advice on zoom lens for Rebel XT

Hi everyone. This is my first time in the forum and I am hoping someone can advise me. I have a Canon Rebel XT and I like to photograph birds. I have a 70/300 IS zoom and would like to get closer to the birds. What would be a good lens for me to consider? Cost of course I realize would be nearer to $2000 than the $550 I paid for this lens. I am a pretty novice photgrapher and still have a lot to learn. Thank you.

That's already 112-480 (in xt's 1.6 crop). So if you want longer ? What about this one?
http://www.amazon.com …oto&qid=1211852​515&sr=1-1

Regards.
Vic

EF 400 f/5.6L USM (~$1099 )
EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM (~$1379 )
Sigma 150-500

And there are also the tc extenders

I'm not sure a zoom lens is really going to be your most cost effective approach.

I would suggest starting with EF 400/5.6L prime. If you need closer than that the 400/5.6 will take a 1.4XTC (for 560mm) but you need to be aware that it will lose AF and will be a pretty slow f/8 560mm lens. This means pre-focussing where the birds will be for the most part, and only shooting when the sun is up.

Another inexpensive route is a birdfeeder and a blind.

I'd go with the 400 f/5.6L. You could always just rent it first and see if it suits your needs.

You could get a Kenko 1.4x TC if you are shooting birds in bright daylight periods. It will work fine and add 120mm to your existing lens. Others may step in here and call out theory about how it won't work, but it will, trust me (experience > theory). Nice sunny day + taped Kenko 1.4x + 70-300mm + crop body = working AF at 420mm.

Recent thread where we discussed this previously:
https://photography-on-the.net …1&highlight=70-300mm+1.4x

TeamSpeed wrote in post #5699154
You could get a Kenko 1.4x TC if you are shooting birds in bright daylight periods. It will work fine and add 120mm to your existing lens. Others may step in here and call out theory about how it won't work, but it will, trust me (experience > theory). Nice sunny day + Kenko 1.4x + 70-300mm + crop body = working AF at 420mm.

It might work, it might not. Probably worth trying as the kenko isn't too expensive.

I've heard a lot of 40D owners complain that taped pin setups that worked on the 20/30D don't AF with the 40D.

I also know firsthand that the XT focus system struggles in poor light and may be problematic in a non-reporting TC setup.

JeffreyG wrote in post #5699173
It might work, it might not. Probably worth trying as the kenko isn't too expensive.

I've heard a lot of 40D owners complain that taped pin setups that worked on the 20/30D don't AF with the 40D.

I also know firsthand that the XT focus system struggles in poor light and may be problematic in a non-reporting TC setup.

No probably to it, it DOES work on an XT, XTi, and 30D. I never tried it on a 40D, but the OP has an XT. Again experience trumps theory.

Consider some of these supertelephoto zooms and one prime at or near the $1000 mark,
Canon 100-400mm IS, Canon 400mm f5.6L, Sigma 120-400 OS, Sigma 150-500mm OS, Sigma 50-500mm, Tamron 200-500mm.

Each have their own merits when considering their price point especially.

Good luck.