wildlife lens ? (canon or sigma)

[scott stokes]

which lens would you buy canon 70-200 2.8,canon 100-400Lor sigma 50-500.I will be using it most of the time in a wildlife refuge (pay to hunt place) 700ac. of high fence.Ishoot a 10D.Would the 2.8 be better because of low light (big bucks come out then! but i have seen them all times of day)or 100-400 for the reach if you get to close they will spook.then there is the 500 more reach less spook.Thanks for info yes i am new to photography. :

[Scottes]

Just how close will you be and how much of the animal do you wish to capture? A frame-filling image of a wolf about 50-60 feet away took me almost 400mm. A deer walking across a field - where the field took up most of the view - took me 100mm.

I have both Canons and I love the 100-400. The extra reach and the IS are wonderful. The 2.8 is sharper and will help autofocus in low-light situations. The 50-500 gives more reach but I don't think the image quality compares to either of the Canons. (CDS?)

Just about any time someone says "wildlife" I say "Canon 100-400 L IS" but then details may change that.

[CyberDyneSystems]

You've listed a lot of good lenses :)

What sort of wildlife?

If bucks at night is the main use than yep.. a 70-200mm might be the ticket :)

But 200mm is awfually short a lot of the time.

My usual recomendation for a wildlife lens is the Canon 400mm f/5.6 L This is an exceptional value in an affordable, lightweight, telephoto prime.

But,.. if Zoom is a requirement.. at the same focal length and f/stop.. you should then gofor the 100-400mm IS. imho

[scottbergerphoto]

You need reach for wildlife. What you buy depends on your budget. Here are some suggestions:
1. Canon 400mm f/5.6L - Great hand held bird lens. Quick AF.
2. Canon 100-400 IS L - Super lens, not as quick in AF in low light as #1. Very versatile.
3. Sigma 500mm f/5.6 APO EX HSM - most expensive, $1500 less then comparable Canon, requires a tripod and Gimbal type head.
You would be happy with any of them.
Regards,
Scott

[CyberDyneSystems]

Ahh.. Scottes posted as I was typing.

I really loved my 50-500mm when I had it.. but I have to agree.. the extra reach it offers does not quite turn the balance vs. the IS and additional sharpness of the 100-400mm IS.. More important though may be how you use it. On a steady ttripod the 50-500mm can be very good! But that 100-400 IS is so lightweight by comparison that it is a breeze to shoot handheld.. that coupled with the IS makes it it work well in your hands as well.

[Jerry Eisen]

I got rid of my 100-400 and got the 400/5.6L. I find it to sharper than the zoom and can be hand held if necessary with good results.

Jerry

[scott stokes]

i will be able to get very close to some,the big ones not so close.I have 20yrs hunting under my belt should be able to get close to some of the big ones I have 75-300 canon cheapo lens i will start in a few weeks to go and see just how close.i should be able to spend alot of time there it is only two miles away.i will try to figure how to post some photos.These deer are huge,some are in 190class b&c.

[scott stokes]

I will be shooting from built stands alot so i could use trypod.but the big bucks are hardly seen from there,or they show up at dark and 300yrds away.my brother use canon xl1 video camera in his hunting videos it has 17power lens and that is small at times.I think that a zoom would be better, i have had deer walk within 10yards befor.

[CyberDyneSystems]

... There are far too many "Scotts" in this thread! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jerry,. do you think we can "take" 'em?

[Scottes]

... There are far too many "Scotts" in this thread! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Never!

Jerry,. do you think we can "take" 'em?


All Scotts Unite! You'll never take us!

I feel like painting half my face blue for some reason...

[scottbergerphoto]

Careful! My Sigma 500 has the optional gun turrett. :shock:
Scott

[Jerry Eisen]

CDS:

With the 400MM 5.6 we can take on all the Scotts.

Jerry

[scott stokes]

just how many scotts are there,question that you should ask.

