Really expensive prime lenses aside, so we're talking zoom, what is the best route to take for this sort of photography?

Currently, I have a Sigma 70-300mm lens, which is okay, but seems to need bright conditions for shots, or a fair amount of luck and aftershot processing work in PSP / PS etc.

After Xmas, I'll be looking for a better lens, but seeing the other thread about IS lenses not being much good for moving objects, I now wonder whether my current desire, the Canon IS 100-400mm L USM F4.5-5.6 lens, is the best bet.

The other options I have considered are:

- the Sigma 50-500mm lens, as it provides a better zoom.
- the Canon EF70-200 f2.8 L IS USM as it ought to be brighter, and can be combined with a converter lens, and retain AF, unlike the 100-400 one.

The Sigma is cheaper - about £200 less, but the 70-200 route, considerably more expensive, and the converter will surely compromise my f numbering thingie (technical, me :) ).

One thing I have found - if you want the best pics, there seems to be no substitute for getting closer to the subject...

Any comments?

I've got the F4L of that lens and have been taking plenty of bird photos. I find it very hard to get a noise free ISO 100 at 1/200-250 of a second speed and have found that even the slightest amount of shade knocks me up to 200 or 400. This was a huge problem on the 300D I used to have. It's barely noticable on the 400D now though. If i'd had the money I would have bought the 2.8 for this very reason alone, also makes correct focusing on subject easier. :)

On a bright day though (sunny), I can get pin sharp ISO 100 at high speed and the lens really is sharp and colour correct. :thumb:

Canon IS 100-400mm is your best bet from above options. Whatever you do don't go for the Sigma 50-500 it just isn't sharp enough for birdies and far too slow anyway at the long end. Its heavy and expensive for what it is. Even from Hong Kong about £550-£600. Worth waiting and saving for something good.

Canon EF70-200 f2.8 is a cracking lens but will only give you 280mm with 1.4 tele.

Canon 300mm IS f4 lens with 1.4 tele would give 420mm at F5.6 and excellent sharpness. Or even better a 2nd hand Canon 300mm f2.8 with 1.4 tele 420mm at f4.

For quality results you gets what you pays for.

The Best Of Digital Photography-Equipment For Bird Photography (http://digitalphotography.ozmarketing.info/Equipment_For_Bird_Photography.html)

Useful info on lenses and camera for bird photos :thumb:

Cheers people... I guess it will always boil down to what I can afford, so I think the 100-400mm is still the best bet for the moment. It's bigger than I thought - just been pining over it in Jessops window :D

Cheers people... I guess it will always boil down to what I can afford, so I think the 100-400mm is still the best bet for the moment. It's bigger than I thought - just been pining over it in Jessops window :D


I spent some time in a hide with a chap (oo-err missus etc!) who had the above lens and he seemed pretty chuffed with it.:thumb:

I've got the 100-400 IS if you wanna try before you buy DP?

I might have to take you up on that offer CW - do you want me to get Cino to draw a face on it when you get it back? :D

The 100-400L IS is great, I use mine all the time. If you're near me (Farnborough / Guildford) you'd be welcome to come and try it out.

I might have to take you up on that offer CW - do you want me to get Cino to draw a face on it when you get it back? :D

Not unless you would like to tweet like a canary ;)

Rather annoyingly, there's a chap on BirdForum whose pics with the "Bigma" are superb. However, I don't know if he uses a tripod...

So, as most of the time when I take pics, I don't use a tripod or monopod, am I right in thinking the IS on the Canon will make taking clearer pics easier than if I chose the cheaper option of the Bigma?

Will I need to switch off the IS if I rest the camera on something for taking a pic?

In theory you should turn off the IS but I doubt it makes that much difference as the stabilising element is still in the optical path and should not be moving anyway if it's on a solid mount. it might save your batteries a little though.

The IS on the 100-400 is dual mode, so you can use it for paning with a monopod, although the flightpaths of birds arn't as predictable as cars on a racetrack;)

With my 100-400L, I usually leave the IS turned on even when on a tripod. Helps keep everything still, especially if it's a bit windy...

How much of a drain is the IS?

With the battery grip & 2 batteries on the 20D I hardly notice any lack of battery life. I've had IS lenses for years though so not really noticed any difference. If you were on a full day session you might just flatten a single battery but I don't think I ever have. Always wise to have a spare anyway ;)

It may depend on which camera you have, but TBH with perfectly good 3rd party batteries available for peanuts I'd just get a couple of spares and have done with it. There's no reason to contemplate spending four figure sums on cameras and lenses only to skimp on cheap but essential stuff like batteries and memory cards.

According to Canon, IS should be turned off when the camera is on a tripod - the lack of movement actually confuses it and gives worse results than with it off. The newest IS lenses actually feature 'tripod detection' to do this automatically.

I really like my 100-400 L :) not as sharp as a prime obviously, but sharp enough for me until i can raise the readies for a 500 F4L :)

http://www.cookster.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/0520-145231-01.jpg

Ooo Tufty give us a cuddle! I don't think you would see a result that crispy from a Bigma.

Grrr
http://lh3.google.com/TopBananaJames/RRenERiCABI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Zv0GPBftMmM/IMG_5129.JPG (http://lh3.google.com/TopBananaJames/RRenERiCABI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Zv0GPBftMmM/IMG_5129.JPG?imgmax=1280)

100-400L IS

Ian, was that taken without any support for the camera?

It may depend on which camera you have, but TBH with perfectly good 3rd party batteries available for peanuts I'd just get a couple of spares and have done with it. There's no reason to contemplate spending four figure sums on cameras and lenses only to skimp on cheap but essential stuff like batteries and memory cards.

I can second that. Using my 100-400L and 5D, I went 2 full days at silverstone this year (f1gp), took around 1000 photos, and only went through 1 and bit batteries, (the second was still reading full when I finished). I'm using cheap 3rd party batteries as well, (not the offical Canon ones).

According to Canon, IS should be turned off when the camera is on a tripod - the lack of movement actually confuses it and gives worse results than with it off.

Interesting. Maybe I should try turning it off then :)

Ian, was that taken without any support for the camera?


DP, it was hand held yes, i was laying on the floor at the time so it may have had a little more support than it usually gets!

I rarely have the time to use a tripod, nearly all (99%) of the pics on my gallery here (http://www.cookster.co.uk/gallery/index.php?cat=10002), were handheld with the 100-400L