400mm Prime - Worth it?

wippers

wippers

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I currently have a Canon 300mm F4 and as always wanted some more reach for birds and wildlife in general. I have around £700-800 and have been looking at the Canon 400mm F5.6. Will I gain much from this lens? :shrug:

I've read a few posts on here but not found a difinitive answer.:thinking:
 
Get a 1.4tc and stick it on the 300mm f4. I have hired the 300mm before and used my TC with it. The results are very, very good. Its cheaper and you also have a 300mm f4 and 400mm f5.6 with IS!
 
I have the 400/5.6 and it's a beautiful lens, extremely sharp and fast focussing but if I already had the 300/4, and as mentioned above, I'd just add the x1.4. For many that would be the optimum solution anyway.
 
It'll still be sharp with a 1.4, just not quite as sharp.

Still very usable wide open, and very sharp stopped down to f/8.0
 
Well the 400 is sharper and faster than the 300 anyway so I would see if you can borrow a 1.4 first, you might be happy with it.
 
Sorry, forgot to add in the OP that I already have a Sigma 1.4TC which I use with the 300mm. I would like to maybe use this on the 400mm? Good/bad idea?
 
On the 400 you will end up manually focusing with the 1.4tc unless you have a 1Dsomething knocking around. It will also mean you will need really good light to shoot. Its not something I would recommend.
 
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Are you sure about that?

The 5DII should AF with lenses f/5.6 and faster. It should work with either the 300 f/4L with a 1/4x TC or the 400 f/5.6L
 
Musicman said:
Are you sure about that?

The 5DII should AF with lenses f/5.6 and faster. It should work with either the 300 f/4L with a 1/4x TC or the 400 f/5.6L
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I think Jim was referring to using a TC with the 400m...
 
Hmmm, not sure now having listened to you guys. I'd like the extra length the 400mm gives but with the 300mm + 1.4TC I may not be gaining anything?
Anyone have any recomendations?
 
wippers said:
Hmmm, not sure now having listened to you guys. I'd like the extra length the 400mm gives but with the 300mm + 1.4TC I may not be gaining anything?
Anyone have any recomendations?
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Do you find the autofocus to be slow with the 300mm + 1.4x combo? I know on mine the AF is definitly slowed down.
With the 400mm prime AF is as quick as the 300mm without TC on it's own.

Best you can hope for is a little bit of improvement in sharpness and faster AF by getting the 400mm F5.6L
Depending on your shooting style the sharpness may be negated by lack of IS.
 
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I would say having both of them would not be worth it. They are too close together in reach and IQ. Others may disagree!
 
IN which case, I'd say save your money - or at least spend it on something you know will help. My best investment for photography in the past couple of years I still put as my gimble tripod head.
 
wippers said:
Hmmm, not sure now having listened to you guys. I'd like the extra length the 400mm gives but with the 300mm + 1.4TC I may not be gaining anything?
Anyone have any recomendations?
Click to expand...

Well, you'll actually lose 20mm considering that the 300x1.4 is 420mm.

So no, unless you are willing to manually focus the 400mm with 1.4 tc, you don't really gain anything except a tiny bit more sharpness wide open by buying the 400mm f/5.6L.
 
micloi said:
Look for a 2nd hand Sigma 300mm or 120-300mm if you want more reach for not much more money than the Canon
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You only get more reach with a 2x converter on these. The 120-300mm in my experience is not too great with a 2x - dunno about the Sigma 300mm F2.8
 
I own them both. I use the 400mm 5.6 for BIF because it has lightning fast
AF and is sharper than my 300mm f4 with a 1.4x tc. The 300mm f4 with 1.4x
is great for perched birds and provides a nice working distance (MFD) for insects etc. For the past 2 years I've been trying to convince myself I could
sell the 400mm 5.6, but I know I never will because it delivers what the 300 can't. The 500 is out of the question for me but would love to have one!
 
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