On a 5D2: 100-400 L IS or the 400 f/5.6 L?

wanting a longer lens to photograph birds around the feeders from indoors this winter. On the 5D2, I think 400mm is a good length. Have to cover about 20 yards to the furthest feeder from my indoor vantage point.

Pros and cons of each? Can I hand hold the 400 as easily as the 70-200 f/2.8L IS on a 7D?

Thanks for your thoughts one way or the other. Help me decide.

dave

If you shooting feeders from one location, shouldn't matter much which lens unless feeder is too close where lower MFD of 100-400L is nice. But 400mm f5.6 can also work with an extension tube.

20 yards is a lot for 400mm depending on what kind of birds. I remember a while back I setup a hide in my townhouse back yard using 100-400L. I was less than 10 feet away from the birds and even then I think I filled less than 3/4 of the frame at 400mm, if I remember correctly.

Edited:- From hide I would use tripod anyway as I don't like holding the lens waiting for birds to show up.

I would agree with Bobby that 400mm at 20 yards for birds is going to be a bit of a disappointment. Try to get closer if at all possible. That said, I prefer the 100-400 because of the IS and the ability to zoom. Mine produces excellent images, wide open, across the focal range.

Exactly why I asked: 400 f/5.6 has a min focus distance of 11.x feet. The 100-400 is only 5.x feet. BIG difference!

Thanks for pointing this out. Leaning toward the 100-400 for both the IS, (liked it on the 70-200 2.8) and the ability to shoot closer and zoom range from 100 to 400mm. Might be the better choice.

dave

I think the 100-400 is a more versatile lens.

IS will be of no use on a tripod

John7 wrote in post #13263749
IS will be of no use on a tripod

Good point. And I did really appreciate the IS on the 70-200 f/2.8L.

Think I'll start looking at the FS ads for a 100-400L.

Thanks to all.

dave

rick_reno wrote in post #13262728
I think the 100-400 is a more versatile lens.

Agree. heck, the other feeders are only less than 10' from the windows, so a 400mm fixed focal length is starting to make less and less sense at this point.

Thank you sir.

dave