[vela0958]

I have the same passion you do, Scott and I am just started using digital and purchased the following: canon 1dm11 with 400mmf2.8 is usm len. I have used it on deer a few times and I have a long ways to go to perfect my imagines, but I feel that the 400mm is doing a fine job of what I want-- to get close sharpe pictures of deer.
I have access to a well managed whitetail deer ranch in Texas .

[Canuck]

If money is no object, I'd plug the usual lens w/ 2x tc. That would get you out to a 600mm F5.6 lens x multiplication factor. Just another suggestion. I am looking to get a 2x tc for mine and get out to 960mm F5.6 on the 10D.

[scott stokes]

I think that i realy need the zoom,is the 2x tc comptiable with 100-400 L,I am new to this I hope that I will learn some day. thanks everyone for info.

[scottbergerphoto]

I think that i realy need the zoom,is the 2x tc comptiable with 100-400 L,I am new to this I hope that I will learn some day. thanks everyone for info.
I would advise against the 2X with the 100-400 IS L. You lose 2 stops of light (f11 at 400mm), lose AF, there is a noticeable degradation in image quality, and the viewfinder gets pretty dark making it hard to manual focus. I tried it once and was very disappointed.
Scott

[kufel]

I am using 70-200 f/2.8 IS + 2x extender on 10D. Is it a good combination for wildlife? Also, I was trying to get some birds in-flight with it but all I got is frustration. Could you share some tips on birds photography?
Thx

[robertwgross]

Could you share some tips on birds photography?


I won't claim to be an expert on bird photography, but there may be some present at this forum.

First of all, birds are all different. There are big ones, small ones, and tiny ones. Some are bold, and you can get close. Others are gone before you even know they were there. Some wade in water, and some just soar.

For a beginner bird photographer, first try to shoot them perched. Find a tree limb where they nest or where they perch for hunting.

Later on, when you are really good at it, get a camera and lens with a very fast autofocus system. You might be able to get them on the wing.

I had been trying to shoot some members of the hawk family called white-tailed kites. I had to go to about 800mm focal length to get a decent shot, and it is hard to get there from here with puny lenses.

---Bob Gross---

[Ladyhawke]

I am not only new to the Canon Digital Rebel but this is the first time I have ever joined in a Forum. My husband views them often for his subject matter and suggested I do the same. I took special note of Scott Stokes since I am trying to learn my Rebel before deer season arrives. I previously used my HP PhotoSmart 715 and had a blast. Now I want more - more reach out and touch - although I took some at 7 yards. So, I need to learn zoom, landscape, and low light settings. Please all be forgiving of me if I do something incorrect in the forum. Thanks.

[scott stokes]

hi ladyhawke welcome, i too am new here. the people here are grate.they are very helpful and they can answer any question.wildlife photography is alot of fun,but i find myself taking my camera with me hunting.i have not taken any deer in two seasons,but i have alot of photos.

[FrenchAmateur]

Hi everybody.

I used to have a 2,8 400 mm. It was not enough in the analog era (without the "magnification" factor of digital cameras exception the Eos 1 Ds). I changed for a 500 mm 4,5, which is in my view the ideal lens for birds and a number of medium sized mammals (or of course the more recent 500 mm f: 4 IS).

With my Eos 10D, I started to use, even in Africa, less the 500 mm, and more the 100-400, which proved to be very reliable and flexible, and of a good optical quality.
With the 1,6 factor, it is my standard lens, limited only in low light... but 800 asa is fully usable with Eos 10D, Eos 300 D or the 1 D Mark II.

Now as I changed for the Eos 1 Mark II, I will probably use more again the 500 mm, but will still keep my 100-400 as my standard lens for wildlife... (the factor is now 1,3).

As a conclusion, I recommend the 100-400. The result with the 1,4 teleconverter from Canon is relatively good, but manual focusing only with the converter, except with the central collimator of Eos 1 D Mark II.