HealeyDriver's reviews

  • Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    light weight (relative to other 400mm), fast autofocus (easy to track birds in flight)
    attention grabber from public

    I bought this lens to use on a photo-safari to Botswana. What a kick!... the lens was on the camera (D20) 80% of the time. Handholding was successful even at night. I used light available from a vehicle spotlight to take pictures of a leapard with its kill in a tree well past sundown. The pictures show droplets of blood on the animals as clear as if I'd used a flash. (Handheld at 1/30 sec). Keys to success: Fast lens, excellent IS, and very fast follow-focus.... This is definitely my favorite lens. I used the 1.4X (canon extender) on some daytime bird pictures, and they came out so crisp I had a hard time believing I was using an extender at all.

    My friends asked if I was going to submit the pictures to National Geographic, and others have requested prints to be used in their homes... (I'm not a professional, but clearly was achieving professional results with this lens.)

    reviewed February 28th, 2006 (purchased for $4,000)