Navigating Telephoto Terrain: The Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Lens

Last updated: December 14th, 2023

My Most Used Lens in 2023 (probably):

Starting in April 2023, focusing on shooting with Canon RF 100-400mm telephoto lens has been fun this year. I feel much more comfortable with it after a recent trip to Colorado. This lens has served as both a tool and a teacher. It's pushing me to understand and adapt to its unique characteristics – namely, the dark, friggin' F8 on the long end. But the compact size, weight, and affordability are hard to beat.

Initial Impressions and Herons Galore:

When I first picked up this lens from Canon Refurb, it was uncharted territory. I briefly rented the 800mm F11 for fun before, but otherwise, I haven't shot past 200mm. The lens, while affordable at ~$599, came with its own quirks. Its darker aperture meant I had to work harder to achieve the desired images, especially regarding subject-background separation. However, its size and largely fast and reliable autofocus made it a sensible starting point for someone new to telephoto lenses like myself.

Throughout the summer, I learned to navigate its F8 aperture, exploring editing techniques to enhance my images. I use tools like Lightroom's Denoise AI and Photoshop's generative fill, and I was able to mitigate some of the limitations posed by the higher ISOs this lens often requires. I find I spend a lot of time shooting between ISO 2000 and ISO 8000. 

Colorado Trip: Eagles, Prarie Dogs, & Mountain Tops

Fast forward to fall 2023, and my skills with the RF 100-400mm had noticeably improved. A trip to Colorado proved to be the ultimate testing ground. Here, I embraced the lens's limitations as creative challenges. Cropping became a regular part of my workflow, and I discovered the value in utilizing Lightroom's AI Denoise and masking tools more effectively.

This lens pushed me to think differently about my photography. In the future, I hope to have the chance to pair it with different bodies, like the Canon R7 for its built-in reach or the R5 for its high-resolution capabilities, which will allow for more aggressive cropping. When using the full frame (and relatively lower resolution Canon R6, and Canon R8) 400mm still seems shorter than I ultimately want, and I have cropped a lot with the bird shots.

Good Images, Better Experience:

As 2023 progressed, I realized that the RF 100-400mm lens was not just about capturing distant subjects; it was about honing my photographic skills. And helping me through a learning/creative rut. It encouraged me to dive deeper into the nuances of telephoto photography, from understanding the importance of getting closer to subjects for better shots to navigating the challenges of shooting in varied lighting conditions.

Looking forward, I'm curious to compare this lens with the Canon RF 100-500mm to see what additional reach and brighter apertures can offer. My journey with the RF 100-400mm has been a mix of overcoming initial skepticism and growing to appreciate its unique place in my camera bag. The lack of weather sealing is disappointing here and I'm going to keep criticizing Canon on the holes in the middle tier of their RF lineup. I worry that on big photo trips, I'll leave this lens at home in favor of some weather sealing.

Conclusion:

The Canon RF 100-400mm lens has been a gateway into a new realm of photography for me. It's taught me to appreciate the subtleties of long-lens photography and helped me grow as a photographer. As I look towards 2024, I'm excited to continue this journey, exploring new perspectives and refining my style further. This is my first Canon Refurb experience and so far, so good. It's too early to say how long I'll keep this without trying out other telephotos, but I'm very happy with many of the images I snagged this year.

Related Vids:

If you actually don’t need the reach between 200-400mm, the RF 70-200mm F4 lens is an excellent travel companion. You’ll pay more for L-quality, weather sealing, brighter apertures, and a super compact footprint… but this lens is one you can built a bag around.

 

f-stop AJNA 37L DuraDiamond® Travel and Adventure Camera Backpack

Last updated: December 4th, 2023

A year after my initial review of the f-stop AJNA backpack, my experiences have deepened my understanding of its capabilities and limitations. I've picked up a few new accessories, and after extended use, including a recent road trip to Colorado and last year's flight to Ireland, I'm thrilled with the AJNA and have started to opt for it more often than the TILOPA. However, I still happily use both often and treat these bags as gear storage even between active uses.

Key Considerations:

  1. Durability Reinforced: The DuraDiamond material continues to impress, showing minimal wear after rigorous use and exposure to various environments. This fabric is worthy of the namesake, a testament to the backpack's build quality, and a big reason to choose f-stop over competitor bags.

  2. Mesh Pockets - Surprisingly Resilient: Initially a point of concern, the mesh water bottle pockets have proven more durable than I expected. While they are still likely the weakest point, their ability to retain stretch after a year and withstand regular use for tripod feet has been a positive surprise.

  3. Water Bladder Compatibility and Belt Closure: I still haven't tested a water bladder with this bag, but I'm considering it. The aluminum belt closure remains a preferred feature over the plastic clips found in older models, like my TILOPA. But the brand new Lotus 4 CORE 28L (affiliate) has a redesigned hip belt, so it's possible the aluminum clips won't make the next version of the DuraDiamond series.

  4. Accessory Integration and Versatility: The use of MOLLE pouches for carrying items like water bottles, phones, and GoPro accesories has enhanced the backpack's functionality. My new addition, the Dyota laptop sleeve (affiliate), though too expensive in my opinion, provides much-needed protection for larger laptops like the 16-inch MacBook Pro. f-stop calls it a 15" sleeve, but the M-series 16" MBP fits great!

  5. Pro Small ICU - A Compact Alternative: The Pro Small ICU (affiliate) is a surprisingly efficient option for mirrorless camera owners, offering a balance between equipment storage and space for other essentials, especially when also carrying a laptop in this bag. If you're someone with a Canon RP or Canon R8, and you mainly bring two or three lenses, consider this as an option if you do more serious hiking.

  6. Comfort on Long Hikes: While the shoulder straps are less padded than those on the TILOPA, they are sufficient for most hiking scenarios that I find myself in. However, on longer, more strenuous hikes with heavier loads, the lack of padding becomes noticeable, and a compromise in padding, somewhere in the middle of what we see on the AJNA and TILOPA straps, would be ideal.

  7. Front Pocket, Top Opening, and the "Tippy Top" Pocket: The long front pocket is a convenient space for quick-access items like jackets or layers, while the big top compartment easily holds filters, snacks, and clothes. I miss some visibility and usability in the "tippy top" compared to the TILOPA, but I like the practical design of the 37L size and am happy overall with access.

  8. ICU Flexibility and Storage: The ability to switch between the Pro Large ICU in the TILOPA and the Slope Medium or Pro Small ICU in the AJNA provides tremendous flexibility, catering to different needs across various trips. To me, this is reminiscent of Apple and Peak design – you have to pay somewhat of a premium to get into their ecosystems, but once you have, it's quite nice.

  9. Price Consideration and Sales: The price remains a downside, but f-stop's annual Pack Week offers 20% discounts and presents a great opportunity for purchase. In 2023, Pack Week runs through December 8th, but be on the lookout next year around Black Friday if you still need to commit to f-stop or the AJNA.

Conclusion:

No bag is perfect, and the AJNA is no exception. For me, it's pretty close, and I plan to keep these f-stop bags for a long, long time. It excels in various scenarios, from hiking to road trips, proving to be a reliable companion for a photographer on the move. While it has its limitations, such as the less padded straps and the small mesh pockets, these are minor compared to what I love about this backpack. The AJNA strikes an excellent balance for those needing a durable, versatile, and well-designed backpack for photography gear and travel essentials. Whether you're venturing into the Rockey Mountain National Park or navigating the streets of Dublin, the AJNA remains an excellent choice for photographers seeking quality and functionality in their pack.