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Topic: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding? (Read 2171 times) |
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me_domchan
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EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« on: Feb 23rd, 2004, 12:08pm » |
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I currently own a 70-200 IS, I want to get a prime tele for birding.
Those large aperature, super tele from Canon is out of reach (300/2.8, 400/2.8, 400/4 etc...). My budget left me with 300/4 IS and 400/5.6.......
Image Stablizer is quite useful for me when shooting bird handheld, but it seems that 400/5.6 is sharper and extend my range further.......
I am not used to the way 100-400 IS work...so........I excluded this one.
And I believe Prime Tele works better with Tele Converter.
It is very hard to make a decision.
Can you share your comment/experiece with me?
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| « Last Edit: Feb 23rd, 2004, 12:30pm by me_domchan » |
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KK Hui
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #1 on: Feb 23rd, 2004, 12:53pm » |
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With a view factor of 1.6x on some EOS DSLRs, 400 would be a good start for bird photography. For handheld flight shots nothing beats the EF400/5.6L. This is speaking from my own experience having owned two 100-400 IS and end up with the prime which is very sharp and with fast AF. I get very good results even with EF1.4x on EOS-1v where AF is retained. I don't miss the IS when shooting bird in flight with EF400/5.6L handheld.
An example shot using this lens with my EOS-10D was posted in the Photo Gallery of this forum sometime ago and is repeated here ...
Hope the above info helps ...
KK Hui ARPS
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| « Last Edit: Feb 23rd, 2004, 12:55pm by KK Hui » |
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Samson So
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #2 on: Feb 23rd, 2004, 2:10pm » |
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The EF 400mm f/5.6 USM is no longer produced, as far as I know...
Correct me if I am wrong.
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me_domchan
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #3 on: Feb 23rd, 2004, 2:20pm » |
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KK HUI, your photo is great! Especially the white plumage retain so much detail! (which is hard for a 10D...)
My hand shakes like an old man..........I may need more practice without IS.
But with IS, if I forgot to switch to MODE II, those in flight shot will be ruined....
Samson...I hope you are wrong
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KK Hui
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #4 on: Feb 23rd, 2004, 5:23pm » |
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on Feb 23rd, 2004, 2:10pm, Samson So wrote:The EF 400mm f/5.6 USM is no longer produced, as far as I know...
Correct me if I am wrong. |
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Great to hear from you, Samson! 
No, the EF400/5.6L is still in production and in Canon's latest product catalogue. With the popularity on IS lenses, this great little telephoto is vastly overlooked and fewer dealers now stock them. You can still order one from any reputable dealer though ...
KK Hui ARPS
www.geocities.com/kkhui_001
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| « Last Edit: Feb 23rd, 2004, 5:27pm by KK Hui » |
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Samson
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #5 on: Feb 23rd, 2004, 11:03pm » |
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KK, don't worry, I already have the EF 400mm f/5.6 for many years, which cost me HK$7200 (only!) at that time for a brand new lens.
I once saw a second hand model sold at $6500.
I have asked many dealers (for my friends) and they all told me Canon no longer produce the lens. I am puzzled as I can see it in the EF Lens Work III catalogue.
The introduction of 10D really increase the demand of this lens!
me_domchan, try you luck to see if you can get one. This is a very good lens to invest in.
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BLee
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #6 on: Feb 23rd, 2004, 11:44pm » |
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Dear all,
But EF400/5.6 used with 1.4 or 2x convertor, the AF function will be lost. How to take the bird in flight sharply?
Barry
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BLee
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me_domchan
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #7 on: Feb 24th, 2004, 12:10am » |
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Samson, sounds like you are rite!
I think I better call up my friend tomorrow to double confirm!
Hinson, there is a trick to fool the camera so that it ignore the 1.4X or 2X.....
but I think MF is better.......
KK HUI, any experience to share?
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KK Hui
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #8 on: Feb 24th, 2004, 8:26am » |
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on Feb 23rd, 2004, 11:44pm, Hinson wrote:| ... But EF400/5.6 used with 1.4 or 2x convertor, the AF function will be lost. How to take the bird in flight sharply? ... |
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If you really must have to use it with converter, manual focusing is the way to go even for inflight shot. Taping pins on converter does not work well in most situations anyway. A straight 400 with 10D gives a field of view of 640mm film SLR equivalent! This is plenty for shooting bird in flight - see my example posted above.
On the same note, focal length is not everything when it comes to good bird photography. It's all to do with 'how you get near to the subjects' ...
KK Hui ARPS
www.geocities.com/kkhui_001
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| « Last Edit: Feb 24th, 2004, 8:29am by KK Hui » |
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me_domchan
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #9 on: Feb 24th, 2004, 9:31am » |
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on Feb 24th, 2004, 8:26am, KK Hui wrote:
On the same note, focal length is not everything when it comes to good bird photography. It's all to do with 'how you get near to the subjects' ...
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Yes, even a 600mm or 1200mm will still be too short for a bird 100 meters away.
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me_domchan
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #10 on: Feb 24th, 2004, 11:30am » |
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Samson...you are right!
I called my friend (a camera dealer), he told me this lens is no longer available.
This is the last Tele L lens without IS, may be a replacement is on the way. But the sharpness may suffer a bit with IS lens group.
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me_domchan
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #12 on: Apr 28th, 2004, 1:49pm » |
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KK HUI
Time proved that you are right! 
400/5.6 is still available!
I just picked up one from Man Sing yesterday (4/27)
Unfortunately, the price has raised to $8400
Anyway, seems to be a very nice lens 
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KK Hui
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #13 on: Apr 28th, 2004, 5:17pm » |
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Good that you finally got one!
Enjoy your new 'toy lens' as Arthur Morris, a top US bird photographer, once puts it ...
Look forward to seeing some great shots from you then ... 
KK Hui ARPS
www.geocities.com/kkhui_001
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me_domchan
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Re: EF300/4 or 400/5.6 for birding?
« Reply #14 on: Apr 28th, 2004, 8:00pm » |
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on Apr 28th, 2004, 5:17pm, KK Hui wrote:Good that you finally got one!
Enjoy your new 'toy lens' as Arthur Morris, a top US bird photographer, once puts it ...
Look forward to seeing some great shots from you then ...
KK Hui ARPS
www.geocities.com/kkhui_001 |
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I will learn more from you!
still, my handshake is my main concern for flight shot.
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