300mm-500mm zoom advice

[magicaxeman]

I need to sort out the long end of things, I enjoy photographing the local birds, insects etc that fly around outside my window and the 55-200mm just isn't cutting it.
Not only is it not long enough but its also too soft at the long end for my liking.

Now please don't mention Canon 100-400's etc as they are way out of my price range, what I am looking at is a choice between a new canon 70-300mm, a second hand Sigma 135-400mm, or a second hand Sigma 170-500mm.

I'm worried about softness at the long end and IS isn't that important to me, though as always it could be handy.

Here's a rubbish example using the wrong metering and terrible light that I just took.. what I would like to achieve is at least the 50% crop size without cropping, even better the 100% crop size.

Shots taken from approx 70ft-100ft
Straight full size image, just converted raw and reduced to fit.

50% crop size.

100% crop size.

 

[artyman]

Possibly out of your price range but the Sigma 150-500 is probably the best value long lens. It's predecessor 170-500 is not thought of so highly, but I guess it's all a question of budget. In the absence of lens range, getting closer to the birds with a hide or camo is the other alternative.

 

[magicaxeman]

Sadly closer isn't an option as I'm stuck in this bed 24/7 but I will have a look around for a decent secondhand " coffee grinder" (170-500) and give that a go, I can always sell or PX it if I don't find it works.

 

[BacktotheFuji]

How are you at manual focusing? There are some real bargains out there if so and the image quality will be much better than the cheap, plastic 70-300mm range zooms.

For example, for around £100.00 you could buy a Tamron SP 500mm mirror lens or a used Nikon 300/4 prime with adapter. IQ will be well above what you could expect to get with a cheap zoom, but manual focusing isn't for everyone

 

[magicaxeman]

How are you at manual focusing? There are some real bargains out there if so and the image quality will be much better than the cheap, plastic 70-300mm range zooms.

For example, for around £100.00 you could buy a Tamron SP 500mm mirror lens or a used Nikon 300/4 prime with adapter. IQ will be well above what you could expect to get with a cheap zoom, but manual focusing isn't for everyone

I would be fine with a prism or fresnel screen in the camera, but with the fine matte's these days, hopeless.

I had considered that as my local stockist has a nikon 300mm F4 going cheap

 

[magicaxeman]

Having spent a few days mulling things over, I was offered a late model Sigma 170-500mm today, I'm well aware the focus can be slow and they can be noisy, but I couldn't turn it down at £250 with UV filter and Sigma case.
I would have been paying nearly £100 more than that for a second hand canon 70-300mm and can always get that lens later if need be.