Macro/Birds -- Noobie solution

The Sigma 50-500 has a pretty good macro mode for larger targets (like butterflies). I have a bunch of shots in various threads of both birds and butterflies taken with it; this is a set of butterfly shots I posted last week: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1361520.

The two-Tamron combination would work well too, and would get you to 1:1 macro, which the 50-500 does not, but is needed for shooting smaller bugs.

Tom, Preeb, Alan, Archer - great shots! Thanks for the input. Tom, how you got that Sandhill Cranes shot I'll never know. I guess that's what's possible when you have perfectly trained birds and are able to to do the shot over and over until you get the absolutely perfect composition .

ltlredwagon wrote in post #16718133
My main regret is 300+1.4 doesn't really quite get there for many birds. But I think I could live with it.

The other option I've looked at is less expensive lenses from other manufacturers. For example, Tamron 180 macro, and then a separate prime telephoto. Don't mind used either.

So....as a noobie, would appreciate any comments.

You can. I have this combo but I don't use the 1.4 as much anymore.

Slight crop with 300+1.4

The 100L Macro lens is a beauty. It is so sharp I need to keep bandaids in my camera bag. However you can do quite well with the 300L.

No 1.4

I use the 300 and 1.4X II as my main birding lens, it is to be honest not the best, the 400/5.6 will be sharper and faster AF, but the 300+TC is sharp enough for aggressive cropping, does have IS and most of all the close focus.

The close-up feature means if you see a snake or small rodent or something it can focus close enough to get a shot.

I did use to use the 300 with a stack of tubes for things like dragonflies when I couldn't get close enough to use the 100mm macro. It works but is not ideal. I now use the 180L for this use.