Lenses for Birding

Larry Johnson wrote in post #18703294
I’m willing to bet that less than 5% of the bird photos captured with the 100-400 are at a focal length less than 400.

Once I started using the 400 prime, I lost all interest in getting the newer zoom.

My usage for birds is different. I have found that when shooting birds at cavity nests, the wider end of this lens is especially useful, and I shoot a lot of cavity nests.

The wider end of this lens is also extremely useful when shooting flock shots, particularly of ducks and geese.

And grouse species during their breeding season.

Also, close-up portraiture also often calls for focal lengths of less than 400mm.

There are just so many times when I need to photograph birds at less than 400mm that I'd miss out on a ton of image-making opportunities if I didn't have the zoom.

A funny thing is, the new 100-400mm zoom is BETTER AT 400MM than the 400 f5.6 prime is, as it is both a little bit sharper and stabilized.

I still own the 400 f5.6 prime, but just don't use it anymore because it's not nearly as useful for birds, and the little bit of weight savings just doesn't matter to me. Guess it's time to sell the prime.

If the 100-400 II could defecate, there would be no smell, it's that good.

The 400 5.6 has only partial weather resistance. Switches and focus ring have seals but no rubber gasket at the mount and a front filter is required to make the front weather resistant.
That's an often missed aspect of the prime.

For me the 100-400 II replaced 400 5.6L and 70-200 2.8 L IS (not saying it would for everyone)

I sold my 400 prime a week after I got the 100-400ii. Just saying.

I seldom use my 400mm f/5.6, need to stop doing that. LOL

I live close by (Ft Myers). Send me a pm, we can get together and you can try my 100-400 II for a bird session.

I have the 70-200L f/2.8 IS II for sports and dogs . I recently ordered the Tamron 100-400 for birding/wildlife. Hopefully it lives up to the reviews I've seen online. Most reviews have found it really close to the Canon in terms of IQ at less than half the cost and lighter weight. I hope it lives up to the hype. If not, I'm gonna send it back and wait a few months til I can afford the Canon. Also hoping to pick up the 1.4x extender in the near future.

Good luck with the Tamron. I bet it's great. I wouldn't have too high hopes for the 1.4x, but it may help out in a pinch.

I picked up the Nikon 200-500 F5.6 zoom for birding. I've only had a chance to use it in the backyard but I'm happy with the results.
It's on the heavy side, but it works and it works well.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18731033
Good luck with the Tamron. I bet it's great. I wouldn't have too high hopes for the 1.4x, but it may help out in a pinch.

I was thinking about getting a 1.4 to use with my 100-400 II to give extra reach for the smaller birds.

I take it you don't rate it much?

Chris

Chris L F wrote in post #18834278
I was thinking about getting a 1.4 to use with my 100-400 II to give extra reach for the smaller birds.

I take it you don't rate it much?

Chris

On what camera?

I'm not a big fan of TCs on zoom lenses, but people are having very good results with the 100-400mmII and the MkIII 1.4X.
To get AF you will need to right body.

Thanks for the reply.

Camera is an 80D. According to the manual 27 of the 45 AF points can be used so should be fine for birding.

I'm not intending on getting anything longer than the 100-400 so it will be better than nothing. I'm assuming it's better to use a converter than have to crop as much?

Chris

Chris L F wrote in post #18834432
Thanks for the reply.

Camera is an 80D. According to the manual 27 of the 45 AF points can be used so should be fine for birding.

I'm not intending on getting anything longer than the 100-400 so it will be better than nothing. I'm assuming it's better to use a converter than have to crop as much?

Chris

I haven’t had good results with a 1.4 III extender on a 7D II with 400 prime. I’ve seen others have good results with better camera/lens combo.
You’ll lose one full stop of light with the extender on, if i recall correctly. AF will also be slower.

Chris L F wrote in post #18834432
Thanks for the reply.

Camera is an 80D. According to the manual 27 of the 45 AF points can be used so should be fine for birding.

I'm not intending on getting anything longer than the 100-400 so it will be better than nothing. I'm assuming it's better to use a converter than have to crop as much?

Chris

That should be fine; I like the 100-400 + TC well enough, but the 7DII is limited to center point AF only, which frustrates me a fair amount so I don't tend to mount that combo in the field unless I would only be shooting w/ the center anyway (and stationary).

Chris L F wrote in post #18834432
Thanks for the reply.

Camera is an 80D. According to the manual 27 of the 45 AF points can be used so should be fine for birding.

I'm not intending on getting anything longer than the 100-400 so it will be better than nothing. I'm assuming it's better to use a converter than have to crop as much?

Chris

Yeah. 80D is NEW Af system, and works wonder with the latest lenses.