Birding lens.

I'm taking a trip at the end of this month for some birding here in Texas. I'm renting the lens, and so far I can't decide if I want to rent the 100-400L or the 400 5.6L. I've rented the 400 5.6L in the past and loved it. I'm just wondering if limiting myself to 400mm only is a wise choice.


I have a 24-70L and 70-200 and shooting with a 40d.

If you've rented the 400 5.6 previously, go with the 100-400 for this round. That way you'll have actually had hands on with both of them.

Well... lets balance...

400 f5.6L
+fast af
+slightly sharper
+lighter
-no IS
-limited to 400mm

100-400L
+zooms
+IS
-less sharp
-heavier
-slightly slower AF

If you want flying birds, you prolly want to faster AF speed of the 400 f5.6L and you won't miss the IS because your shutter speed will be fast enough.

I agree if you've rented the 400mm f/5.6 in the past then rent the 100-400L this time. Plus, you will have IS at 400mm, and you can do some zooming for other shoots too.

I concur with the above advice -- try out both. I have a friend who bought the 100-400 just a little while after I bought my 400 5.6 used. We set them both on the same tripod, same camera, almost same time of day and same settings and same operator (me) plus we shot the same object off in the distance -- a water tower. This was before I did a MA on mine with the 7d. The 400 5.6 was sharper by a bit. On most photos one probably would not notice, but for bird shooting it may be noticable. Although the flexibility may be worth it to you-- only you should be the final judge! Good Luck! both are great

I agree. Try 100-400mm Ed. Its MFD is shorter than the 400mm f5.6's. So, if you run into any interesting bugs, dragonflies or butterflies, you can still focus when u get closer.

i have both and like both.

If this is a true birding trip, I'd go 400 prime and use your other lenses as needed to fill the gap.

If this birding with other animals highly possible, 100-400.

If it were me, I'd go prime only. YMMV.

500mm f4 IS with 1.4xTC. Serious.

Can't afford to rent the 500mm, trust me I looked at it.

This place has birds, gators and whatever else..

I like the idea of having the 100-400, just due to if something is too close, I might miss the shot.

I also looked at the Sigma 50-500..

Will the 100-400 do well for birds in flight? I want to shoot everything I can while I am down there.

Nocturnus wrote in post #14008939
...
Will the 100-400 do well for birds in flight?

It isn't the *best* tool for the job, but it is certainly capable:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/snydremark/4515​017448/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/snydremark/4549​535665/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/snydremark/6827​499313/

Cool. I'm sure most of my BIF shots will not be great. I've not done much (any) of that before. Most of what I shoot is static and no need to pan.

I'll get the 100-400 for this trip.

Good luck; and enjoy your trip!

what about the 300 f4 IS?

huntersdad wrote in post #14008410
If this is a true birding trip, I'd go 400 prime and use your other lenses as needed to fill the gap.

If this birding with other animals highly possible, 100-400.

yes, pure bird shooting the 400mm prime, if anything else the 100-400 may be a better choice