Attn: Birders...need an opinion on lens.

Would the 200mm 2.8L be fast enough with a 2x converter (at 5.6) to catch birds in flight? Would it focus fast enough?

If you go through the pbase random images for this lens in their camera database there's a couple of users who use the 200 f/2.8 w/ 1.4 and 2x TC's to photograph birds. This will let you see the quality you'd be getting, I'd assume F/5.6 in decent light would be good for capturing birds in flight, look at the 400mm F/4.6.

I use 2x with 200mm and like the result. Focusing is a beat slower but not by a big deal. The good thing is 2.8 permits AFing were 200mm with F/4 won't. I use IS most of time. Absolutely no CA or error in glass that one can make out which image is with or without TC x2. Assuming that were are talking of Canon L, make sure you get the TC MK II x2 and not the earlier version, MK I that is a completely different lens ( You just don't want to have MK I even at far less the price).

samsen, I think permigrin is talking about the prime 200 not the 70-200.

I am talking about the 200mm f2/8 prime. I just bought a Kenko Pro 300 2x teleconverter (to use with my 100-400 actually) and wondered if it would work to make a fast bird lens.

Permagrin, here's a couple galleries of birders that are using the 200 F/2.8. Some shots are naked, some w/ 1.4x tc, and some w/ 2x tc. I've been thinking of this lens as well rather than the Tokina we discussed in another thread.

http://www.pbase.com/c​alrap/perching_birds_g​allery
http://www.pbase.com/m​me_p

Thank you for this! I went to pbase and couldn't find any that weren't with the 300 or 400mm. I will look it over. We already have this lens and the TC is coming tomorrow. Maybe it'll work (I'll let you know if I have success for sure)!

No problem at all, I'm sure the lens is simply stellar on it's own or with the 1.4x, very curious to see how you find the 2x.

Permagrin wrote in post #2134908
I am talking about the 200mm f2/8 prime. I just bought a Kenko Pro 300 2x teleconverter (to use with my 100-400 actually) and wondered if it would work to make a fast bird lens.

Sorry to go off topic, but has anybody done any comparisons on the Kenko teleconverters (1.4x more specifically) and canon teleconverters head to head? The kenko seems to look really decent and is significantly cheaper.

Preferabley with a 70-200 or 200mm lens, hehe.

Why not just go with the 400mm f/5.6L prime? Lightning fast AF for in-flight shots and very sharp wide open at f/5.6

Lovely shot Airedale, very sharp, great color & bokeh. I think (if I'm not mistaken) Permagrin already has the 200 prime and 100-400.

Dorman wrote in post #2143015
Lovely shot Airedale, very sharp, great color & bokeh. I think (if I'm not mistaken) Permagrin already has the 200 prime and 100-400.

That photo is mesmerizing, it's bokeh too. I wish I had the $ and time (or I was old enough to travel distances myself) to go shooting birds like that.

Very nice shot Aire1dale. Just lovely. If it was in the budget, I'd be buying one of those lenses asap...but alas, it's not.
and I do have the 200 & 100-400 already...

Permagrin wrote in post #2134819
Would the 200mm 2.8L be fast enough with a 2x converter (at 5.6) to catch birds in flight? Would it focus fast enough?

Not really, except some big, ponderous flying birds with lottsa contrast such as GBH.
However, the 200 f/2.8 naked is a different story altogether......faster than anything you'd wanna get.
The 400 f/5.6 AF is not bad, but has two problems: slow(5.6) and no IS.

So when it comes to speed (AF and aperture) and operability for inflight shots, as well as general utility, the 200 f/2.8 (naked) and 300 f/4 IS are your best lenses !

The 100-400 you have already , so you should known all about it.