Canon 400mm f/5.6L Lens

[chachilongshot]

I've been looking to pick up a Canon 400mm f/5.6L lens, and trying to find a deal on it. Seems likes it's a fairly hard lens to find in the first place, most places seem to be out of stock. Also very few of them on ebay, new or used.

Best price I could find is at adorama.com for $1140, but it's currently out of stock.

I wouldn't mind getting a used one if it's in good shape.

Under $900 would be ideal, but around $1000 seems like a more likely price.

Anyone know of any deals out there?

[coolboarder]

Someone selling this on fredmiranda for 975.00 shipped, supposed to be only 5 months old.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/768783

Seems like it is hard for dealers to keep the 400mm 5.6 in stock, the last time I saw anyone has them in stock was 3 weeks ago and they are all gone now. If you want a new one and see it in stock you have to act fast. On the other hand, you can always get the 100-400mm, they are always in stock and Canon even has a 100 dollars rebate on them now (but no rebate on the 400mm 5.6, wonder why). Amazon even raised the price of the 400mm to 1900.00, seems like they really want to unload the 100-400mm at only 1360.00.

[chachilongshot]

Someone selling this on fredmiranda for 975.00 shipped, supposed to be only 5 months old.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/768783

Seems like it is hard for dealers to keep the 400mm 5.6 in stock, the last time I saw anyone has them in stock was 3 weeks ago and they are all gone now. If you want a new one and see it in stock you have to act fast. On the other hand, you can always get the 100-400mm, they are always in stock and Canon even has a 100 dollars rebate on them now (but no rebate on the 400mm 5.6, wonder why). Amazon even raised the price of the 400mm to 1900.00, seems like they really want to unload the 100-400mm at only 1360.00.

Having looked at comparison shots, the 100-400mm isn't nearly as sharp as the 400mm. That's not to say it's bad, but a prime will almost always beat out a zoom for sharpness.

I ended up getting one off ebay. They're even pretty rare to find on there. Got it for $925, which I think is pretty good for that lens. Got to take it out shooting for the first time today, and I must say I am amazed at the sharpness of this lens. Even wide open this is the best lens I've ever used. Though the only other L glass I have is the 70-200 2.8, so there are probably other L lenses that are just as sharp. But I do now understand the phrase "once you go L, you never go back." The only thing more I could want from this lens is a wider aperture, but that's something that can be fixed by spending about 6 times more money.