Thought I would share my first images with a canon 100-400 zoom, shot this afternoon driving home from the city (80 mile stretch).

Intended to shoot grouse this am. but it was -20 so I will try tomarrow when it should be warm, around -5.

The Owl was shot at 400 full out from about 70 meters.

The Sandhill Cranes were shot at about 300 meters out, and unfortunately had to be shot hand held! The sun was setting to the south west and light was poor. interesting looking at the background, totally washed out.

I am dead pleased with the lens. Last summer someone told me (from this list) that the 100 to 400 was a must. After much information from friends on this list (like per johan) I broke down and acquired it, no complaints about it yet.

Curiously, what is the difference between is 1 and is 2, I got not documentation with the lens other than registeration??

Reposted in qt, not sure why the cranes look so bad!!!

Hey Dale! I loved the birds. :) The background of them was really cool! I would like to maybe see it in a better resolution?

Its good to hear that you like your lens, I have got to get myself some...
~Gabriel

Hi Dale,
nice to view your clip, especially of the owl. I wouldn't even think about doing handheld shoot with this lens as you did, but I think you did well! What IS-position did you use in the sequence of the Cranes?

The IS position on the lens should be used as following:
Position 1 - when you do a shoot without any pans or tilts
Position 2 - when you do a shoot with pans and tilts

I most often have the IS in position 1, cause I'm not doing so much pans and tilts, especially with my 500mm lens.
You have to experiment between those settings and also try to do some shoot without IS at all to find out what suit you best!