Serious wildlife lens (es)

[loebas]

I'm often in the countryside with my 70-200 f4 and meet a lot of nice birds, deer, foxes.
I manage to take pictures of them but you have to crop much to get what you want.

Last Easter weekend I was out early and on taking photo's I met another photographer that had very big lensens.
We talked about the area and what we both did with photography.
He said that my lenses were to short for serious wildlife photos.
He said that I should afford a 400 mm lens. It will cost you but it is a great lens for a hobby photographer.

I want to go more serious, but wonder if what 400 mm will be the best solution.
Saw some photos of the 100-400 lens, but in the exif I read that a lot of the wildlife shots taken were at 400 mm.

Now I wonder what to do:
100-400
300 mm
400 mm

Can anyone give me some wildlife advice.

[xc611]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=59931

[cmM]

for wildlife alone, a nice long prime is what I'd pick. 300 f/4 and maybe a 1.4xTC

[Jon]

100-400 unless you want to give up the zoom. If you suspect you'd be all the way out at 400 all the time, then just get the 400 f/5.6 prime and use a 1.4x TC on the 70-200 to cover below that.

[lomond]

I've had the 100-400L for some time and recently the 300f4 IS and 1.4 TC.

I love them both, but the 300 + 1.4 TC is far superior for wildlife. For wild life focal length is always at a premium.

Since you have the 70-200 f/4 I would think the best course would be the 300 f/4 + 1.4 TC.

You would retain AF on the prime and your zoom. This would not be the case with the 400 f/5.6 ( assuming you don't have a 1 series camera ). However if you are happy with manual focus the 400 f5.6 is a very sharp lens.

[Jon]

Just to clarify - the 100-400 and the 400 f/5.6 will autofocus on the D60/10D/20D/DR family. It's only with the TC on them that they need MF. The 1-series permit AF to f/8 while the others only support it to f/5.6.

[loebas]

I've had the 100-400L for some time and recently the 300f4 IS and 1.4 TC.

I love them both, but the 300 + 1.4 TC is far superior for wildlife. For wild life focal length is always at a premium.

Since you have the 70-200 f/4 I would think the best course would be the 300 f/4 + 1.4 TC.

You would retain AF on the prime and your zoom. This would not be the case with the 400 f/5.6 ( assuming you don't have a 1 series camera ). However if you are happy with manual focus the 400 f5.6 is a very sharp lens.

Hi Lomond

Can you post direct me to some of you photos taken by the 300 sec or 300+1.4.
Just anxious if this lens produces the photos I would like to see
I have a D300

[ScottE]

I used to use a 400/5.6 lens for wildlife. It was OK, but the game was not always the right distance away and often you could not move closer or futher away.

Now I use a Sigma 50-500. I compared it to the Canon 100-400 IS before I bought and found that the 50-500 was just as sharp, if not sharper, and the longer focal length was better for birds. I did not think I would ever use the 50mm end of the zoom range, but it amazing how many times I have used it to get both close-up and environmental shots of an an animal with having to either move or change lenses.

I based my choice between the 100-400 IS and 50-500 on shooting style. I almost always use a tripod or window pod for shooting wildlife. If I hand held very much I would choose the 100-400 because of the image stabilization.

Scott

[transcend]

for wildlife alone, a nice long prime is what I'd pick. 300 f/4 and maybe a 1.4xTC

This is what I am doing as well.

[carylee11]

I own the 100-400 canon and love it.

[cc10d]

I have the 300 f2.8 and telextenders 1.4x and 2x they work well with this lens. I always tripod or monopod suport for this and of course get fine pictures with this lens.

The thing of it is, I am not usually patient enough to get all set up, blind,tripod etc. and usually hike around a bit and the wildlife does not wait for me to set up to take the picture. So I find the 100-400 L IS zoom gets me more takes because I can handhold and zoom. With the fixed lens they often do not come up at the appropriate distances for the lens on the camera.

When I am where it is convenient to use fixed lenses, I do. So it depends on what your picture taking style is, which is best, is the one you can use. Since I don't follow one style very well, I have over time, accumulated both primes and zooms.

[lomond]

Just to clarify - the 100-400 and the 400 f/5.6 will autofocus on the D60/10D/20D/DR family. It's only with the TC on them that they need MF. The 1-series permit AF to f/8 while the others only support it to f/5.6.

Thanks for the clarification, Jon, my post was a bit vague.
Too much of a rush at the moment.

[lomond]

Hi Lomond

Can you post direct me to some of you photos taken by the 300 sec or 300+1.4.
Just anxious if this lens produces the photos I would like to see
I have a D300

Heading to the English Lake District for a weeks holiday tomorrow, see what I can do when I get back.

[loebas]

Heading to the English Lake District for a weeks holiday tomorrow, see what I can do when I get back.

Thank you for co-operation!
Looking forward to hear from you
Have a nice holliday

[robertwgross]

I'll add my two pence worth...

The 100-400mm lens is good, especially if your wildlife is unpredictable. For example, I might be walking along on a trail, and suddenly there is a deer at just about the right distance for 200mm. Well, the 100-400mm lens covers that nicely. If I had a fixed 400mm lens, then I would be getting only the deer's head. So, the 100-400mm lens is great for flexibility in this regard.

Now, some wildlife will spook easily, so you can't get very close. There, the longer lenses are nice. So, 400mm or 500mm or (gasp) 600mm. The longer fixed lenses tend to have quicker autofocus, which can be important if you are out for wild birds flying.

As was mentioned, you can use a teleconvertor to "stretch" the effective focal length. However, you can only go so far with that, and the main penalty is in f-stops of light. The first thing to drop out is autofocus capability. Teleconverters work OK on a bright, sunny day.

Personally, I use the 100-400mm lens, with and without teleconvertors.

---Bob Gross---