james_hutchison1

I just wanted to thank everyone for your responses. For my budget i think that this lens is definately a very good option from the sounds of it. I have to decide now between the 600mm f4.5 s.s.c. which i might be able to get for about 1000 or the 400mm f4.5 s.s.c. which will be about 550

Hi all, Ive been birding for 4 or 5 years now and a year ago

enthusiastically began my new passion of bird photography. First off i

would like to briefly defend my current primary bird photography lens,

the canon fd 500mm f/8 mirror lens. If you know what you are getting

(i.e a slow lens with ring shaped out of focus highlights from the

central obstruction) this lens is also capable of taking some stunning

photos as the optics of this particular lens are quite good. I believe

this to be an excellent first lens. That being said I am now in the

market for a faster refractor lens. im looking to spend around 500

dollars. I recently purchased arthur morris' the art of bird

photography (which i enjoyed thoroughly) and learned that he began

with the canon 400mm f4.5 lens and produced some excellent shots, some

of which are included in the book. Other research however (i.e.

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/ratings.html) has led

me to believe this is perhaps not the best lens to purchase. Of the

many lenses reviewed at this link, the 400 f/4.5 has got the worst

rating in the optics category. I would appreciate any advise on not

only whether this would be a good investment for around 500 dollars

for use in photographing birds, but suggestions on lenses that may be

better in this price range. The 400 f/5.6 APO seems to come up often

but the loss of just under one stop of light (more when using a TC

which i plan on using) is one deterent in my mind. I would appreciate

any input on this matter, thanks for your time,

 

James Hutchison