telephoto lens advice for bird photo`s please

RD400

RD400

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Name
Michael
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Hi
I`ve own a sigma 120-400 F4.5 -5.6 lens OS,HSM model lens with a canon 550d camera
now what would I achive buy using any of the below to the lens I already own.
Canon EF 300mm F4.0L IS USM
Canon EF 400mm F5.6L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

Reason I ask is I went out to take some bird picture at fairburn reserve some are ok but I would`nt call them pin sharp or as some of the picture`s I `ve sent on this websites bird forum.

Any help and advice would be super
mick
 
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Whilst the Sigma may not be the most ultra sharp lens they aren't that bad, but the canon 400mm has an excellent reputation as a birding lens, albeit without IS. Perhaps your technique needs sharpening up. I've found my Sigma 150-500 is pretty good, but It took a while when I first got it to get the best from it.
 
The 400mm F5.6L USM is one of the best bird in flight lenses of all time (due to it's relatively light weight and fast focussing) and is also VERY sharp.
The only downside is the lack of IS for non-moving subjects, but that can be compensated for with good technique.
I'd go with that personally.
 
Thanks for the advice maybe it is me thats needing more practice with the lens I have
 
My sigma 120-400 is very sharp. Its most likely it your technique. Long lens photography takes more practice that standard.
 
Here you go scott took these last saturday at fairburn ing reserve the swan one`s quite happy with but the smaller birds I seam to struggle with any help and pointers would be super this was my first real time at shotting birds
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IMG_8286%20(Large).JPG
 
RD400 said:
Hi
I`ve own a sigma 120-400 F4.5 -5.6 lens OS,HSM model lens with a canon 550d camera
now what would I achive buy using any of the below to the lens I already own.
Canon EF 300mm F4.0L IS USM
Canon EF 400mm F5.6L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

Reason I ask is I went out to take some bird picture at fairburn reserve some are ok but I would`nt call them pin sharp or as some of the picture`s I `ve sent on this websites bird forum.

Any help and advice would be super
mick
Click to expand...

Hi Mick,

I posted a thread some time ago about the sharpness of my pics, I'm pretty new to photography and was concerned. I use a sigma 150-500 and having probed the minds of the people on tp I'm very, very slowly but surely improving, I think we just need practice and patience. It is very intimidating looking at the pics on tp, there are some crackers for sure. Although I can't offer any tech advice as I'm learning, I can say, you've come to the right place with your problem.
Maybe if you check some of my earlier posts you can find some answers as well from the tp members about sharpness.
Dave
 
It is true that technique greatly improves the sharpness of photos taken with telephoto lenses.
At the same time though, the canon lenses mentioned above are incredibly sharp and have more potential than the sigmas mentioned to be sharp when used well.
 
Of your choices the 400mm f5.6 has to be the lens to go for. Lightning fast and excellent IQ. Not fast admittedly but then you're not in that price bracket.

Long lens technique will improve your image IQ greatly. Always support the lens if at all possible. I use a tripod occasionally but prefer beanbags because they are more versatile and absorb vibration.

The 400mm is excellent for flight shots and will turn in some superb images. If you have good light you can put a 1.4 extender on it and have a 560mm f8 lens and it will give much better IQ than a fixed aperture mirror lens.
 
I'm learning too.

I love my Sigma 150-500 and have already had some great results.

Quick tip would be to shoot the Aperture up to about 8-9 when shooting at say 400mm, the Focal length will still give Nice depth of Field I find.

I'd post some Piccies up but I'm on my iPhone :-)
 
Michael the most important thing is the light, you will not get razor sharp images if the light is poor, or if your subject is backlit.

Make sure that the sun is behind you, ideally coming over one shoulder, this will improve your shots, and costs nothing :thumbs:
 
As folk have said above, long lens shooting takes time.
I'm still getting used to my newly acquired sigma 50-500 non OS, I just keep picking it up and shooting random things, eventually a fluid like technique will kick in and become 2nd nature.
 
Some good advice given to you Michael as far as technique is concerned, but all the exif has been stripped from the pics which makes it difficult to advise any further.
 
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