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

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. I have read in three different places that it will work.. I guess they can be wrong.

There is a trick by taping one of the pin so that AF will work but AF will be quite slow due to reduced light. 1.4x TC will cause 1-stop light loss. Any kind of TC will reduce image quality as well. Probably better off to go with a longer FL to begin with.

I often use a Tamron SP 1.4x TC with my 70-200 F/4 IS. There is definitely a loss of IQ.

i don't think the 70-300L is even close to the ultimate birding lens...so if you only want to buy 1 lens...1 time...i'd look at something else...

Thanks for your input everybody. This will be my tenth digital camera but my first that isn’t a point and shoot. I ruled out the 7D and the D60 because of their weight. I guess I do not understand why one person says the L lens I want will be heavy to carry around after a short time but everyone says I need something bigger….bigger is always heavier.. I’ve read over and over again where people that owned the 100-400L sold it after buying the 70-300L. I don’t think anyone here that has replied to me owns the lens I’m wanting.

There's nothing wrong with the 70-300L. What most people are telling you is that 300mm is on the short side for birding. I wouldn't even think about getting rid of my 100-400 for a 70-300.

I have the 70-300 L and am very impressed. I just got back from a 2 week trip to Australia and took my 5D II, 24-105L and 70-300L along. Both lenses performed excellently with nearly equal usage. If you have been to Australia you know that their bird species are numerous, and very colorful. The 70-300 L took most of the bird shots with the vast majority being keepers. If you get this lens, you most likely will fall in love with it.

I own the 70-300 L. I didn't buy it for birding but have tried to shoot birds with it. Personally I think 300mm is too short to get a decent shot of a bird without heavily cropping.

As you are new to the DSLR world, I'd suggest getting the 55-250...sometimes I wish I still had the lens because its light & small. only 50mm shorter than the 70-300 but $1300 cheaper.

I'm suggest the 55-250 even though I think 300mm is too short for birding because it's still a telephoto and I honestly dont think you'll have the "one lens" mindset for long. I think once you start playing with youre camera a little, you'll know more about what you want. It's easy to think about what you need to get looking at everything on paper but once you start using a lens you might feel different about it.

The answer really depends on how close you will be to the birds you are photographing.
Generally you want the bird to fill as much of the frame as is possible....a small speck
in the frame and then cropped usually doesn't provide the detail and sharpness one often
wants, hence the use of longer lenses. I can get closer to birds at the birdbath in my backyard than I can perched birds in the woods. Birds in flight are usually further away.
I typically use a 300mm and 400mm for birding (because I can't afford the most desirable 500mm).

I have the 70-300l. It is a sharp lens. the build quality of this "L" is very addictive. The auto focus is very fast, this lens is one of my favorites. The main draw back is you cannot use a Canon TC. It sure would be nice to slap on a 2x and reach out to 600mm plus the 1.6 one my 7D. I find that 300mm is too short for a lot of what I want to do. I am looking into the 400 5.6 that is compatible with a canon TC to really reach out there. I hesitate here because of the lack of IS. I am not very steady and the 300's IS really helps. I need canon or somebody else to make a 400 or 500 with TC compatibility and decent IS for less than $5,000..... I guy can dream

okiebirdnerd wrote in post #12355538
Thanks for your input everybody. This will be my tenth digital camera but my first that isn’t a point and shoot. I ruled out the 7D and the D60 because of their weight. I guess I do not understand why one person says the L lens I want will be heavy to carry around after a short time but everyone says I need something bigger….bigger is always heavier.. I’ve read over and over again where people that owned the 100-400L sold it after buying the 70-300L. I don’t think anyone here that has replied to me owns the lens I’m wanting.

I think you might be a good candidate to rent 2-3 lens for a weekend and figure out which one makes more sense.

Not easy to get a single DSLR and a single telephoto to meet all your needs.

I have owned the 70-300L for a couple of weeks now and I am impressed with the results this far. The lens is very sharp across the frame, IS is efficient, it is very well built and it comes in a relatively small package.
I used to own the non L 70-300 IS, but was not impressed by its performance on full frame.

I have not used the 70-300L on a rebel (T3i) and I am wondering if that would be a balanced combination. 300mm might also be too short for birds, but the lens is sharp, allowing you to crop.

okiebirdnerd wrote in post #12355538
I guess I do not understand why one person says the L lens I want will be heavy to carry around after a short time but everyone says I need something bigger….bigger is always heavier.

because it's not the lightest of lenses so it may become heavier at times...yet you will want more reach i can guarantee you that....i have a sigma 150-500mm and i still want more reach, it comes with shooting wildlife...you need to decide if you want to get close tight shots, or you want to carry a lighter lens and crop...

Well, I bit the bullet and ordered the 100-400 L. I knew everyone was right saying the 300 wouldn’t be enough zoom..And I’m sure it will feel heavy at times and when I’m fatigued I’ll have to be more selective of what I will photograph. And there’s no doubt I’ll always want more zoom, I always have. But when I get a wild hair to have more zoom I’ll digiscope for a while. But I bet the first week I’ll shoot whatever will sit still long enough for my camera to focus. I’m looking forward to learning something new. Thanks again for everyone’s help and suggestions.

You'll have a ball with the 100-400. I used to have one and carried it around the woods all
day long. I found that carrying a monopod was useful in that I could attach it to the lens
and put the bottom end in a small tool pouch attached to my belt off to the right side. That
way I had the additional support but I could easily track moving objects while having the
additional support. I could use the mono pod to rest the lens over my shoulder as I walked
around too. Have Fun! Give us a report on how it works for ya!

Good choice. It'll take the TC's from Canon too. You'll love it.