Another 300f4 IS or 400f5.6 question...

[Jayson]

Sorry for another one of these threads, but I think I know what I want, just checking some questions out.


Have some kids that will be reaching the age of youth soccer in the near future and also have been bitten by the birding bug. Nothing too serious yet, but hey, having fun. I am really not needing IS that much as I rarely use it when taking pictures outside with my 70-200f4IS. I don't really use that lens much inside as I have fast primes. I probably will be on the sidelines of the soccer matches so reach should be ok with either one. I have a Kenko 1.4xtc that I use on the 70-200 and get great results at 280mm but find the need for a longer reach most times. I have done reading up on the focus slowing with TC on the 300f4, but it isn't really any different than the TC on the 70-200 and that is fine with me.


So here is the question for you that have either owned or have the following...would I benefit from the extra reach of the 400 or should I just buy the 300 and use the TC when I need the extra reach? If I happen to go out, I have a 2nd body that the 70-200 can go on, so switching isn't an issue. My concern is that I will buy the 400 and lose the stop of light and maybe it will be a little long for the soccer/baseball fields. Will evenings be an issue at sundown with the 400? Also, I know that the Kenko doesn't report to the lensapertureand so would your camera AF with the 400 on a non 1D body? Anyone try this? I previously had the 70-300 IS and used the TC with that and it focused at 300. IQ however, not so good with the extra glass.


Thanks for any input that you might have.


Jayson

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

Rent both and try for yourself, a week of shooting should give you an idea.

[Jayson]

Only problem with renting is the kids sports haven't started yet and really, the only two lens the local camera store have that would be close is the 300 2.8 and the 100-400. They don't have the two I am looking at.

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

Jayson, where do you live?


If you live in the US, try www.lensrentals.com

[Jayson]

Nebraska. I will have to see how much renting for a week will run. I know I would be happy with both, but just looking to see what would be more practical.

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

300 f/4L IS http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon-300mm-f4-l-is/for-canon


400 f/5.6L http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon-400mm-f5.6-l/for-canon


7-day rental period doesn't start until after you get the lens

[gschaps]

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and my solution is torent a Sigma 100-300 F/4. Not image stabalized, but I believe that shooting action in daylight I don't want it. Renting makes alot more sense to me than buying and selling.

[scalesusa]

Nothing wrong with renting, its the $40 postage that is painful to me.


I have generally found that I can buy a popular Canon L use it for 2 or 3 years, and if I want to upgrade, sell it for what I paid or more. I tried this with a Sigma and found resale to be much less favorable.


But, for a one time use, rentals make sense, its just that we have no local rentals, so I must rent by mail order and pay the high cost of shipping.

[elmo_2006]

...some may not be happy as I have raised a similar thread about this query and I do apologize as somehow I missed seeing this prior.


I'm in the same boat and can't decide over the 300 4L or the 400 5.6L.Looking at "Nate's" photo's, itlooks like I'm leaning towards the 400 5.6L.


There has also been mention of the 100-400 5.6L, but is this not as slow as the 400 5.6L? I have the 70-200 2.8 IS so the 100-200 to me is out of the question and prefer the prime over the zoom (I don't like the push-pull). The only benefit that I can see with the 100-400 over the 400 is the IS functionality but again, you won't be freezing the action only hand-holding capability when stepping down (??).


I know I won't be using either during the evening as this is where my 70-200 2.8 comes in. I would then ask those with experience with either lens,is the 400 5.6L slower than the 300 4L to auto-focus when primarily used for nature shots during the day (typical sunny day)? Which one is the sharper with or without a 1.4x TC. My camera body is a 450D but I'm also leaning towards upgrading to the 7D. Maybe Henrys or Vistek could give me special pricing on the bundle - dare to dream!


Thanks

[gschaps]

Am I the only person who thinks the Sigma 100-300 F/4 deserves a look?


Advantages : fixed f/4, zoom, fixed length, portability, price


Disadvantages: No IS (could happenin the future- Sigma's recently announced OS for several of their popular lenses)