300/4 non-IS + 1.4x TC for Yellowstone?

My brother is going to Yosemite and Yellowstone next month (getting married in Yosemite). He and his soon-to-be bride would like to photograph some wildlife, etc out there. I found a good deal on a Canon 300/4 non-IS and will let them borrow it, with a Canon 1.4x II teleconverter and a Canon T2i and 18-55mm IS lens.

I know there is no IS, but I feel this will give them all the reach necessary. They have no experience with a DSLR but I plan on giving them the equipment sooner rather than later so they can practice at the park and zoo.

Do you think this setup will sufficient?

I have never used the non IS version of the Canon 300 F4, but I did own the IS version for quite a while and rate it VERY highly, especially at the price.
From what I read it would appear that the earlier (non IS) version is slightly better with extenders, though mine was pretty good.
Just teach them how to keep shutter speeds at a reasonable level and they should be very happy.

Just send them with a tripod! IS is helpful but it doesn't stabilize the wind or the animals.

70-300L or 100-400L. you're going to want IS in Yellowstone as many the animals come out in the mornings and evenings.

went there twice last year and going back for a week next month and i'll take both of those lenses as well as a FF and a crop body.

JonKline wrote in post #17082927
Just send them with a tripod! IS is helpful but it doesn't stabilize the wind or the animals.

yeah the tripod will stabilize the wind and animals

Not familiar with the OP's camera (T2i ??) but I am certainly getting more keepers since I turned the IS off, both on a tripod and hand held.
I have 4 IS lenses (24-105, 70-200 F2.8, 300 F2.8 IS and 800 F5.6 IS) and, except for literally 1 minute, I have not used IS this year - loving the results!

420mm without IS might be scary for a total n00b. Using a dSLR itself might seem intimidating for someone new.. let alone trying to follow the 1/FL(or faster for an 18 MP APS-C) guideline.

Thanks for all comments thus far, fellas. I just got the lens today so tomorrow I will test it myself and then make a decision. Loaning them a tripod might be a good idea, too.

FoxTrot wrote in post #17083250
I was under the impression that you should have IS off when using a tripod anyways, as the IS system can actually interfere and cause bad images under such circumstances.

Yes...with the older versions(non tripod-sensing) of IS. The main issue here, is that someone not used to shooting a 12 inch lens (300L +1.4x tc ) on a dSLR..which they aren't adept at either, could be a tall order. Or.. the guy could turn out to be a natural.. with nerves of steel.

birder_herper wrote in post #17082824
My brother is going to Yosemite and Yellowstone next month (getting married in Yosemite). He and his soon-to-be bride would like to photograph some wildlife, etc out there. I found a good deal on a Canon 300/4 non-IS and will let them borrow it, with a Canon 1.4x II teleconverter and a Canon T2i and 18-55mm IS lens.

I know there is no IS, but I feel this will give them all the reach necessary. They have no experience with a DSLR but I plan on giving them the equipment sooner rather than later so they can practice at the park and zoo.

Do you think this setup will sufficient?

There is no such thing as having enough reach in Yellowstone. There's lots of open space, and wildlife can be either quite close or a long way off. That being said, you take what you can afford. My last visit was with a 100-400L on a 7D, and I needed to crop several of my shots in post processing in order to get an acceptable framing. Other times, the wildlife was just too far away to even bother.

I do agree with the others that say a 420mm lens without IS will be difficult for someone not familiar with dSLRs to handle -- even with IS, they may struggle. A decent tripod would help, but they will need to understand a little about exposure and keeping a faster shutter speed when hand holding.

I have that lens, and a 2x tc on a 60d.

The 2x ruins autofocus, but I hear the 1.4 does not.

The 300 by itself will make extremely good pictures, and is just small enough to put in a backpack with a bunch of other stuff. Any "better" or longer lens is going to be much huger for someone who isn't making their main purpose of the trip photography.

At f/4 it is going to allow in-flight bird pictures with fast shutter speeds.

In the daylight, teach them to use Av ad F/5.6 with iso set to auto (or 100 if they're out in the open in the sun). My favorite hiking setting. If you see some random wildlife just shoot it. Then crop later.

"Loaning them a tripod might be a good idea, too."

Probably but I use a monopod and I like it.

IMO a tripod or monopod would be essential for that lens/TC combination. For me, the bare minimum shutter speed I'd use handheld with a 420mm f/5.6 is 1/500, which can be difficult to achieve in dawn/dusk conditions (or in forest areas). A tripod would allow you to shoot wildlife at 1/125 or so (for relatively static subjects), for two stops of additional light. That could make the difference between a grainy ISO 3200 shot and an acceptable ISO 800 photo.

FoxTrot wrote in post #17083250
I was under the impression that you should have IS off when using a tripod anyways, as the IS system can actually interfere and cause bad images under such circumstances.

Not necessarily...

IS can be left on when using a tripod with a "loose" head... with the panning and tilt not locked down, allowing you to track with moving subjects such as wildlife.... such as the gimbal mounts often used with wildlife. Similar can be done with other types of tripod heads, though the gimbal is the smoothest with a large lens.

Plus, it depends upon the lens.... the 300/4 IS happens to be one of those with the simpler IS that should be turned off manually if the lens is locked down solidly on a tripod, otherwise IS can go into sort of a feedback loop where it creates movement rather than correcting it. Others IS lenses of this type I know for certain include the 24-105L, 100-400L and 28-135.

But many other Canon lenses use a more sophisticated form of IS that will "self-detect" lack of movement and automatically turn off, such as when fully locked down on a tripod. For certain these include all Canon 70-200 with IS, as well as all versions of 300/2.8, 400/2.8, 500/4 and 600/4. It's pretty safe to assume the 200/2, 400/4 DO, 800/5.6 and 200-400/4L 1.4X also use this type of IS. I bet the 100L Macro will, too, since a macro lens is very often used on a tripod.

Other IS lenses... who knows!? Just watch for it in the viewfinder. You can see when the problem occurs and turn the IS off then. It won't harm camera or lens if it occurs. Just can cause blurred images.

I agree with some other suggestions... you might consider a monopod instead of a tripod. A monopod can double as a walking stick when hiking. In fact there are some actual walking sticks that have a camera mounting screw on top. If the lens were IS, I would leave it on when used on a monopod. But since it's not, they'll still need to keep shutter speeds reasonable, but a monopod can be a big help if somewhat slower shutter speeds are necessary.

A monopod can be the difference, allowing for slower shutter speeds. These were shot at about 1/160 or 1/200 if memory serves, 300mm lens with a 1.5X teleconverter (no stabilization), on a monopod...

Well, I bought everything for them and this is what I now have:

Canon T2i
Canon 18-55mm IS
Canon 55-250mm IS
Canon 300mm f4 non-IS
Canon 1.4x II
Nikon Monarch 5-series 10x42 binocular

I think that will give them a lot of great shots and views!