300mm f/4 IS, 400mm f/5.6 or something else, for stock and hobby

Xalanx wrote in post #8570811
Why? What do you like at this? Versatility? How about the dust? I saw corner to corner sharpness at 300 f/4 and 400 f/5.6, but not at 100-400, unfortunately.

Versatility, macro possibilities, IS, balance, push-pull zoom, and excellent IQ indeed.

Just check the 100-400 thread.

Kind regards, Wim

Pixel peeper has full sized samples of lots of lenses, but it's flickr stuff so you may have seen them all already?

http://http://www.pixe​l-peeper.com/lenses/cano​n/

I have a 300f/4 + TC and I'm pretty happy with the setup. Mine does benefit from stopping down, very good at f/4 becomes awesome at f/5.6.

I find it too short (even with a TC) resonably often, and only occasionally too long, so I don't regret buying it over a 100-400... what I really want is a 500f/4 but that ain't gonna happen any time soon

yea, I turned pixel peeper inside out and most of the images are really bad. It's flickr after all, free - huh...

But I managed to find some really good shots that show what the lenses are capable of. Not too many with people, but it's okay so far.

Right now my dillema just got worse, because I really don't know if I should go with the 300mm and the IS (which comes in handy even though I'm pretty stable at taking handheld shots) or the 400mm reach. I just imagined a funny situation where I'm shooting with the 400 and I'm yelling at the model from 30 meters away "put the hand on your waist!!!" )))

And there's the brilliant 135mm f/2. But if I get this, there it goes my wildlife toy...

Xalanx wrote in post #8570629
Miles, the shots look absolutely stunning regarding sharpness, resized like this. Can you post some 100% crops from the focused area? Do you think this lens can be appropiate for shooting let's say some young couple having a good time outdoors, at picnic?

Here are the crops (they look much better than in person). I have used the 400 prime for many people shots. Being far from the subject allows you to capture moments which otherwise would not be possible. I have taken many from friends and their children on the beach when they didn't even know I was photographing them. Many are now framed and on their walls. I have fun using a long telephoto for people, but I also carry something shorter on another body...the best of both worlds.

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Yea, this is what I'm talking about! These are GOOD! I see no problem in shooting candids with this.

Can you tell me how far you have to be to take a full body shot to a person with the 400?

I also found this guy, who owned all of them and kept the 300mm in the end. Take a look at his pics, they're all very good.
http://alfieri.smugmug​.com …-and-Camera-Sample-Images

Can you tell me how far you have to be to take a full body shot to a person with the 400?

If I'm not mistaken, to get a full body shot you need to be about 35-40 yards away. Obviously for head shots it is much closer. I use the 400 because that is what I prefer for biding and nature.