre from sample to sample.
In a sense that consistency is a good thing.
For higher end lenses, particularly complex zooms, there are significant
variations between samples.
Those who naively believe that the lens they buy off a shelf will resemble
the glowing review of the cherry-picked sample published on-line or in a
magazine deserve what they get.
There is a good reason Leica lenses cost what they do, not so for many
Japanese lenses regardless of price point.

Probably anything made after 2007 would be fine. Those made before were of
varying quality.

I've shot extensively with this lens. Major downsides to the lens a
Poor low light focusing
Push-Pull zoom

If neither of these are an issue for you, go for it. I've sold mine tho.

Steve
Tucson AZ
"Wally" wrote in message
...
The Canon 100-400mm L IS lens gets mixed reviews. Mostly the reviews
are very positive, but there are some bad ones too. Some sources have
tested more than one and the results show that there is quite a bit of
variability.

I want to buy one, but natch I want one of the good ones. So... how
the heck do I pick a good one?

Wally