George
Precise questions coming up.
Telephoto options 300mmf2.8 with 1.4 and 2x covertors or 500mmf4?
How essential do you think IS is for telephoto photography from a vehicle assuming use of a bean bag?
How do you rate Sigma Telephoto lenses?
Can you see where I am going with this.
Took my 100-400 out to Africa and shot mostly with the 1.4x but the viewfinder was dark at f8 and I lost AF and even though you can tape the contacts the D60 hunts like mad with this combo. Most of my telephoto work is done in the UK and in the North West where the sun is apparantly banned. I figure a f2.8 lens would be useful and the Sigma 300mmf2.8 is quite reasonably priced though I'm not sure if it works with Canon convertors which I already have.
Cheers for any feedback
Regards
Peter
www.nwng.co.uk
Hi Pete,
300mm F2.8 with converters versus 500mm F4
If you can afford it it's really a no-brainer. If I stick the 2x on the 300mm I get a 600mm F5.6. If I then stack the 1.4 on as well I get a 840mm F8. However if I put the 2x on the 500mm I get a 1000mm F8 and the Golden Eagle shot shown on the 'splash' (opening) page to my website.
OK, I know that's a simplistic response but it is a fact of life that as serious bird photographers we require the longest lenses we can afford and manage. As an example Canons' 600mm F4 costs around £6000 and with a motor driven body attached weighs about 8 kilos!
Yes I know we are discussing 300/500 but using the facts on the 600mm as a starting point, lets weigh up some of the pro's and cons of the two lenses you ask about. First of all the 300mm F2.8.
Plus points:
It’s quite a bit cheaper than the 500mm F4.
Easier to travel with especially on aircraft.
Easier to handhold for flight photography even with converters.
With its wide F2.8 aperture it has a really bright viewfinder making focussing easier.
Focuses closer so you can get nearer to your subject without the need for tubes and retains that close focussing distance even when you add converters.
Because it is such a fast lens adding converters still allows you to work in combinations between F4 – F8.
Minus points:
It’s too short.
It’s too short.
It’s too short.
Now the 500mm F4:
Plus Points:
If you can only afford to have one telephoto lens for your bird photography then, in my opinion, the 500mm F4 is it especially if it says Canon and IS on the side.
If you can afford two then get the 600mm as well.
Although longer than the 300 it is quite manageable when travelling and certainly much easier than the 600mm.
You can hand hold it especially the image stabilised versions but not for very long and I actually use the Canon 400mm F5.6 for most of my flight work when hand holding.
You can work at greater distances than the 300mm for the same image size and this often means that the bird is more relaxed. This is very apparent in places like Lesvos where a lot of my work is done from a vehicle. The longer lens means more successful shots at the end of the day.
Minus points:
I can’t think of one.
When I have run my bird photography workshops in Florida the question of what lens to take is the question uppermost in every clients mind. My advice has always been to take the longest lenses you can. Most turn up with lenses in the 300-400mm range which is fine 95% of the time in Florida where the birds are relatively tame. But I guarantee there will be times during the tour when each of those people will say to me “I wish I had a longer lens”.
In fact, I’ll bet there is not a bird photographer worth his salt that hasn’t said that many, many times before.
Now having advised you to think big there are some inherent problems associated with using long telephoto lenses but that’s something I’ll discuss at another time.
By the way I am running some Bird Photography Masterclasses in Sussex later this year so if that interests you or any one else out there go to my website and e-mail me direct and I’ll send the info by return.
I will come back to your other questions in due course.
Thanks for this one. Rgds George
Cheers for that George a well reasoned argument I felt can I print it out to show Mr Bank Manager?
Will check out the Masterclasses. I think for now I'll have to stick with the 100-400 (160-640 on D60) and start saving the pennies before my next big trip I just found the max aperture of f5.6 somewhat limiting when trying to blast out a background in the bush. At least I will have the field skills to get close if and when I eventually can afford the big glass.
all the v. best
Peter