Posted by Harry Harris on August 10, 2010 at 1:42 PM
I am new to bird photography and very new to this site. After review the posted photos and my photos, I found a softness in my images. I have been using a EF 100-400L on my 40D and 7D. I was given an 1.4 extender and it does not seem to work well with my lens. I have been saving up for a prime lens within my budget. I am looking at the EF 300mm L 4.0 and the EF 400mm L 5.6.
I use autofocus a lot.
Posted by Ron Dudley on August 10, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Harry,
I asked almost (but not quite) the same question on this forum when I was shooting the 100-400 and wanting to get sharper images and more reach.
Based on the advice I got in this thread from several NPN'ers, but in particular the detailed advice from Tom Webster (twice in the thread), I ended up getting the 500 f/4. Best photography decision I ever made! Yes, it was a significant financial stretch for me but ohhh am I ever glad I bit the bullet.
There's lots of advice and information here. I think some of it should help. Hope so anyway.
Ron
Posted by Luke Ormand on August 10, 2010 at 3:56 PM
Given that you stated you are looking for something that fits your budget, the 500mm is likely an extreme stretch for the wallet. I'd personally recommend the 300 f/4 that you can pair with the teleconverter that you have or you can purchase a 1.7X teleconverter for the 500mm equivelant.
The quality won't be as good as a 500mm f/4 and of course with a 500 you can tack on a TC for a really long lens, but it's probably the next best step. You can look at my gallery to see what this combo produces for me (nearly every bird photo is shot with the 300 f4 + 1.7X TC
Posted by Keith Bauer on August 10, 2010 at 4:31 PM
Harry: Some good advice given. Luke talks about a 300 f/4 with a 1.7. Using a Canon converter, that option is NOT available. Canon makes a 1.4 and 2.0. I would not recommend the 2.0 with a 300 f/4 since it will have an effective aperture of f/8 and you'd loose autofocus. Maybe there are 3rd party converters that are 1.7 for Canon, but for my money, I would not go there. The 400 f/5.6 is a GREAT lens. Light and very sharp. But you can not put a converter on it without losing autofocus (on your Canon bodies). I have the 100-400 and find that shooting at f/8 with it (when the light allows) produces great images. It is a touch soft at f/5.6.
PS... Should have added that I also have the 500 f/4. As Ron said, it is an incredible lens..... Just pricey. There is a reason it is one of the most popular lenses out there in the world of Bird photography for the Canon system.
Posted by Nate Chappell on August 10, 2010 at 4:58 PM
They are both very good lenses. One difference is that the 400F5.6 doesn't have image stabilization and the 300F4 does. My opinion would be if your main use for the lens is flight shots, you would be better off going with the 400F5.6. You will get more focal length without adding a teleconverter. While the 300F4 with the teleconverter added is a good bird lens I think the af performance is not as good as the 400 without a teleoconverter. On the other hand if you are going to be doing a lot of low light photography or doing macro photography as well as bird photography you are better off going with the 300F4 and pairing it with the 1.4 converter. It has a close focusing distance which makes it a very good macro lens and in the low light the IS is useful.
As others have said the 500mm is a wonderful bird photography lens.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on August 10, 2010 at 7:00 PM
I come from the Olympus system, instead of Canon or Nikon, but I think my experience is typical. A teleconverter with zoom telephoto just doesn't give you very sharp images. It's certainly true with Zuiko/Olympus. Even a relative low TC like 1.4 can't be made crisp with the 90-300mm telephoto, for example. Fixed lenses, on the other hand, work very well. I routinely use my 300mm f2.8 with a 2.0 teleconverter with acceptable results. it's admittedly less flexible, but the tradeoffs for me in Avian photography are well worth it.
Posted by Andy Gregory on August 11, 2010 at 7:17 AM
Hi Harry. I was using the canon 100-400 zoom lens with my EOS 40D and was not happy with the sharpness of my images. I sold the 100-400 and have now got the Canon 300 F4 L IS lens. I am really happy with the initial results. I did not go for the 400 F5.6 lens as it doesn't have IS and the 300 F4 focuses closer for macro shots. The 300 F4 lens is so small and light compared to the 100-400 and I am sure that my shoulders and back will apreciate the difference. I use the canon 1.4 converter and 25mm extention tube with the 300 F4 and find both to produce great results. If I win the Lottery I will get the 500 F4 but for the time being the 300 F4 will do!
Discussion
6 repliesI use autofocus a lot.
I asked almost (but not quite) the same question on this forum when I was shooting the 100-400 and wanting to get sharper images and more reach.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=18673&CGISESSID=4f9c9dd1a3bfe49d1f091bd37ad7e354&u=2365
Based on the advice I got in this thread from several NPN'ers, but in particular the detailed advice from Tom Webster (twice in the thread), I ended up getting the 500 f/4. Best photography decision I ever made! Yes, it was a significant financial stretch for me but ohhh am I ever glad I bit the bullet.
There's lots of advice and information here. I think some of it should help. Hope so anyway.
Ron
The quality won't be as good as a 500mm f/4 and of course with a 500 you can tack on a TC for a really long lens, but it's probably the next best step. You can look at my gallery to see what this combo produces for me (nearly every bird photo is shot with the 300 f4 + 1.7X TC
PS... Should have added that I also have the 500 f/4. As Ron said, it is an incredible lens..... Just pricey. There is a reason it is one of the most popular lenses out there in the world of Bird photography for the Canon system.
As others have said the 500mm is a wonderful bird photography lens.