300mm F4 question

swag72

swag72

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Sara
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Thinking about changing my 100-400 for a 300mm F4. I tend to use the 100-400 at 400mm most of the time, so I don't think I'll miss the zoom too much.

My question really are whether the 300mm would still auto focus on my 7D with a 1.4TC added? I guess I would predominantly use it at F8, like I do my 100-400.

:thumbs: or :thumbsdown:

Also, opinions on the change over?

Cheers folks :)
 
Hi Swag
I am thinking of going the other way. So If you fancy a trade give me a shout.
300 f4 IS L.
 
I've got the IS version of the 300 if my opinion helps. I find it heavy but then again I use it hand held with an extender and I am a wimp so that sums that one up.

Image quality is superb when I get it right :D

Will post a couple of pics taken with it if you wish?
 
I use this for a lot of butterflies and dragons - I didn't want the minimum focussing distance of the 400 F5.6 - Its about 3.5m compared to 1.5m of the 300mm and 1.8m with the 100-400.

I like to get as close as possible and often use extension tubes to lower that more.
 
100-400 is a more useful range.

300 is certainly a cracking lens though
 
squizza said:
I've got the IS version of the 300 if my opinion helps. I find it heavy but then again I use it hand held with an extender and I am a wimp so that sums that one up.

Image quality is superb when I get it right :D

Will post a couple of pics taken with it if you wish?
Click to expand...

That's what I'd be looking at - Like to see them :thumbs:

Weight wise, the 300mm is lighter by .2kg so no issues there.
 
The 300mm f4 + 1.4x TC will happily autofocus / manual focus on your 7D

The Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens focuses down to a relatively close 4.9' (1.5m) for a .24x maximum magnification. This is not a 1:1 macro lens, but .24x is a nice magnification. Plants, flowers and butterflies make great subjects for this lens. Extension tubes extend the maximum magnification a small amount - to .30x and .37x for 12mm and 25mm tubes respectively.
 
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All taken on the 50D, with the 1.4x attatched
 
Here's an idea - 300mm F4 + 1.4TC and entension tube to decrease the minimum focusing distance - Would that work?

Great shots Squizza - Love the owl - Much of a crop on any of these?
 
No, the biggest crop would be chaffinch which was only to tidy it up, so probably lost a cm each side max I reckon :thumbs:
 
Personally I would, and did, keep the 100-400. A far more useful lens for what I do.
 
andrewc said:
Yes, it would become a 420mm f5.6 IS and still able to AF.
A 2TC wouldn't.
Click to expand...

But the 400 f5.6 is way sharper. The 300+1.4 isn't bad though.
 
If you do get a 300/4 IS then I also recommend picking up a 77mm 500D diopter. It'll bring your maximum magnification up to 0.7x and will be a very worthwhile addition for butterflies and moths.

Bob
 
If you put a 1.4x extender on a 300L 4, it loses quite a lot of sharpness. It's arguably no better than the 100-400L.

I rate The-Digital-Picture reviews of long lenses. See here: 100-400L vs 300L 4 + Extender. http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=1

400L 5.6 is better but no IS and longer minimum focus.

300L 4 and 400L 5.6 are not in the same league as the Canon mega-primes. 300L 2.8 blitzes them both, even with an extender.

I don't think there is a cheap (ish!) way of doing what I think you're after. Same as me ;) If Cano produced an updated 400L 5.6 with IS and closer focusing they'd clean up. But as things stand, if you use the 400L 5.6 always on a tripod/gimbal you should get somewhere near realising the 7D's potential, but hand held I would stick with your 100-400L with IS (as I am doing). Then hire a 300L 2.8 or 500L 4 off StewartR as and when.
 
Canon Bob said:
If you do get a 300/4 IS then I also recommend picking up a 77mm 500D diopter. It'll bring your maximum magnification up to 0.7x and will be a very worthwhile addition for butterflies and moths.

Bob
Click to expand...

How would that rate against the extension tubes (36mm) that I usually use with the 100-400 with regards to minimum focussing distance?
 
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