p.1 #1 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
I want to buy a lens for wildlife. I am not happy with my current lens - Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 IS. I find it slow in focussing and incapable of using 1.4x I have. I have 5dii and 30d.
I mainly shoot bears, moose, sheep, squirrels and not birds and I don't do much sport shooting but I might use it occassionaly for sun's football outside.
I am narrowed down (based on previous feedback here) to either:
1)Canon 70-200mm F4 IS with 1.4x. I have read that 70-200mm 4F L is the best zoom for IQ in <$2000. So I expect with 30 d that it woudl yield 156-448mm reach with very good optics at 5.6 but be available for landscape. It is also 1/2 the weight of other choices and more likely to be with me on a hike. I have also read that its IS is better than 300L or 100-400L. IQ Ranked 4.55. Focus Speed 4.5 out of 5.
2) Canon 300 L IS F4 with 1.4x. I have read that its IQ is excellent. So with 1.4x it woudl be very good. and provide 672mm at f5.6. Its downside is heavier and I would have to zoom out with my feet or use my 70-300 f4-5.6 canon which does well less than 200mm. Relative to 300L plus 1.4x it would yield same without zooming capability. I borrowed 1 last week and it was great but heavy and no zooming.IQ Ranked 4.55. Focus Speed 4.5 out of 5.
3) Canon 100-400 f4-5.6L IS. I have read that its IQ is not as good as 300L or 70-200L so I expect that it would yield similar IQ as 300 or 70-200 with 1.4x. I played with it a bit and the push/pull seems awkard. However, 160mm-640 at f5.6 with 30d (assume taht 1.4 woudl make the image quality too weak) IQ Ranked 4.19. Focus Speed 4 out of 5.
Comments appreciaated. Scott
[Note: thanks everyone for your help. See below for the happy conclusion:]
p.1 #2 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
I have all 3 (though I have the 70-200 f2.8 IS). For wildlife, I find myself using the 100-400 more than the other 2. IQ is just as good as my 300/f4 and better than the 70-200, not quite as good as the 500mm F/4 though.
100% crop at 400mm on 5DmkII, no sharpening, no noise reduction.
p.1 #3 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
I have the 70 - 200 IS and the 100 - 400 L. For wildlife I have tried the 70 - 200 with and without the 1.4 tc and I almost always miss the extrs distance of the 100 - 400. When I have sunlight I use the 100 - 400 and have also used it for Soccer and field sports.
Indoors, evenings or other low light situations always get the 70 - 200. Including Basketball, School functions and animal photography in the evening or in heavy shade.
The big disadvantage for me in the 100 - 400 isn't IQ or push pull, it's remembering that the aperture changes.
I find with the heavier 70 - 200 IS that it is less comfortable to use with a TC than the 100 - 400L.
I still have my 70 - 300 4 - 5.6 IS and use it mainly where size and weight are factors. It's a lot simpler to carry on a trip with a low prob of needing a zoom. The low probabilities always seem to work out differently than I expected.
p.1 #4 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
Thanks TheOldMan and Rob. I am not sure it changes you view but the 70-200F4IS at f4 is supposed to have better IQ than 70-200F2.8IS at f2.8. I am not sure if this is true or not. But I know it do know that f4 is 1/2 the weight of f2.8. Similarly it is 1/2 the weight of 100-400 and 300. And $1000 less as well.
p.1 #5 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
I bought the 70 - 200 IS for indoor sports and school events. As my kids got to HS it also became my HS field sport lens when I couldn't rent a 300 2.8. for low light it's the only option.
The 100 - 400 is my daytime lens. My bird style is more stalk and shoot and after trying a 300 (rental) I stick with the 100 - 400. If I had an opportunity for a shoot in a blind I"d rent a 300 2.8. All the lens will work in light so the big advantage for me is the extra reach and convenience of zoom. Saving up was a decision but it seems that whenever I save money I end up upgrading in a year.
Old
p.1 #6 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
Thanks Imagemaster - impressive images. And good points. That is why 70-200 is on list of possible. 1/2 as much weight and zoom but maybe not enough reach. Scott
p.1 #8 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
I would go with the 100-200 never have liked using a TC and like the other poster says with the 100-400 you have a wide range. You don't want to lose time changing. Besides the newer 100-400's are so darn good now they give the 400 5.6 a run for the money
p.1 #10 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
If I remember correctly my friend told me when you add a TC to a 100-400 you loose the af on the lens. At my age I would not start trusting my eyesight for focusing.
p.1 #11 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
Cincy Bruce wrote:
If I remember correctly my friend told me when you add a TC to a 100-400 you loose the af on the lens. At my age I would not start trusting my eyesight for focusing.
Bruce
Your friend is only partly correct. It depends on the camera body that the 100-400 is attached to.
My 100-400 with a TC attached will AF both on my 5D and 40D because I have the pins taped.
Besides, the OP may not be interested in adding a TC to the 100-400 if he got one.
p.1 #13 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
Hello Scott,
I just bought the 100-400 and I love it. I haven't really used much of the other two but I really love this one. At first I didn't think I would like the pull/push but as someone previously mentioned you can use it at 100mm to find the subject really fast and BOOM you Zoom super fast and you get awesome closeups. I love that feature so much now. I hope this helps. And yes the quality is really darn good.
-Daniel
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:35 PM
anthony whitmo Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #14 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
I have the 100-400 IS in my bag at all times and love this lens.
