Birds and Animal Lens- I got one now 400m thanks all.

middlearthimages

middlearthimages

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Hi all,

I want a good lens for birds and animals mainly. I,ve always wanted the canon 400mm 5.6 because I understand this is a really good one for the birds.

I also know the 100mm - 400mm canon is also good but is said to be not as sharp at the 400mm end. The other lens in the price area is the Canon 300mm L is lens which is f.4m and can be used with the 1.4 converter .

So out of the 3 options what would the bird and animal togs recommend?

Thanks,

John

Well i've gone and purchased a canon 400mm from kerso. Now i'll have noooo excuses not to get some close ups!!! Thanks all.
 
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I own Sigma 150-500

I covet the Canon 400 f/5.6, reckon the 300mm f/4 with a 1.4 tc is next in line

And maybe then the 100-400mm

Those who know better will follow

:thumbs:
 
To be honest you'll get recommendations for each of the lenses you mention and I've seen some amazing work produced with all three. I have the 400/5.6.
 
to be honest youve pretty much covered it in your opening post.

you dont really want to be using a converter if there is another option, they never add anything to an image after all.
The 100-400's seem as if they can be hit and miss, i have one and it is sharp at both ends, others i have known have been soft at the top end, as you pointed out.

the 400 is the best bet really, it is a nice light lens too, which is a consideration if you are going to be walking with it for any length of time.
 
I had the same dilemma but the 100-400 and 400 5.6 were the only ones on my shortlist. I shoot birds and animals mainly in a zoo/wild environment. Pets then I'd probably use a shorter lens.

If you mainly shoot birds then I would say the 400 over the 300 as you'll need that extra length plus it focuses fast. With the 100-400 then it'll obviously give you optimum flexibility for both birds and animals and would probably be the preferred choice for say zoos if you really don't want to keep switching between lenses, but as you say, it isn't so good at the long end quality wise - not massively but to me I'd feel it may as well be a 100-350. Don't think it's as fast either.

The 300 with a 1.4 gives you some flexibility too but again I think you may lose some quality. I don't have any experience with that combination so I'll sit on the fence with that one.

I plumped for the 400 5.6 for the sharpness and fast focus. I'm really happy with it and find it covers the scenarios I want. I don't regret going with something that had more flexibility. I do have shorter lenses but for birds and animals I do only tend to use the 400.

Any way you can trial these via friends or hire to help you make your mind up further??

Something else to bear in mind is that if you buy second hand then I've noticed they hold their value quite well. If you keep an eye on prices and decide you need to chop and change you can without losing too much if anything.

Sorry for the long spiel. If you got this far then :clap:
 
Thanks all for your feedback.

I will be using for out in the field so I think your all telling me what I thought. So you guys with the 400mm have you any links to the pics you took with it please.

One Ten are the photos of the birds and animals all taken with the 400?

Sazzle is was a good read thank you.

Thanks,

John
 
Most are John, yes. I will never part with my 400, it's that good.
 
OneTen said:
Most are John, yes. I will never part with my 400, it's that good.
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Oh I forgot to say they are cracking images too.

I'm lucky as I live minutes from the wildlife and I see the owls, pheasants, and Red kites, etc and all I got at the moment is a 100mm macro, which if I'm not on top of them I got no chance.

As its a big amount I want to be sure its the right one. How do you find it early morning and eve with the light?

John
 
Shooting birds you always need distance unless it's big and you are close! so you will find yourself at the long end 99% of the time. A prime will always outperform a zoom and the 400 f5.6 is considered the best BIF lens despite not having IS, as shutter speeds usually negate this anyway. That said I use a Sigma 150-500 as as well as being more affordable it offers that little extra length. It also takes a TC without too much of a IQ hit.

http://SPAM/c3whur/mar/Img_2197.jpg

http://SPAM/c3whur/mar/Img_1730.jpg

With a 2X TC
http://SPAM/c3whur/mar/Img_1986.jpg
 
Cheers John, yes iI find it's great in early or late light. This one was taken just before the sun went down in January:

kestrel3a.jpg
 
middlearthimages said:
I want a good lens for birds and animals mainly. I,ve always wanted the canon 400mm 5.6 because I understand this is a really good one for the birds.

I also know the 100mm - 400mm canon is also good but is said to be not as sharp at the 400mm end. The other lens in the price area is the Canon 300mm L is lens which is f.4m and can be used with the 1.4 converter .
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I've owned the 400 f5.6, the 300 f4 and the 100-400 and all are very good lenses. I know that alot is said about the zoom not being as sharp but I think a good deal of this is down to people expecting too much of the IS and shooting at to slow a shutter speed. I've had two copies of the 100-400 and have used three others in the field and all have been plenty sharp enough at the long end. In real world shooting I couldn't see any difference in sharpness between the three set ups. The 400 f5.6 does AF a bit faster than the zoom, but it's poor cloe focus lets it down a bit. I honestly don't think you can go far wrong with any of the Canon options, I did try a Sigma 150-500 but wasn't impressed and know a few people who have bought them only then replace them with the 100-400.
 
I have used most telephoto lenses for Canon.

At the moment the 3 I would get would be in this order:

1. Sigma 50-500mm OS (just over £1100). For sharpness, zoom ability and very good stabilization
2. Canon 300mm f4 IS + 1.4x TC (around £1000). For versatility and IS
3. Canon 400mm f5.6 (around £900). For sharpness and AF speed
 
The 400mm f5.6L is the best out of the options that you have listed for wildlife photography, the only lenses that will beat it cost at least 5 times more. You will find that with the 100 - 400mm zoom you will tend to shoot more at the 400mm end, so get the 400mm you will not regret it.
 
Jaycam said:
The 400mm f5.6L is the best out of the options that you have listed for wildlife photography, the only lenses that will beat it cost at least 5 times more. You will find that with the 100 - 400mm zoom you will tend to shoot more at the 400mm end, so get the 400mm you will not regret it.
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Best for what? The OP stated birds and animals. Can you use the 400mm to shoot a bird in the distance at a safari and then turn it to the other side and shoot an elephant 15 meters from you?

It is not the best I this case, is it?
 
You could buy the 100-400. My guess is that as you are a wildlife/bird photographer, you would end up with it at the 400mm end most of the time. I have the 400mm 5.6 and have never once thought, "wish I'd got the 100-400 so I could have used it at 200mm".

The 400mm prime is a really good lens. I wouldn't worry too much about the IS. For flight shots, it won't matter and for anything else put it on a tripod or a beanbag.
 
Seriously thinking about the 400mm f/5.6, saw some nice birds and deer yesterday that I reckon this lens would have been ideal for.

Realise that it would have to be tripod mounted most of the time, but still not completely convinced that the 300mm IS with 1.4 TC wouldn't be more versatile

Loads of big zooms from Sigma as well, but from past experience going to stick with a Canon lens as they do seem to be that little bit better

Same sort of outlay and just can't decide which way to go :thinking:
 
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middlearthimages said:
Well I think its got to be the 400mm. I use primes most of the time so use to moving back and forth. Also I could do with the fast af. So if I do go for the 400mm what manfrotto head is the most suitable for the weight of this lens? Oh the camera it will be attached to is the 50d.

Regards,

John
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Purchased 400mm from kerso this morning.! :)
 
Yay... I think you will be a very happy boy! Have fun and let us know how you are getting on with it.
 
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