Think I'm gonna like this 300 f/2.8 with extender setup!

SavageWoman wrote in post #2130059
Thanks for the advice
I'm heading up north to do some birding too - raptor migration by duluth.
Maybe if the birds don't move, it would be okay :<

so return the 2x for a 1.4x OR save for a 400mm
that is the questions...

Depends on your kind of photography - if you like capturing wildlife/birds then why not sell the 2x AND the 70-200 and invest in the 400 (I take it you're thinking about the 400 f/5.6 and not the f/2.8?) and a 1.4x, OR even better get the 100-400L, that way you cover the whole range only losing out on 30mm at the lower end, plus you get IS Either way the 1.4x will probably get more use than the 2x.

Best wishes.

Never heard anyone beg to be given the bird before. My my...
Karen

It's always better to have a lens that has a natural focal length you're looking for rather than relying on TCs. No matter how good they are, in the end they do affect your IQ, slow your focus and lose f/stops. If you find you shoot at 400mm often, like Paul said - go for the 400mm f/5.6 (a great lens) or the 100-400mm zoom, which makes the most sense. The brighter ones like the f/2.8 and f/4.0 DO are also great - with an equally stunning pricetag...

Double Negative wrote in post #2131200
The brighter ones like the f/2.8 and f/4.0 DO are also great - with an equally stunning pricetag...

OK, OK, you're the first person I can recall on this forum that has spoken positively about the 400/4 DO. This lens has often tempted me but I keep being warned off by well meaning folks around here.

What can you tell me about the 400 DO?

AeroSmith wrote in post #2131469
OK, OK, you're the first person I can recall on this forum that has spoken positively about the 400/4 DO. This lens has often tempted me but I keep being warned off by well meaning folks around here.

What can you tell me about the 400 DO?

I'll start off by saying I don't have personal experience with the lens.

It's a great lens in that it's really small and light, smaller than even the 300mm f/2.8L IS. So for handholding at 400mm (sports, action, wildlife, etc.) it's great compared to the 400 f/2.8L IS. There were concerns about bokeh and flare with the diffractive optics but I've yet to see any examples of it and from everything I've read/seen on it, is fine. One person found the images need some contrast enhancement in PP, another thought it was soft wide open. YMMV.

Seems like a good lens, but at a steep price. For most people, I'd wager the f/2.8L IS and regular f/5.6 to be more popular all around, especially the latter. If you don't need to handhold your 400mm, the f/2.8L IS is hard to beat. If you do, the f/5.6 will be a lot cheaper, albeit one stop slower and lacking IS. If you need versatility then the 100-400mm zoom is better and it has IS. All three of these, IMO, come out ahead of the f/4.0 DO - which main strength really, is portability. If you don't need it, you're better off with the other three options.

More information on this lens:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/​lenses/400-do.shtml
http://www.outbackphot​o.com …O/Canon_400DO_r​eview.html
http://www.dpreview.co​m …9/00090604canon​_400do.asp
http://www.naturescape​s.net/082006/am0806.ht​m
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …O-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
http://www.michaelfurt​man.com/comparing_cano​n_400s.htm
http://www.naturescape​s.net/082006/am0806.pd​f
http://www.photomalays​ia.com …s/printthread.p​hp?t=15292

DN, many thanks for the response and the links.

AeroSmith wrote in post #2131778
DN, many thanks for the response and the links.

No problem... I've been researching the 400mm range for a while now. I'm probably going to ante up for the 400mm f/2.8L IS eventually, we'll see. It's a hard pill to swallow, but man, what a lens.

I don't find 300mm quite long enough to justify such an expense, and I have 200mm covered.

morehtml wrote in post #2124977
I just emailed a full one of this to reewik from when we were out shooting yesterday. This is a crop of a shot with the 300 2.8 + 2XTC in great light at high shutter. Guess who's getting that 400

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100% crop

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THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL PICTURE!! I want one toooo!!!