300L is F4 or buy a 70-200 2.8 L is II + 1,4 ext ?

Cant cut back on spending for hookers etc

Tapeman wrote in post #16780006
The best options are big bucks.
I would get a 70-200 f/2.8L as it is a lens I feel everyone should own. Add a converter(s) for more reach.
If you still need more reach start saving some dough, look at used gear, cut back on spending for hookers etc.

LMAO.

Is that the 70-200 Marc 2 everyone should own or is the first version without IS ok??

Is it ok to eat on that hooker free budget??

Things took a fast turn, placed an 'want to buy canon tele' ad on a photo website in Norway, and a nearby neighbor had a Canon 300mm f/4L USM for sale. Could get it cheap* if I pick it up tomorrow as he is going on vacation tomorrow. Mint condition, almost not used.
Said I took it and hopefully I'm posting my first shot here with a 300 f4 L tomorrow

Next : buy a 1,4x TC. I think this will work out great. Better than manual focus 85mm anyway

* more money for beer and hookers.

ulfgre wrote in post #16780393
* more money for beer and hookers.

Brew your own beer and the chicks will come to you.

Have fun with it. One benefit of the 300/4 is it's close focusing capability not matched with other lenses in its class. Still a 7D and 1.4 TC might be a good idea for the added reach.

Already got a woman FEChariot ( hope she dosen't read this forum - she's a Canon camera user too )

The beast of a 300 L is on my camera and I'm happy as ever ! The deal went smooth and I have shot about 50 shots. As promised here are some pictures I'm used to primes and one year only had Zeiss Distagon 35/2 as the only lens i owned. So no problem using my legs to 'zoom'.

The 300mm f/4L IS is a very nice lens and can be used effectively on some wildlife with a 1.6x crop camera, depending on the size of the wildlife and the distance from which you are shooting...

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com/Wildlife/i-KQ43pJx/A

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com/Wildlife/i-xdNz77n/A

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com/Wildlife/i-kSfpRfF/A

I'm going to use my only DSLR, my 5D mk III. Instead of buing a camera #2 (crop camera ) to get more reach I will go for an used 1,4x TC. Mark II or III. Less equipment is a good thing for me. Think the 300 L IS f4 performs very well as it is too, but nice to get 420mm @ f5.6.

Great images RPCrowe.

The best all around wildlife lens under $2k is the 300 F4 L IS with 1.4x TC. The 400 5.6 is for birds in flight, and even then, you better not have any forest in the background.

Do you want to go for a hike without a tripod and shoot deer, elk, and bear? Good luck doing that with the IS-less 400 5.6.

2slo wrote in post #16779876
Not unless you've got a 1 series or a 5D3, other bodies wont AF @ f/8 (which is your widest aperture with the 400 f/5.6 + 1.4x TC). The 400 f/5.6 is best used without a TC, crop any resultant images (or move nearer your subject) if you need to get closer.

+1, plus you'll need a lot of light to use that lens with a TC.

tgara wrote in post #16783769
+1, plus you'll need a lot of light to use that lens with a TC.

Good thing he has a 5DMkIII, which it clearly says in his signature....

Yes got the 5D MK III. So a 1,4x TC should be no problem.

From my experience the 70-200 2.8 IS (verion I) gives pretty poor image quality with an extender.

your lens the 300 f/4L IS is great , sharp and not heavy
like you said
You can use the x1.4 extender to get a focal length 420mm with f/5.6 and still good
and even the x2 extender to get a focal length 600mm ( but it will be long and heavy )
AF work at f/8 with the 5D3
prime lenses with f/2.8 or f/4 are great for sharp photos and great with extenders

i like to buy one of these white lenses again
100-400L
300 f/4L IS
400 f/5.6L
but I don't shoot birds or wildlife photos
that's why I sold them all
now I'm using the 200 f/2.8L II ( black color ) for the zoo and for portraits

The 200 f/2.8L II is a very good lens. One of Canon's best 'cheap' L's.