300 2.8 or 400 5.6

Okay, off the bat this looks like a no-brainer as who would deny themselves of a 300mm 2.8 plus a 1.4 or 2 tc/

But,....there is a difference in price and would the differences in bird photography images be worth the extra money? When you start playing with cropping, as would be done in many cases with birds....will the end results be pretty close? jim I have a 40D

lmans wrote in post #11439550
Okay, off the bat this looks like a no-brainer as who would deny themselves of a 300mm 2.8 plus a 1.4 or 2 tc/

But,....there is a difference in price and would the differences in bird photography images be worth the extra money? When you start playing with cropping, as would be done in many cases with birds....will the end results be pretty close? jim I have a 40D

I can not give you direct input but I can say I have a 40d with a 400 5.6. I like the combination. It shoots very sharp shots assuming I do my part. That said, I can not tell you how many times I have wished for a 2.8. I realize there will be less reach with the 300 but when you need the light gathering capability, you have it. If you are shooting in bright daylight all the time, the 5.6 will do a great job.

From what you have listed in your avatar as your current lenses, I feel I can speak from my own experience, and having the extra stops of the 300 2,8 when you already have most of the rest covered with your 150 to 500 signma as I do is a no brainer for me.

The extra light for early morning and in deep shadows and woods!! No contest, I really want the 300 2.8 .

I have the 150-500 since it gives me good range....something that a fixed range will not do. I used to have a 300mm F4L which I loved but the reach just wasn't there...Now I am back to the point where I like the 150-500mm, the image is just not a 'L'... we all understand that.

The 400 will give me solid images ....the 300 even more so but I can actually have AF and get above 1000mm with stacked teleconverters. But wow, the price!.... I just have to start saving and selling other things to finance it...

Well, I've never owned a 400 5.6, but I have used one a couple of times. Fantastic for birds in flight, probably the best option there is, because it's lightweight and fast-focusing. However, for everything else, the 300 with a 1.4x TC has it beat. The extra stop and IS make it much easier to get static or slow-moving subjects. And it's no slouch at BiF shots, just a little heavy to swing about all day. Plus it also has the options of being an amazing 300 f2.8 and a capable 600 f5.6.

I decided to opt for the 400mm right now...just plain more affordable. That way I have the range of the Sigma 150-500 (distance and just range), plus 400mm which is a great birding lens plus the swaro scope for digiscoping .....

I am thinking of selling my Swaro 80HD, plus 20 x 60 eye piece, plus DCB adaptor and a Canon 1200SD ....so I can 'begin' to finance a 300mm 2.8.

I anyone interesting in Swaro combination I will be asking $2000 for the kit....

I have both of these lenses and for versatility and quality you can't beat the 300mm f 2.8. I never use the 400mm anymore and will be selling it soon.

The 300 2.8 is my dream lens
I'd just stick a 2x for a 600 5.6 when there was enough light available