Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

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Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

abqnmusa
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p.2 #1 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

I am now using a 5D III, but the 400mm F5.6 worked well on the 7D
reach is only 400mm but the 7D crops out the center 40% of the lens image

I have always used the 400mm F5.6 hand held. It is light enough hand holding is not an issue. I shoot Tv mode, 1/1250 or faster shutter speed, auto ISO most of the time

the 400mm F5.6 is an awesome lens. very sharp at wide open, and faster focus than 300 F4 IS.

I would choose a monopod first before lugging around a tripod. But I use the 400mm F5.6 hiking often.

Jan 09, 2013 at 05:05 PM

JEFFERY Z71
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p.2 #2 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

Owned the 300 f4 IS plus a 1.4 extender. It was a nice lens without using the extender. Never as long as I liked. I picked up the 400 5.6 a year later. Really good IQ if enough light was available. I traded the 300 as it just sat idle for several years.

Go with the 400 5.6 or hold out for one of the larger whites.

Jan 09, 2013 at 05:33 PM

Sjjindra
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p.2 #3 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

400 5.6 for sure. 1/800 and up (or is it down - back to FM summer school for me) shutter speed. I bought a small canvas bag and plastic pellets at Hobby Lobby that works great as a bean bag on most any available object, with this, tripod is optional.

Jan 09, 2013 at 06:09 PM

danb121
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p.2 #4 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

ClausC wrote:
Imagemaster wrote:
danb121 wrote:
It's a shame that the 400 isn't f/4 or doesn't have IS

It has both. It is called the 400 f4 DO.

or the 300/2.8 IS + TC1.4

Yep well aware of these sadly wayyyyy out of my price range though

Jan 09, 2013 at 06:38 PM

Paul Mo
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p.2 #5 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

7D - that's a battle between reach and speed. Meaning although you'll want the longer lens for birding, the fastest lens will help out immensely too, or else your ISOs will go up.

Jan 09, 2013 at 06:55 PM

thedutt
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p.2 #6 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

Let me be in the minority, I like the 300s with TCs for the flexablity on budget. Unless you have to optimize on AF and I hear that 400 f5.6 is better than the 420 f5.6 IS, I would suggest getting 300 F4 IS. In super tele range, IS comes in handy and if you are on a trail, you are not always taking your 70-200, and 300 F4 IS may come in handy both for focal length and additional stop. I was planning on selling the 300 when I got its bigger f2.8 bro and potentially trading in a 400, but its a keeper for the flexiblity. Couple of shots:

w/ 1.4x , T2i ISO 1000:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Bare, T2i ISO 1600:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

You can look at the full image here and here

Jan 09, 2013 at 08:47 PM

dmcharg
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p.2 #7 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

Neither. The 100-400 is far more flexible and just as good. Good mfd, image stabilisation, zoom. If you typically shoot in less than ideal light the image stabilisation is going to result in far more keepers.

Jan 09, 2013 at 08:51 PM

No ANgle
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p.2 #8 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

400 5.6 but the 300mm has its place for backyard birding or Hummingbirds. I have a freidn that shoots hummers only with the 300 F4 IS specifically because he lives in crap light most of the time and the IS comes in handy and is a great focal length for Hummers within 10ft or so sitting in a blind. I have the 400 but I live in an area that has great light most of the time alloing me to have high shutter speeds even at F8-F11 with a TC. OTherwise I would of bought the 300. Now the 300 2.8 mkII, that is a lens I do wants to haz.

Too rich for my blod though.

Jan 09, 2013 at 09:00 PM

abqnmusa
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p.2 #9 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

This 1.4X TC will work with a 7D and 400mm F5.6 for 560mm F8
focus is slower but usable

Tamron SP AF 1.4x Pro Teleconverter

on a 5D III the combination works well for birds in flight

2013 © abqnmusa

Tamron SP AF 1.4x Pro Teleconverter

2013 © abqnmusa

560mm F8 - Tamron SP AF 1.4x TC / 400mm f5.6 lens

2013 © abqnmusa

560mm F8 - Tamron SP AF 1.4x TC / 400mm f5.6 lens

Edited on Jan 10, 2013 at 04:51 PM · View previous versions

Jan 09, 2013 at 10:20 PM

Steven Evans
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p.2 #10 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

Birding only I would say the 400, The nice thing about the 300 is it's macro ability combined with IS. Min focus distance on the 300 is 4.9' and the 400 is 11.5'.

Jan 10, 2013 at 12:06 AM

lighthawk
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p.2 #11 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

I've owned both, but sold the 300 to get the 400 for my 7D.
Most of my BIF shots are handheld. I don't have a gimbal setup.
With decent shuttle speeds 1/1000 or faster if you can, you can get solid results.

I set custom 1 position to 400iso/1/1000th/5.6 with 8fps continuous frames, and expanded focus point, so I just twist that dial and I'm in the ballpark.

Jan 10, 2013 at 03:08 AM

galenapass
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p.2 #12 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

ClausC wrote:
Imagemaster wrote:
danb121 wrote:
It's a shame that the 400 isn't f/4 or doesn't have IS

It has both. It is called the 400 f4 DO.

or the 300/2.8 IS + TC1.4

No, that's the 420mm f/4 IS.

Great combo, but much heavier.

Jan 10, 2013 at 03:37 AM

galenapass
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p.2 #13 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

No ANgle wrote:
400 5.6 but the 300mm has its place for backyard birding or Hummingbirds. I have a freidn that shoots hummers only with the 300 F4 IS specifically because he lives in crap light most of the time and the IS comes in handy and is a great focal length for Hummers within 10ft or so sitting in a blind. I have the 400 but I live in an area that has great light most of the time alloing me to have high shutter speeds even at F8-F11 with a TC. OTherwise I would of bought the 300. Now the 300 2.8 mkII, that is a lens I do wants to haz.

Too rich for my blod though.

This is a good point. In low light the 300mm is an excellent choice. Several years ago I took both the 300mm and 400mm f/5.6 into the jungle in Eastern Ecuador. The 400mm was completely unused because I could not achieve shutter speeds high enough to prevent motion blur. Moreover, the 300mm does have great macro ability and that should not be overlooked because it offers tremendous utility for closeup shots of insects etc...

This image is copyrighted by the owner

On the other hand the 400mm f/5.6 performs well in good light.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

IMO these lenses are to be used in different situations and both should find their way into the camera bag. However, if I had to pick one lens to start with, I'd go with the 300mm f/4 plus a 1.4X TC.

Jan 10, 2013 at 04:02 AM

CW100
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p.2 #14 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

dmcharg wrote:
Neither. The 100-400 is far more flexible and just as good. Good mfd, image stabilisation, zoom. If you typically shoot in less than ideal light the image stabilisation is going to result in far more keepers.

true, the 100-400 is almost as sharp and much more versatile

Jan 10, 2013 at 11:28 AM

Lasse Eriksson
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p.2 #15 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

The 400/5,6 lens

Jan 10, 2013 at 11:45 AM

ChrisGVE
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p.2 #16 · Choosing between 300 4 L IS or 400 5.6 on 7D

I'd vote for 400/5.6, you can always use your 70-200 or 70-200 + TC for shorter fl.

For support and trekking I'd recommend a carbon tripod with a monopod head (not a ball head) I find it easier to use with long lenses. But you might want to first try your lens and then decide if you want to invest in a monopod or tripod

Jan 10, 2013 at 01:00 PM

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