The Next Step to Getting Closer?

[lee_shively]

I'm not a wildlife specialist by any means. I would love to have a high speed telephoto in the 500-600mm range but I have a mortgage to pay and film to buy. I also have a bad back and I like to be able to carry a broad range of equipment when I'm out shooting. My normal outfit is 2 EOS bodies and the 20-35 f/3.5-4.5, 70-200 f/2.8 and the 400mm f/5.6. I also carry a Canon 1.4 extender. I went with the 400mm because I knew if I bought the 300mm f/4, it would have a 1.4 extender on it all the time. 300mm is not that long of a lens. The 400mm works well with the 1.4 extender giving 560mm f/8. No, it is not fast but it only weighs about 3 lbs and I can put it in the back pocket of my Rue vest and carry it all day long. If I'm shooting birds or wildlife, I will likely be using Provia 400F film and I've got two stops on the guy shooting regular Provia 100F. Everything is a compromise.

 

The 400mm costs about the same as the 300mm f/4 IS lens, a little less I think. Canon no longer makes a regular 300mm f/4.

 

The 100-400mm is probably a good lens but I hardly ever take the camera off a tripod so I don't need IS. With a 2X extender, I can have a 140-400mm f/5.6 anyway--for less than $400. What a bargain!

[robert_haynes]

I had the same problem in getting in really close for my wildlife specialisation, I have a 100/400 vivitar zoom and whilst I have had work published with this lens(plus Nikon F5) and a vivitar 1.4 TC, I felt that I needed to get in closer for Bird photography in particular, so I recently purchased the Sigma 170/500 F5/6.3 Lens and used Provia 400 Slide film. The difference has been amazing !! If you want to get closer still use the sigma dedicated APO 1.4 You will see major improvements in your Images.

Rob Haynes. ENGLAND