mary_kossik

<p>I bought the insurance from B&H on my 500mm. A year later, I took out a "personal item" policy through Travelers on all my equipment - $0 deductible covered everything and anything that could happen to it - literally - and the insurance from Travelers was one third of the cost of the B&H one. So more coverage on ALL gear was the same cost for three years vs. cost of the one lens insured through B&H. I have never used mine, but it feels good to know I have it. It was also way cheaper than the rate through the different photographic societies which offer it too. They price it for like $7.00 for each $100 or something like that. I shopped it around and the personal item policy was by far the best deal. </p>

<p>There is a bag on ebay under the name Apollo. It is a great backpack and is about $40-45 and worth every penny. I have two and I bought my sister one for her birthday. I use if for a gear bag and a back pack. There is also a Gura Gear Kiboko bag that is bigger but it is super tough and light and is made for safari traveling where weight and durability is an issue, BUT it is $399.00. If you thinking of the Lowepro, get the Apollo, I did go to the store and try them on first, as suggested and that is a good idea for size ideas on what you want. </p>

<p>Matt;<br>

You've gotten some good advice. My first setup was the Rebel and a 28-200 and then I upgraded to the 100-400, then the 500 f/4 then the 300 2.8 and 4 camera bodies later and a lot of $$$$ later...... All the best advice came from this site. I read everything I could here first and so should you. Forget the 2X unless you upgrade your body and buy a super fast lens. I almost never use mine. You can't auto focus with the extender unless you buy a pro body (1D), not even with the 5D Mark II. Get a bag blind for $100 and get the 70-300 or the 100-400. One nice thing is that the lenses hold their value very well, you can always trade up. It works in theory, but then it's hard to part with that lens :) If you get an extender get the 1.4X. As your gear grows, that extender will service you well. </p>

<p>I agree with Diana, the 300mm and then the 500 or the 600. Check some of the sites for the comparison between the 600 and the 500 with the 1.4tc. There is some talk on the Yellowstone photography site about the 500 vs. 600 too you might want to check out. I had the 500 before the 300 and I LOVE the 300 f2.8. Hardly touch the 100-400 anymore. </p>

<p>Yes they are completley different. I bought 2 40D bodies so I would have a body on both lenses in a blind and now I wish I had saved the $900.00 and picked up a used 1D right off. All I'm saying is if you're going to spend a lot of $ don't short change yourself, you don't have to buy new. If you have a lot of light (Africa) a 2X and AF can be a big plus in bird photography. Also, the fps is a very big deal. They are completely different. When I bought the 1D MarkIII the 5D II was not out yet, but I still am very happy I went that direction. Especially, if I want to throw on the 1.4X on the 100-400 while out hiking. With two shooters and only two bodies you would want flexibility. The fps and the AF at f8 was the deciding factor for me to go with the 1D and I live in "no light" Wisconsin!</p>

<p>You might think about the 1D Mark III. I have the 100-400 and the 500 f4 also. If you want to be able to achieve auto focus with the these and an extender on either lens you need something that will AF at f8. I have the 40D and the 1D. Or...buy a used 1D MarkII or a used Mark III. I bought all my bodies used with no problems. </p>

Did you ever get an answer on this? I have just posted the exact same question. I also was wondering if Lightroom 2 had the ability or not. It seems that if you are going to export your image to a printer you would want this capability. Hmmmm. I will have to consider whether to upgrade to 2 or not. Thanks, Mary

I wanted to be able to export to a professional printer with my identity plate on the export. I guess you can't do that.

It is my understanding that in Lightroom you cannot export your image with an identity plate. Does anyone know if

Lightroom 2 will do it? Thankls! Mary

Hadi:

One other thing...you can always resell the lens if you don't like it. Buy it now and use it for the entire spring and if it does not work out sell it. I took this approach, because I tried to buy a used one and people were paying almost new and sometimes over the best online price on sites like Ebay. It would be same or better $ than renting and you would have the entire hot season to use the lens and find out if it is worth it.

Hadi:

I posted the same question about 2 months ago. Shortly thereafter I purchased the 500mm and a bunch of accessories including a full gimbal head. There is a real learning curve (at least for me) using this lens. It's big, it's nothing like handling the 100-400 and it takes a while (at least for me) to "get it." I'm not saying I am anywhere close to great with this lens yet. I was much better, quicker with the 100-400. I used my 100-400 on a BushHawk and found the transition tedious at first (I am impatient). In any event the 500 is way sharper than the 100-400; just like everyone told me. Is it worth the $? It depends on how much $ you have and what you want to do with the pictures. It's personal or professional and it's not cheap. I bought the insurance through B&H. The one thing I will say is that I now can get pictures I could not, but sometimes I cannot get pictures I could....In other words, when I'm sitting with the 500 and another bird sits out in front of me and I have an opportunity for a great shot, I can't get it with the 500, but I could with the 100 and it would be a sharp shot, cuz it's damn sharp except wide open. Overall the 100-400 is still a great lens. Rent it first and see what you think, but use it to death while you have it. Another thing is I am having a tough time adjusting to the gimbal head, never having used one before. I have been eyeing that Arcatech Long Lens head and I am waiting for the reviews to come in as it is new. One last thing, I got a shot of a junvenile bald eagle out of my house, while it was snowing, all bad light, eating on a bait carcass, unheard of in southern Wisconsin. I never would have gotten the shot without that lens! Good Luck!

You're only shaving off about 3 pds. difference with the smaller lens, so you'll still need a good tripod. I am using the Gitzo 2530 (3 leg section) with the 500 IS, which is 1.4 pds. lighter than the 1325 and I've been happy with it, although my blind has a stable wood floor and I hang a small weight from the center. I'm looking for a dedicated 500/Wimberley head tripod so if you sell the 1325 let me know :o).

"The 3421 is a very sturdy rig and could be used with lot longer and heavier lenses with no problem."

 

Now that looks very interesting for the $! I like the fact that it will go on a monopod since sometimes I like to zip outside and walk around the pond quick and fire off a couple of shots. Thank you for the link to B&H.

Thanks for all the great answers! I do have a gitzo GT2530 tripod that is rated to 26 pounds and a G1278M head that is rated to 13 pounds, but I think I would be better off with something else....I like the ball head, but the Sidekick looks more stable. I do have the Arca Swiss quick release plate on the BushHawk, but I would have to invest in a new head like the Arca ball head and Sidekick because I don't think the Gitzo head I have is compatible with the Sidekick. Thanks everyone for your input.

I currently have the Canon 100-400mm IS lens. I am considering upgrading to

the 500mm f/4 L IS. I am shooting wildlife - mostly, literally in my backyard

which has a large (1 acre) spring fed pond with lots of birds, deer, coyotes,

fox, mink, ducks, you get the idea. I love the 100-400mm, but would still like

a bigger... "more reach." Has anyone compared these two and/or know of a web-

site that might have images to compare. The 400mm is 92x189 and the 500mm is

146x387 diameter/length that seems huge to me. I also want the 1.4 extender

for the 500mm. I am also debating renting the 500 with the extender first

since it is quite expensive, but that adds another $300. This lens will stay

home with the tripod. I mount the 400mm on the BushHawk. I don't want the

600mm I'm too small and not a weightlifter! The 400mm wears on me when I have

it mounted on the BushHawk - so any help or advice would be appreciated, it's a

lot of $$$$$.