ef 70-300mm f4-5.6 L IS USM, pros & cons

Okay, I’m buying a T3I body and want to buy one lens. I mainly shoot birds. I’m thinking about the ef 70-300mm f4-5.6 L IS USM. I want to hand hold and keep the weight down. I only want to do this once and don’t want to regret not getting the right lens. The camera and lens together weigh 3.5 pounds. I also looked at the 70-300 non L and it seems to be a bit soft at full zoom and I’m sure I’ll max out the zoom. I hate spending 1500.00 on the L but what I’ve read is it’s a great lens. I’d appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

for what you want to do and spend, it sounds like the 70-300is is the right lens for you.

A Rebel body and a lens such as the 70-300 is still going to be uncomfortable in your hand after awhile. Also, I'm not a variable aperture type of guy, but this lens seems to perform pretty well. Have you looked into the 55-250?

Is this your first dslr? Will the 70-300 be your only lens. If yes to both I'd suggest you start of slowly and get something like the 2 lens kit with he 18-55 and 55-250. Nothing wrong with the 70-300L but I wouldn't want it as my only lens. The 2 lens kit will give you a stabilized range of 18mm to 250mm without costing you an arm and a leg. For birds, the longer the better. 300 mm would be at the short end for birding. It'll work, but usually 400mm and up is preferred.

No, I didn’t even consider the 250. I’ve been using a 28-400 mm super zoom and it weighs 2.5 pounds. So I’m adding a pound. The 70-300 non L only weighs ½ pound less than the L so my thinking is I can tough out holding an extra ½ pound for a faster better lens.

Don't worry about the weight. Any comments you get regarding a heavy lens on a Rebel body are referring to the ergonomics, not whether the camera can handle it. This is why many users stick a grip on their body.

I told my husband this is my last camera….if I tell him this is for “starters” it won’t go over too well.

I'm thinking you may need more than 300mm.

Well if I read correctly, with the lens I want, I can add the Kenko GDX 1.4x and retain the AF. You are stuck without options if you get a non L lens.
If I can just get the camera and lens in my hand it won’t matter that I told him this would be my last camera. It should keep me happy for at least six months.

District_History_Fan wrote in post #12354667
I'm thinking you may need more than 300mm.

+1^^

I have very few bird shots taken at less than 300mm and most of those were because I wasn't planning on shooting birds at the time. Most of my bird shots are at 400mm or over (using teleconverters).

okiebirdnerd wrote in post #12354716
Well if I read correctly, with the lens I want, I can add the Kenko GDX 1.4x and retain the AF. You are stuck without options if you get a non L lens.
If I can just get the camera and lens in my hand it won’t matter that I told him this would be my last camera. It should keep me happy for at least six months.

Sigma 120-400 OS and 150-500 OS. Not sure the 70-300L is compatible with extenders...

So you don't think the Kenko would help? The main reason I'm going with the T3I is because it is light. The 100-400L is over 3 pounds. I have read in three different places that it will work.. I guess they can be wrong.

okiebirdnerd wrote in post #12354762
So you don't think the Kenko would help? The main reason I'm going with the T3I is because it is light. The 100-400L is over 3 pounds.

If this lens is just for birds, get the 400 f/5.6. It's lighter than a 100-400 and it's longer and cheaper than the 70-300L (it's probably lighter too after you add a teleconverter to the 70-300). It doesn't have IS which is helpful if you plan on handholding which is why I went with the 100-400. The 100-400 is probably about the same weight as a 70-300L with a TC.

Just checked Amazon and a Kenko 1.4X PRO 300 Teleconverter DGX weighs over 7 ounces. I don't know if this is the one you're considering, but the weight should be similar.

For birding, 300mm on a crop is probably a bare minimal. 100-400L would likely be better but will be heavier. Other possible options. All of them are quite heavy and large.

Sigma 120-400 OS HSM
Sigma 150-500 OS HSM
Sigma 50-500 OS HSM

Another alternative:
7d + Tamron 70-300 VC. 7d will provide quicker and better AF system. Much higher frame rate as well. Both are critical for birding. Tamron 70-300VC will provide somewhat reduced IQ compares to 70-300L, but it's only $450.

Very seldom will you see the words long lens and lightweight used in the same sentence. The 70-300 won't AF with a tcon. Maybe if you tape the pins, but slow and iffy at best.