Do I use it a lot. Not now > but I have the EF 800 and EF 500. When I first started in photography 2 years ago my first lens was the 100 - 400. It has IS, takes great pics and is cheap.
Of all my lenses the most versatile is the 100-400. Perfect all around lens for anything from zoos, family portraits, and wildlife and you can change focal lengths without changing lenses!! Now aint that grand
p.1 #15 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
Hi Scott,
I am guessing by your photos that you live in or near Banff, which means that much of your wildlife is more easily approachable than it would be in the rest of the wild world. That is why I voted 100-400. I had one and was pleased with the results most of the time. I would not worry about the IS, I thought it was just fine. I have the 70-200 f4 IS, and while it is a nice little lens, it really isn't a wildlife lens, even on a crop body, it's just too short, throw on the 1.4 and you're maxed out at 280mm and f5.6, just not enough for wildlife, even in the park. Sadly, you are discovering that there is no one ideal lens for all these situations. You will have to decide what you want to photograph on a given outing and gear up appropriately.
I live near Waterton and hike and take both landscape and wildlife photos, so I'm in the same boat as you.
So, all that said, the 100-400 would be the best overall choice, to meet many situations, and is light enough to hike with, too. Maybe you should try carrying a 500mm IS around for a day, then the 300IS or the 100-400 would seem very light!
Only problem with that is you would want one!
Good luck with your decision,
Tom
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:56 PM
Thomas Sanders Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #16 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
I own the 70-200 f/4 and the 100-400. For what you intend to shoot, I highly recommend the 1-4. It does like good light, but what lens doesn't It's many versitile attributes have been mentioned and I think it would really shine on your 5DII.
p.1 #17 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
S Dao: Are you set on canon? What about a sigma 100-300 f4 with a 1.6? I looked up IQ = 4.27, focus speed 4.5 so possibly better than 100-300 f5.6. I am going to the camera store to look. Thanks.
baumgarten0712: thanks for the photos and the advice. Much appreciated and great to know that 1.4x might work too. Thats lots of reach. Scott
Daniel: thanks for the input on the push/pull. That worried me but your words are reassuring. Thanks Scott
Ant: Cheap is all relative and my relatives are not funding Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.
JTJT: Yes near banff and the animals pose for me I think I have ruled out 70-200 based on the input here. Too short even in banff. 100-400 would be better for zooming but not as sharp as 300 but maybe its a good trade. Thansk for the input. Scott
Tom: thank your for advice and pictures. Much appreciated. Scott
p.1 #18 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
Scott Stoness wrote:
I want to buy a lens for wildlife. I am not happy with my current lens - Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 IS. I find it slow in focussing and incapable of using 1.4x I have. I have 5dii and 30d.
I mainly shoot bears, moose, sheep, squirrels and not birds and I don't do much sport shooting but I might use it occassionaly for sun's football outside.
I am narrowed down (based on previous feedback here) to either:
1)Canon 70-200mm F4 IS with 1.4x. I have read that 70-200mm 4F L is the best zoom for IQ in <$2000. So I expect with 30 d that it woudl yield 156-448mm reach with very good optics at 5.6 but be available for landscape. It is also 1/2 the weight of other choices and more likely to be with me on a hike. I have also read that its IS is better than 300L or 100-400L. IQ Ranked 4.55. Focus Speed 4.5 out of 5.
2) Canon 300 L IS F4 with 1.4x. I have read that its IQ is excellent. So with 1.4x it woudl be very good. and provide 672mm at f5.6. Its downside is heavier and I would have to zoom out with my feet or use my 70-300 f4-5.6 canon which does well less than 200mm. Relative to 300L plus 1.4x it would yield same without zooming capability. I borrowed 1 last week and it was great but heavy and no zooming.IQ Ranked 4.55. Focus Speed 4.5 out of 5.
3) Canon 100-400 f4-5.6L IS. I have read that its IQ is not as good as 300L or 70-200L so I expect that it would yield similar IQ as 300 or 70-200 with 1.4x. I played with it a bit and the push/pull seems awkard. However, 160mm-640 at f5.6 with 30d (assume taht 1.4 woudl make the image quality too weak) IQ Ranked 4.19. Focus Speed 4 out of 5.
for pure out in the wild wildlife shooting including birds I would go for the 300 f/4 IS + TC or the 100-400 and probably for the 100-400 or trade in your soul for a 300 2.8 + TC or your soul plus some cash to get the 800mm.
when 300 is enough reach the 300 prime would do best in terms of IQ, AF, aperture
but you do need the TC to get the reach of the 100-400, at which point, the 100-400 probably works a little better and you may well often be at the 400mm end.
p.1 #19 · Thanks to All re: WhichLens - 70-200, 300, 100-400
Skibum: thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.
After seeing the feedback, I went to the store anticipating that i might buy the 100-400, and wouln't you know it - it was sold out. And the sales guy said that Canon made the mistake of thinking canada was in a recession so they have 150 lens backordered and I might have to wait to September. I went to another store and got the same story.
The 2nd store tried to sell me on sigma is 150-500 f5-6.3 as an alternative with OS. In theory it sounds okay but I have not heard anything about this lens. A bit slower, $500 cheaper, and likely less IQ given ratings of other Sigma.
It's many versitile attributes have been mentioned and I think it would really shine on your 5DII.