Urgent! 100-400 or 300 F4 with 1.4 TC

Hello, everyone

Urgent question : I've got a couple of days left before I head off to South Africa on Friday , I currentley use a 30D with a 70-200 f2.8 and a 1.4 tc - I'm stuck at the moment, I've just been given the go ahead to get a 100-400, but should I rather get the 300 F4 and use it with a TC and lose 2 stops ,

Basically 100-400 or 300 F4 with 1.4 TC
Please help I dont have long to order it.

the 1.4x will only give you a lose of one stop. On one hand, you have the TC, so it would be less expensive, and still yield good results to get the 300 prime. but i think you might want the versitility of the zoom in africa. the 100-400 and 300+TC will both give very similar image quality and focus speed. so either way is good. Id probably go with the 100-400 though.

The 100-400.....that's a no brainer.

1-4IS for something like this.

LightRules wrote in post #2037407
1-4IS for something like this.

That's what I just said, no ?
OK, I did not include that "IS" like you did......perhaps you know of an older 100-400 non-IS version ?

LightRules wrote in post #2037407
1-4IS for something like this.

whoa fstop, when did you change your name?

100-400 of course you never know you might now be able to walk up or awzy from an object

Have gone on three photo safari trips (Kruger, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Masai Mara) and the 100-400 did not disappoint. You give up a little on IQ but more than make up in veratility.

Thanks Folks, I will probablay pop round to jessops sometime today - hope they have one in stock

The 100-400 is more of a safari lens. And if you really need the reach....slap on the 1.4x and you are at 560mm....Nice reach in the bright sunshine.

If i will visit Africa then 1-4IS will be the first lens i have to take with me, i don't think if i will get 500 someday in the future i will take it, so big heavier than 100-400.
Enjoy your trip and we are waiting your photos indeed.

On a 30D? 100-400 definately. ...by the way, you're getting a TC rang of 160-640 and only losing about 30mm on the top end of a 300mm...

Woolburr wrote in post #2038514
...slap on the 1.4x and you are at 560mm.

more like 896mm... but you'll start gaining abor and softness

100-400 unless you can go with the 300 f2.8. I might go with that lens instead of 100-400 but it is alot more $$

No contest, the 100-400 is it. The only other lens in that price range I'd be looking at would probably be the Bigma.