Extra reach: body or glass?

[Brendan7]

I have two suggestions if you want more reach:


1. Get closer


2. 7D





Don't go for the Sigma 50-500. In general that kind of lens just means trouble IMO. Especially for $1600. I know people who buy a 50-500 or Tamron 200-500 so they have more reach than their 300 f.4 or 100-400 and then realize they prefer using the Canon L lens anyway.


The 7D will give you more reach, but for $1700. It would be a nice advantage to have both a full-frame for portraits and a crop body for action, but it is possible you could just save $1700 by getting closer. If you want more reach for birds (usually the case), a blind, LensCoat, and some practice can save you the expense of buying more gear. Of course, sometimes more reach is needed. Could you specify why you are looking for more reach?


my 2¢


brendan

[Alan]

If you want more reach for birds (usually the case), a blind, LensCoat, and some practice can save you the expense of buying more gear. Of course, sometimes more reach is needed. Could you specify why you are looking for more reach?
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Brendan, you already know the answer: BIRDS!


But, it's not just birds. It's tough to get close to some critters.


Okay, okay....I'll practice more. []

[Brendan7]

Well, as a wildlife photographer too, I always want more reach. Unfortunately, most people immediately think, "Dang, the 500's too expensive, but...Whoa! a 50-500 zoom! No way!". And then they buy that lens. I am just personally not a fan of those lenses. They're slow, heavy, and give half-decent IQ. IMO the 7D makes much more sense, but even with my 7D I still have to approach skittish critters (well, I have a 300 f4). So maybe a 7D would be a good purchase, maybe you should rent it to find out. Then you can answer your own question []


brendan

[Jon Ruyle]

This may be too obvious to mention, but the 7D only gives you more reach if you're maxing out the pixel density of the 5DII. That is, if your 5DII pictures don't look good full size (ie, viewed at 100%), then more pixel density probably won't help.

[Alan]

Jon, you mean that if I just cropped the image on the 5DII, I'm about where the 7D would be, correct?