Good birding lens for +/- $700?

Can I get a good birding lens for about $700? New/used or third party is fine. Many of the good Canon options are out of my price range...

The Tamron 200-500 is going for about $800, surely a little cheaper if I shop around. I may be able to stretch my budget just a little if it's worth it. What are your guys' thoughts on the Tamron?

How about a Sigma 50-500 used?

https://photography-on-the.net …t=575614&highli​ght=50-500

Sigma 150-500 OS off ebay + 25% cashback

baxtefer wrote in post #6728390
Sigma 150-500 OS off ebay + 25% cashback

Is the OS effective on the 500mm end? I've heard conflicting reviews.

I don't even find the IS to be 100% effective at 300-400mm on my 100-400, but then it is older technology that the OS system in question.

300F4 (non IS) or Sigma 100-300F4, both take a tc well. Might can find a 400 5.6 in that range too, never used that one, but alot of folks here claim it to be the ultimate birding lens.

Those 400 5.6's seem to rarely ever go below $850 - at which point they get snapped up in the blink of an eye... Guess I'll have to lurk more...

darosk wrote in post #6729418
Is the OS effective on the 500mm end? I've heard conflicting reviews.

i heard the opposite. that its much more effective then the 100-400

I would save $200-$250 more and buy used canon 400mm f5.6. The others that people are recommending don't even come close as far as AF and picture quality is concerned. Eat ramen noodels for a while.

05Xrunner wrote in post #6731222
i heard the opposite. that its much more effective then the 100-400

Agreed

bobbyz wrote in post #6731788
I would save $200-$250 more and buy used canon 400mm f5.6. The others that people are recommending don't even come close as far as AF and picture quality is concerned. Eat ramen noodels for a while.

I would rather take a Sigma 500mm w/OS over a 400mm without OS any day, especially if its lighter on the pocketbook. I have had the 50-500, 150-500 OS and the 100-400 IS, and at those distances, IS/OS is very, very handy.

AF speeds on the HSM Sigma lenses are very good, not quite as fast as USM, but pretty darn close, so that argument doesn't necessarily hold up. As for IQ, just depends on which end of the Sigma QA spectrum you happen to fall. With today's micro-AF adjustments, that factor is somewhat mitigated.

Well I shoot with 500mm f4 IS and 300mm f2.8 IS (and I have had 100-400L, 400mm f5.6) so I know how useful IS can be at those focal lengths. But that is for heavy lenses, not for something which is quite light (relatively speaking). One could easily use $100 monopod with little legs on canon 400mm f5.6 to get same if not better performance that what would be provided by IS.

I would say it again, the pcitures you get from 400mm f5.6 are in the same league as canon superteles for which one would have to pay a lot lot more money.

In any case, since it seems budget is of primary concern, there are a few very good lenses made by Canon, Sigma, Tamron, etc that won't break the bank, but will provide you very respectable birding options. If your budget can be opened up, then there would be other lenses as well that you should consider.

Here is a sale post for the Bigma that if you went through Ebay and cashback, you could get it for $600
http://www.fredmiranda​.com …/0?keyword=50-500#6351219

This one would go for under $600 with rebate:
http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

Here is the 150-500mm OS for $700 after rebate
http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

And finally to appease Bobby , here is the 400mm Canon for $675 after rebate (but it is an old lens):
http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

All look to be respectable sellers

Hey thanks for the suggestions guys, really appreciate it - unfortunately budget is the primary concern, and live.com rebates aren't really the best option for me because I only have the flat $700 to spend and I can't afford to be a few hundred short for the next few months.

I'll keep looking and lurking for a sweet deal - but I may end up just getting something else if I can't find anything...

darosk wrote in post #6734030
Hey thanks for the suggestions guys, really appreciate it - unfortunately budget is the primary concern, and live.com rebates aren't really the best option for me because I only have the flat $700 to spend and I can't afford to be a few hundred short for the next few months.

I'll keep looking and lurking for a sweet deal - but I may end up just getting something else if I can't find anything...

Darosk- Just keep on saving, sometimes it's hard to wait, but it always worth it! If I didn't purchase exactly what I wanted I would always wonder "what if".

Anyway just my 2 cents.

Good luck to you.

Regalpix wrote in post #6734082
Darosk- Just keep on saving, sometimes it's hard to wait, but it always worth it! If I didn't purchase exactly what I wanted I would always wonder "what if".

Anyway just my 2 cents.

Good luck to you.

Haha... I know what you mean... I'll probably end up doing that - I was just wondering if I could get anything decent for the money I had already saved up...

Just a little anxious to start birding, is all