Opinons needed please

[Grimm75]

Maybe you guys can help me out. My kit is bare right now as I'm upgrading everything. Here are my choices:

Go for a 100-400L and have a nice all in one lens. This will take a bit of saving.

-OR-

Go for a 70-200 f/4L now (non-IS) with a 1.4 tc, then later (again after saving) go for a used EF 300mm f/4L IS USM. It's my understanding that the 300 works well with the tc.

I'd appreciate some opinions.

Thanks!

[condyk]

I'd go for the 100-400mm IS L personally having owned them all. Just because less hassle to carry one lens. Either choice will be good. Depends what you'll be shooting most and in what conditions.

[Grimm75]

Zoo shooting, some nature (botanical gardens and the like), dragonflies, statuary, old buildings, cemetaries, and any cool experimental crap I can come up with. :D Not into portraits so I don't really mess with that.

My worry with the 100-400L is all the talk about being lucky enough to get a sharp copy. That kind of gives me pause.

[condyk]

If you get one new then send it back if there is a problem. I would go 100-400mm IS L given those interests tho' I think the 300mm L can be pretty good for closer work like Dragonflies. It's whether you want one or two lenses. It's also true that for buildings and similar, incl. general walkaround, I would much prefer a wider lens like a Sigma 17-70mm or Tamron 17-50mm.

[crn3371]

I think that the good copy/bad copy thing with the 100-400 is greatly exagerated. For the most part it can be attributed to user error, rather than lens error.

[Grimm75]

Thanks! You guys have given me a lot to think about. Any more opinions are welcome!

Carrying two lenses does not bother me at all, it's what I'm used to anyway and I have a very comfortable camera backpack so that's not an issue.

Buildings and such are just a small part of what I like to shoot so I think a lens specifically for that would come later.

[Jon]

If you want reach out to 400 mm, get it now and native not later and via a TC. Go for the 100-400.

[S.Horton]

I think that the good copy/bad copy thing with the 100-400 is greatly exagerated. For the most part it can be attributed to user error, rather than lens error.

Strongest agreement here.

I would be an interesting thread "tell us about your lens user error you thought was the lens" -- I have one on the 70-200!

[LightRules]

My kit is bare right now

Hi. You have nothing at all? Do you plan to use the 1-4 as your walkaround, day to day? Wouldn't you prefer something lighter/smaller and in the sub-100mm focal range like a standard zoom first?

The 1-4 is a fine lens, no doubt, but I'm just wondering if it's practical for what you want to do with it.

[Grimm75]

Yup, it's bare right now. I sold off everything when I moved. I figured fresh start in more ways than one. From all I've read, the 1-4 is just a great all around lens. I'm leaning this way I think. Hope it will still allow for nice close-ups of dragons though, love photographing dragonflies.

[mwt]

get a kit lens or a 50/1.8 and the 100-400L.

No way can you use the 100-400L for snapshots and stuff in the house