whats your preffered birding lens?

Long story short, i am relocationg some funds that i had budgeted for other things to get a better birding lens. When i say better, i mean 500mm.....

So what lenses do you guys preffer? Im leaning toward the sigma 150-500 because its only for birds and wildlife, and will save me a little to get a better tripod (iwill probably need) to hold the new weight. Newly accuired budget will keep me around 1,500.

For bird photography, I would get the longest FL the budget allows, without sacrificing the optic quality too much (i.e. no mirror lens :lol. My preference is definitely bias since I have been spoilt by the versatility of the Sigma 50-500mm . I paid about $750 and i thought the optic quality that i am getting, makes it a great value.

$1500 gives you some good options (including used lens). There are Sigma 150-500mm OS that u already mentioned and:
1. Sigma 50-500mm non-IS
2. Sigma 50-500mm OS
3. Sigma 150-500mm OS
4. EF 100-400mm IS L
5. EF 400mm f5.6 L

cfcRebel wrote in post #14168165
For bird photography, I would get the longest FL the budget allows, without sacrificing the optic quality too much (i.e. no mirror lens :lol. My preference is definitely bias since I have been spoilt by the versatility of the Sigma 50-500mm . I paid about $750 and i thought the optic quality that i am getting, makes it a great value.

Thanks for the input. The bigger factor for me will end up being the 500mm FL.

On the 50-500, does it take crisp pictures at the maximum aperature (f6.3?) or does it need to be stopped down to f8 like the 150-500?


Edit:

This was with the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. It was about 12 ft away from me.
At 500 MM, i can only imagine a better iq due to not needing to crop the image.

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Forgottenalarm wrote in post #14168915
Thanks for the input. The bigger factor for me will end up being the 500mm FL.

On the 50-500, does it take crisp pictures at the maximum aperature (f6.3?) or does it need to be stopped down to f8 like the 150-500?

I have tried on two copies of the Bigma. Both are sharper at f8 than f6.3. I mean, f6.3 is not terrible but the optimal sharpness i found is around f8.

cfcRebel wrote in post #14168936
I have tried on two copies of the Bigma. Both are sharper at f8 than f6.3. I mean, f6.3 is not terrible but the optimal sharpness i found is around f8.

sounds good so far then....

By chance, does it play well with a tc? (other then auto focus not working)

On the question what I would prefer I have to say the 500/4L.

For your budget, I would check whether I could find a used copy of the Canon 500/4.5L in good shape.

Forgottenalarm wrote in post #14168953
sounds good so far then....

By chance, does it play well with a tc? (other then auto focus not working)

I have a Kenko 1.4x TC. But i am not too happy with the result. However, i like to put my extension tubes on the Bigma and turn it into a giant macro lens . Here are a couple of samples with my extension tubes:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=218052

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=196916

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=201464

fredrikb81 wrote in post #14169359
On the question what I would prefer I have to say the 500/4L.

For your budget, I would check whether I could find a used copy of the Canon 500/4.5L in good shape.

ill have to look into that.

cfcRebel wrote in post #14169383
I have a Kenko 1.4x TC. But i am not too happy with the result. However, i like to put my extension tubes on the Bigma and turn it into a giant macro lens . Here are a couple of samples with my extension tubes:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=218052

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=196916

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=201464

nice pics. That is the same tc i have. maybe ill just turn around and sell it then.

Forgottenalarm wrote in post #14169517
nice pics. That is the same tc i have. maybe ill just turn around and sell it then.

If budget allows, keep the Kenko TC because its price is going up. I bought mine for $135 new but now it costs more than that.

Yeah, i highly recommend a set of extension tubes on telephotos. With supertele, they allow you to fill up the frame without scaring the subjects away.

cfcRebel wrote in post #14169600
If budget allows, keep the Kenko TC because its price is going up. I bought mine for $135 new but now it costs more than that.

Yeah, i highly recommend a set of extension tubes on telephotos. With supertele, they allow you to fill up the frame without scaring the subjects away.

i bought mine about 6 months ago for the 70-300 and it was almost 250..... ouch

Forgottenalarm wrote in post #14169752
i bought mine about 6 months ago for the 70-300 and it was almost 250..... ouch

Yikes, sorry to hear that.
you have nice images on Flickr. Looks like you have plenty of feather friends in your neck of the woods awaiting your focal length upgrade.

I use the 100-400 and would highly recommend it, myself. One of the frequent complaints I hear with the Sigmas is, as above, they need to be stopped down a stop or so for best results; but in the "dark" of the NorthWest here, I wind up needing to shoot wide open at f/5.6, frequently. And the "pump" puts out plenty good results that way.

From most favorite to least used.

1. Canon 500mm f/4L
2. Canon 400mm f/5.6L
3. Canon 70-200mm f/4L

I can shoot all three wide open and have no issues with sharpness but that's to be expected with Canon lens's or I wouldn't spend the money for them.

Your budget is limited....if someone came up to me and asked this question to my face I would say stick with a Canon lens but you're not going to be at 500mm. If you're dead set on 500mm I guess the Sigma route would be best in your situation.

Thanks everyone for the input. i ordered the 150-500...

I've never shot the Sigma but some folks like it. My preferred lens right now is the Canon 400 f/5.6.
Riding the bus until I Cadillac for a bigger 500/600 f/4.