Which lense for close wildlife

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tarnis
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p.1 #1 · Which lense for close wildlife

I recently sold off my 300mm f2.8 and picked up a 500mm f4...have that, a 400mm f5.6 and a 100mm macro, and a 17-40mm f4

Have had a major hole in my close range birding/wildlife for quite awhile now, got the 400 after my 80-400mm sigma died and planned to sell the 400mm lens when I got the 300mm 2.8. Jumping to 500mm I really need to swap it for something in between.

I was thinking a 70-200mm f4, and throw on the 1.4x tc when necessary or the 70-300mm L. Just wondering if anyone had any preferences in the $1,000 range that I'll get by selling the 400 prime?

Problem is I know I'm really going to miss that lens once its gone.

Feb 11, 2013 at 07:49 PM

verbiage
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p.1 #2 · Which lense for close wildlife

One lens you might consider is the 100-400 which focuses quite close (about 6ft if memory serves).

This pigeon was at about that distance


	© verbiage 2012

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 400 mm f/9.0 1/640 sec 640 ISO 0.0 EV

Feb 11, 2013 at 08:05 PM

Ralph Conway
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p.1 #3 · Which lense for close wildlife

How close and what kind of animals? For Lions I would use metal barreled lenses only ...

Feb 11, 2013 at 08:13 PM

tarnis
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p.1 #4 · Which lense for close wildlife

Was hoping for a 100-400 mkii by now...have heard very 'mixxed' reviews on that one.

Feb 11, 2013 at 08:22 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #5 · Which lense for close wildlife

I think the 100-400/L IS suggested by verbiage is a good choice, especially if you're going to sell your 400/5.6L to finance it. The 100-400L IS has MFD = 1.8m (~6 ft), while MFD for 400/5.6L is 3.5m (~11 ft).

OTOH, you could get a 70-200/2.8L and use the Extender on your 300/2.8 when you need 400mm. The 70-200/2.8L is a great companion for the 300/2.8L in many situations.

Feb 11, 2013 at 08:23 PM

jasonpatrick
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p.1 #6 · Which lense for close wildlife

Love my 100-400. Short MFD plus versatility and IS are the reasons I dumped the 400mm 5.6 for it.

PS, you'll miss the 400mm 5.6 once it's gone

....but you seem to know that already.

Feb 11, 2013 at 08:43 PM

Mark Keller
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p.1 #7 · Which lense for close wildlife

+1 for the 100-400 L

Feb 11, 2013 at 09:37 PM

Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #8 · Which lense for close wildlife

tarnis wrote:
Was hoping for a 100-400 mkii by now...have heard very 'mixxed' reviews on that one.

Mixxed as in in it's merely very good or it's excellent, because they are the only mixed reviews I've seen of this wonderful lens.

Anything else is BS.

Feb 11, 2013 at 09:42 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #9 · Which lense for close wildlife

Pixel Perfect wrote:
tarnis wrote:
Was hoping for a 100-400 mkii by now...have heard very 'mixxed' reviews on that one.

Mixxed as in in it's merely very good or it's excellent, because they are the only mixed reviews I've seen of this wonderful lens.

Anything else is BS.

+1

Feb 11, 2013 at 09:44 PM

PetKal
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p.1 #10 · Which lense for close wildlife

Feb 11, 2013 at 10:49 PM

molson
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p.1 #11 · Which lense for close wildlife

jcolwell wrote:
Pixel Perfect wrote:
tarnis wrote:
Was hoping for a 100-400 mkii by now...have heard very 'mixxed' reviews on that one.

Mixxed as in in it's merely very good or it's excellent, because they are the only mixed reviews I've seen of this wonderful lens.

Anything else is BS.

+1

*2

Feb 11, 2013 at 10:51 PM

Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #12 · Which lense for close wildlife

PetKal wrote:
Pixel Perfect wrote:
tarnis wrote:
Was hoping for a 100-400 mkii by now...have heard very 'mixxed' reviews on that one.

Mixxed as in in it's merely very good or it's excellent, because they are the only mixed reviews I've seen of this wonderful lens.

Anything else is BS.

Well, Michael didn't like it very much, and his test proved that 400 f/5.6 was much sharper. There.

And it appears to be the sole negative review of this lens I know of of the web and is still trotted out to this date by naysayers that haven't used the lens.

Feb 11, 2013 at 11:22 PM

drobertfranz
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p.1 #13 · Which lense for close wildlife

70-300mm L is what I'd go with!

Feb 11, 2013 at 11:23 PM

big country
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p.1 #14 · Which lense for close wildlife

100-400 is a great lens in my opinion.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Camera: Canon EOS-1D X
Exposure Time: 0.0012s (1/800)
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 6400
Focal Length: 180mm

Feb 12, 2013 at 12:00 AM

AmbientMike
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p.1 #15 · Which lense for close wildlife

Why sell the 400?

100-400 is fine. Good performance. Probably Not as good as 300/4 non IS or 2.8. But great zoom range and good performance.

Feb 12, 2013 at 02:24 AM

AmbientMike
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p.1 #16 · Which lense for close wildlife

The 400/5.6 has bad reviews too

Feb 12, 2013 at 02:25 AM

lowa2
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p.1 #17 · Which lense for close wildlife

300/4 IS has great mfd and reportedly takes a 1.4 very well.

Feb 12, 2013 at 02:29 AM

Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #18 · Which lense for close wildlife

lowa2 wrote:
300/4 IS has great mfd and reportedly takes a 1.4 very well.

Yes, but with a 1.4x it's IQ is not as good as the 100-400L and AF is worse especially on non 1 series cameras

Feb 12, 2013 at 02:39 AM

lowa2
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p.1 #19 · Which lense for close wildlife

Pixel Perfect wrote:
lowa2 wrote:
300/4 IS has great mfd and reportedly takes a 1.4 very well.

Yes, but with a 1.4x it's IQ is not as good as the 100-400L and AF is worse especially on non 1 series cameras

Thanks for that. Up to now, I've only heard good reports.

Charles

Feb 12, 2013 at 02:41 AM

cputeq
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p.1 #20 · Which lense for close wildlife

+2 for the 100-400, I plan to get it (again) here soon.

Feb 12, 2013 at 03:01 AM

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