Birding Lens on 7D

Here is where I am at right now. Using 7D with a Sigma 150-500. Bird photography is 95% of what I shoot. Primes are way out of my price range. My Sigma has been a love - hate relationship. Am thinking about going to a 100-400 Canon. Any one else made a similiar change? Comments Am renting a 100-400 for a couple of weeks to give it a try.

Florida I will say 100-400L. Otherwise 400mm f5.6.

there are the 400L, and 300f4IS with a 1.4TC that should fit in your price range as well to consider...

I heard that Sigma 50-500 is better than 150-500, but i can't be sure if that is true, also i still use and love my 100-400L even i used it last time in 2008, but ofcourse if i have a budget i will go with those expensive primes.

I also recommend 100-400 or 400 f5.6L, i don't prefer to go with prime lens+extender and crop also for birding unless it is one of those big primes, 300 is limited and even with 1.4 or 2x it is not much use and love, i have 300 f2.8L IS and even with any of TCs i don't feel happy using the combo for birding even on a crop body, 400-600 are the best primes bare instead, i will always choose 400 5.6L bare over 300+1.4x, even 500 bare is more preferable for me over 300+2x.

I know a pro who shoots birds and owned a Canon 100-400. Borrowed a Sigma 50-500 for a while and bought one on his own and sold the 100-400.

While I am still happy with my 100-400.

"My Sigma has been a love - hate relationship."

I had the same experience, switched to the 400/5.6 and never looked back. Better IQ, faster and more accurate focusing, faster lens (considering that the SIgma semed to need to be at f/8.)

I say 400/5.6 prime.
100-400 would be at 400mm 99.999% of the time and the 400/5.6 is a better 400 than the zoom.
Almost every shot you will take you will want faster shutter speeds than the IS will help with.

RobDickinson wrote in post #15424428
I say 400/5.6 prime.
100-400 would be at 400mm 99.999% of the time and the 400/5.6 is a better 400 than the zoom.
Almost every shot you will take you will want faster shutter speeds than the IS will help with.

I almost agree completely with Rob.

the 400 5.6 is absolutely the best birding lens you can get for $1000. Hands down no exceptions.
The 50-500 sigma by all accounts is better than the 150-500 sigma also.

The only thing I disagree on is how often you'll use less than 400mm.
This will depend on where, how and what you shoot.

I shoot about 90% at 400mm with my 100-400L (on a 7d also), but if shooting large birds like Heron, I have to pull back sometimes to 300 or less to get the whole bird.
I had a yellow rumped warbler come right up to me and to compose as I wanted I had to pull back the zoom. (this does not happen often but it does happen).

So, if its a bird only lens I think the above suggestions are spot on. 400 5.6 but if you plan on doing wildlife like deer, or shooting from a blind where you can get close to things the 100-400 is great.

Here are a few pics from this week with my 7d and 100-400url=http://www.flickr.com/​photos/jhayesvw/832723​7732/]

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/jhayesvw/832614​7175/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/jhayesvw/832720​5254/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/jhayesvw/832614​1363/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/jhayesvw/832720​3340/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/jhayesvw/832719​4192/

Wish i have a new crop body 1.6x camera model, i prefer to do less crop than more, so FF such as 1DX and 1.3x will lose that advantage against 1.6x such as 7D.

I am still happy with my 150-500mm cant afford to change now my Dream is to have the 800mm Canon and yes I shoot loads of Birds .


http://www.flickr.com …8/sets/72157619​801852190/


David .

I don't think you would see a great deal of difference with the Canon 100-400 apart from weight, and the Sigma has a far better OS system in any case. A possible change could be the Sigma 120-300 f2.8 which is what I swapped my 150-500 for, use it with 1.4 and 2X TC's. It isw heavier tan the 150-500 though, but a great lens.

tomj wrote in post #15424389
"My Sigma has been a love - hate relationship."

I had the same experience, switched to the 400/5.6 and never looked back. Better IQ, faster and more accurate focusing, faster lens (considering that the SIgma semed to need to be at f/8.)

What about lack of IS? Can you handhold or must use tripod?