lens advice/recommendation

stevegixer

stevegixer

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stephen
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Hi all
Ok I have a canon 5d mk3 ( also a 7d mk2 which I rarely use now)
The biggest lens I have is a canon 70-200mmf2.8 is mk2 & a 2x converter.
Basically I am after a lens for wildlife.
I have been told by a friend to get a canon 400mm f5.6 but not really sure what to do.
My budget at the moment is around £800-£900 . Not a lot I know
But any advice or recommendations greatly received.

Cheers Steve.
 
I had the sigma150-500mm just over a year ago & had focusing problems with it.thats put me off tbh.
Was even thinking about the canon 100-400mm mk1 but never tried one.
 
The Canon 100-400 MK1 is a really good lens, I love it when I owned one.
The Tamron 100-400 gets very good reviews and I'm planing on getting one.
Again both within your budget.
 
Tamron make a 100-400 and 150-600. A fixed 400 could be a curse, either you are too close or too far away all the time. Frustrating that can be :troll:
 
You could do a lot worse than put the 70-200/2.8 with 2x telecon on the 7D2, and at least give that a proper try before splashing out on something new that may not be much of a step forward.
 
stevegixer said:
Basically I am after a lens for wildlife.
Click to expand...
How do you define "wildlife"? Large mammals? Small birds? Creepy crawlies? It makes a difference.
 
HoppyUK said:
You could do a lot worse than put the 70-200/2.8 with 2x telecon on the 7D2, and at least give that a proper try before splashing out on something new that may not be much of a step forward.
Click to expand...
Plus one on that.
I use my 7d2 in preference to my 1dx2 for wildlife. Or at least until I have 10k to waste on a big white lens.
Also, for general wildlife, the extra FPS of the 7d2 might come in handy.
 
I'd be tempted to save up for a mint-ish used Canon 100-400 IS Mk II from a reputable dealer/shop with 6 to 12 months warranty, then save for a x 1.4 converter (if it will work on a crop-sensor DSLR), on the basis that the quality is often remembered long after the price has been forgotten. That's my plan anyway. The Sigma 150-600 looks good from the results I've seen on here, but it's not as portable or storable as the 100-400 L Mk II, and hasn't got the 100mm end either (which is handy at times), so for that reason I'm not gone for one. However, if it's more the long end that you're after and portability doesn't matter, then maybe have a look at the Sigma?
 
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stevegixer said:
Birds etc
Click to expand...
I would suggest that you'd be better off with something a little longer, like the 150-600mm. You may have had a bad copy in the past but it will give you the reach you seek especially with smaller birds. Optically the 100-400mm II is much better than the first version but that may be out of your budget.
 
I tried a 100-400 mk2 on my 7d2, great lens. I eventually settled for the sigma 150-600c for the extra reach. I have not been disappointed
 
I tried my 7d mk2( I was going to sell it but still undecided) with the 70-200mmf2.8 mk2 & a 2x converter this evening.
As I said earlier I hadn't touched it since getting the 5d mk2. But I was presently surprised .can't add a pic from my phone sorry.
 
If you go for any 100-400mm 5.6 you are virtually coping what you already have with the 70-200mm f2.8 plus 2x.
I was in the same position so i sold my 80-400mm Nikon and kept the 70-200mm f2.8 and the converters 1.4x,1.7x & 2x and its far lighter than carrying another big lens.
I traded my 800mm f5.6 in at the photography show not only was it large and heavy but it required a solid heavy duty tripod and gimbal:(and finally and this goes for any of your long lenses check the mfd.
You often find that Super telephoto or long tele zooms don't focus any closer compared to what you have with teleconverter fitted.
 
I had the 400 5.6 at the same time as a 100-400 mk1 couldn't really tell much difference in either IQ or focusing speed on my 5D3, so I traded the 400 for a 300 f4 because it had IS which I find helps even when using a fast shutter speed. The zoom obviously has the advantage of greater flexibility and can be used with a 1.4 extender to really boost its focal length, not tried it on a 7 series camera.
I tried a 150-600 Sigma in a shop but found it too big to use, maybe long term ownership would solve that problem but I didn't want to risk it.
The mk1 100-400 was and remains a good lens, especially now as the intro of the MK2 has caused s significant price reduction in 2nd hand values of the mk1 last time I looked.
 
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