Reach vs quality?

So I'm in this mindset that I want long reach... I have a 55-250mm and feel it'd be nice to get a further reach.

I can think of shooting things like:
- Air shows
- Animals
- Zoo

I am currently with the T1i so I have a 1.6x crop factor - currently hitting 400mm with the 55-250.

I know when I took my S5 IS to the Zoo (432mm 35mm equivalent) there were a number of shots where I wish I could get closer.

What do you guys think? I've been eyeing the 70-200mm (F4L IS) (better quaility, but 50mm shorter...) or should I try to get > 250mm reach?

Hope that wasn't a huge blabber... thanks guys

the 100-400L is considered one of the best airshow lenses.

(it'd give you a 640mm equiv max)

+1 for the 100-400

It's certainly one of the most versatile.

Consider the Sigma 150-500 OS as a great alternative to the 100-400, at about 60% less money.

Air shows are not the primary use of the lens, in fact probably the least use (for years, it's been a once-a-year usage, hehe).

Would probably actually be mostly wildlife photos and I wonder if the F5.6 at 400mm would be problematic...

DDCSD wrote in post #8974277
Consider the Sigma 150-500 OS as a great alternative to the 100-400, at about 60% less money.

It sounds very enticing, but that lens is also comparatively VERY large and heavy, no?

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #8974316
It sounds very enticing, but that lens is also comparatively VERY large and heavy, no?

It is a bit larger and heavier, yes. I didn't have them at the same time, so I didn't have a chance to compare them side-to-side.

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #8974311
Would probably actually be mostly wildlife photos and I wonder if the F5.6 at 400mm would be problematic...

Wanting faster than f/5.6 at 400mm is really expensive really fast.

The f/5.6 options are obvious.

400/5.6L = ~$1200
300/4L plus 1.4X TC = $1400
100-400L = $1900

Now you want faster?
300/2.8L + 1.4X TC = $4200
400/4 DO = $6600
400/2.8L = $7000

The 300 f4 IS with a 1.4 TC is a good choice and the min. focus dist. with the 300 makes it"macroish"

Crop before thinking to buy lens.