Author Topic: Canon FD 400mm f2.8L (newFD mount) ***** (Read 2529 times)

Ray · « **on:** April 30, 2011, 01:44:37 PM »

Canon FD 400mm f2.8L (newFD mount) coupled with a Panasonic Lumix G1, not the cheapest antique lens (market value around $1200 for a bargain sample) but its really great to couple the little camera with

The lens has been sold allready b.t.w., with a weight around 6 KG it sorta takes ones mobility away and I'm not very stationairy.

Cam and lens sample found on the web but both identical to the camera and lens used for the samples:

100% crop:

50% crop:

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2011, 01:50:57 PM »

One hell of a 1st post...

Just stunning images...
for $1200, that's a good price, since it was over $4k new!

Oh, Yeah, Welcome to E-P1.net

Ray · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2011, 02:23:06 PM »

Quote from: M5-User on April 30, 2011, 01:50:57 PM

One hell of a 1st post...

Just stunning images...
for $1200, that's a good price, since it was over $4k new!

Oh, Yeah, Welcome to E-P1.net

Thanks, I'm glad to have stumbled across this great little place, considering all lens sample contributions this website is of a great value to any M43 user and antique lens fanboys and girls alike

I'm sure a more dedicated photographer could have squeezed out somewhat of a better quality from this particular combo but I was very happy with the results nevertheless, though it was a bit exhausting to run around with at times.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2011, 03:44:58 PM »

that is some awesome glass , and the birds are stellar

ive got the canon 200mm 2.8 fd and enjoy it too

tamoio · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2011, 04:30:33 PM »

It always astounds me how much lens is needed to get a good shot of something the size of a sparrow full frame. I spent a lot of time last summer trying to get useable footage of something called a Smith's Longspur, my Canon 300mm L series on the GH1 wasn't really enough. Most of the good shots I see of birds that size are digiscoped. A 400 f2.8 would be sweet, I could even live with a 400 F4. Nice shots.

Ray · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2011, 05:04:00 PM »

Quote from: tamoio on April 30, 2011, 04:30:33 PM

It always astounds me how much lens is needed to get a good shot of something the size of a sparrow full frame. I spent a lot of time last summer trying to get useable footage of something called a Smith's Longspur, my Canon 300mm L series on the GH1 wasn't really enough. Most of the good shots I see of birds that size are digiscoped. A 400 f2.8 would be sweet, I could even live with a 400 F4. Nice shots.

Well, actually there's no single full frame bird picture in this set, these shots are really just smaller cropped out portions of larger images. I've given up on it because of the weight really. A lens like this 400mm f2.8 performs quite amazing and will let one shoot on even when its almost dark outside but its way to heavy to hike around with, I was able to shoot it handheld and keep it up for minutes at the time, walk for miles with it and toss it around accordingly but the sweat man!

I was glad to be able to shoot with it because of the quality but I'm also glad its out of my hands again, its like the godzilla of lenses, better think twice or better yet trice

I'll stick with slower lenses for birding from now on, 300mm at 5.6 is of great value as well, may not be comparable with this lens but it wont twist one's back, and the sweat man, the sweat

Here's one of the sample images full crop

adash · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2011, 08:56:05 PM »

Sharpness is astonishing, man! I guess you were way too far away when taking these. Did you use a monopod or they are all handheld? (I can imagine the size of the biceps required for that)

exzrael · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2011, 10:30:33 PM »

Love the last birdphoto. Great shot imo!

Ray · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2011, 11:50:23 AM »

Thanks for the nice comments

@Adash, the first birdpicture and the picture of the ship were handheld and the rest was on monopod with a Manfrotto 393 gimbal head. The birds were quite far away indeed but it still left enough room for a few good crops, only thing I wasnt able to do with this combination was the mother bird feeding the little ones, it happened right in front of me for lots of seconds at the time but I missed it on every occasion.

lisandra · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2011, 12:19:07 PM »

amazing, the sharpness says it all

Canon FD 400mm f2.8L (newFD mount) *****