70-200mm or 100-400mm on a 6D

Getting a 6D next week and cannot decide which lens is best for my needs. I do a lot of Wildlife and i really like the 70-200mm 2.8 IS II but wondering if 200mm on a FF will be enough. The 100-400mm is nice but i hate the variable f stop and the push zoom. Now i do Wildlife but it's not like "Middle of nowhere" Type Wildlife. Its more like Wild things around my area.

Any suggestions?

70-300L - best of both worlds

Either that, or a teleconverter for the 70-200..

^ This. That lens would be my "all-around" wildlife lens.

I haven't had the 100-400L but with regards to the "is 200mm long enough" question":

It really depends what you want to shoot. Extra reach is always handy, especially if you run the risk of spooking the subject. If you're shooting animals in a confined space like a zoo, then 200mm might be good enough. If they can run away, give me the extra reach.

As for the variable aperture- I never found myself shooting animal subjects at less than f/4. It was usually f/5.6-f/8 to make sure I got everything I wanted in focus (and likely more).

I love my 70-200 f/4L, but after having switched to a FF, I find myself yerning for more reach. The 100-400 is at the top of my wish list.

But looking at your gear list, you might need something the fill the 50-100 gap if you get that lens. Just a thought.

At least the 70-300, 200 on FF will leave you wishing for more.

If you are going to shoot birds, no amount of mm is enough. Especially on a FF.

I had the 70-200L f/4 IS with my Rebel camera and then switched to 5D II. I do bird shots and wildlife and the first time I had a chance with eagle shots with my FF, I was greatly disappointed. It was amazing the difference in reach between the two cameras. Sold the 70-200mm and got the 100-400mm, which I truly love. However, it needs lots of daylight for great pictures. For dusk shots of deer, it didn't perform so well and I missed the 70-200 for my grandkids' school events. I recently got the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC to use for dusk and indoor school events. So no, 200mm is not always long enough, nor does the 100-400 perform as well in darker settings. Sorry that there isn't a better answer besides 'both'.

Sigma 120-300 2.8 OS HSM anyone?

DJHaze596 wrote in post #16385233
Getting a 6D next week and cannot decide which lens is best for my needs. I do a lot of Wildlife and i really like the 70-200mm 2.8 IS II but wondering if 200mm on a FF will be enough. The 100-400mm is nice but i hate the variable f stop and the push zoom. Now i do Wildlife but it's not like "Middle of nowhere" Type Wildlife. Its more like Wild things around my area.

Any suggestions?

both. or in my case 70-300L and 100-400L. 400mm is the minimum you'll need on FF.

michgirl wrote in post #16385277
I had the 70-200L f/4 IS with my Rebel camera and then switched to 5D II. I do bird shots and wildlife and the first time I had a chance with eagle shots with my FF, I was greatly disappointed. It was amazing the difference in reach between the two cameras. Sold the 70-200mm and got the 100-400mm, which I truly love. However, it needs lots of daylight for great pictures. For dusk shots of deer, it didn't perform so well and I missed the 70-200 for my grandkids' school events. I recently got the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC to use for dusk and indoor school events. So no, 200mm is not always long enough, nor does the 100-400 perform as well in darker settings. Sorry that there isn't a better answer besides 'both'.

There's always the sigma 200-500 f/2.8 for the crazy...

michgirl wrote in post #16385277
I had the 70-200L f/4 IS with my Rebel camera and then switched to 5D II. I do bird shots and wildlife and the first time I had a chance with eagle shots with my FF, I was greatly disappointed. It was amazing the difference in reach between the two cameras. Sold the 70-200mm and got the 100-400mm, which I truly love. However, it needs lots of daylight for great pictures. For dusk shots of deer, it didn't perform so well and I missed the 70-200 for my grandkids' school events. I recently got the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC to use for dusk and indoor school events. So no, 200mm is not always long enough, nor does the 100-400 perform as well in darker settings. Sorry that there isn't a better answer besides 'both'.

not true. it performs like any other f5.6 lens. with the 6d you should have no trouble shooting at dusk with the 100-400L

DJHaze596 wrote in post #16385233
Getting a 6D next week and cannot decide which lens is best for my needs. I do a lot of Wildlife and i really like the 70-200mm 2.8 IS II but wondering if 200mm on a FF will be enough. The 100-400mm is nice but i hate the variable f stop and the push zoom. Now i do Wildlife but it's not like "Middle of nowhere" Type Wildlife. Its more like Wild things around my area.
Any suggestions?

you will need every bit (and more) of 400mm for wildlife, my vote goes for the 100-400 or 400 prime

I have a 70-200 f/4 IS which gets a lot of use for things like kids running around in the back yard or park. Its relatively small and light, focuses fast, and very sharp.

For animals at a distance or planes in flight, the 100-400 comes out. The push/pull lens is actually very useful for zooming while tracking a target.

I had the 100-400 before I got a 70-200 and I'd say neither is really a replacement for the other.

ed rader wrote in post #16385359
not true. it performs like any other f5.6 lens. with the 6d you should have no trouble shooting at dusk with the 100-400L

Maybe I should have said that differently, I prefer a faster lens than 5.6 for shooting at dusk. Personal preference.

6d, ISO3200 shouldn't be problem at f5.6. Wildlife reach over aperture, simple. Not sure anyone using f2.8 for deer, birds. I take it back I just saw some shoot a egret with 200mm f2 IS.