Long Lens for Canon

grumpybadger

grumpybadger

Alan Rickman
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Paul Beastall
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OK, I realise this is a nice dillema to have but any thoughts greatfully appreciated.

I currently have a 70-200 f/2.8L IS and a 400 f/4 DO as my longer lenses. I also have both Canon extenders.

I've been hankering after a bit more reach for quite some time - mainly for Africa. So, my question is:

(a) Do I sell my 400DO and get a Canon 500 f/4L IS instead or
(b) Do I keep my 400DO and get a Sigma 500 f/4.5 EX as well

I'm not convinced by IS on the 500mm as I think I will always beanbag/tripod/window mount it. The 400DO is very hand holdable and I'm not sure I'd want to lose that.

The Sigma is lighter than the Canon but has no IS and is 1/2 stop narrower. On the upside, it comes with an inclusive circular polariser and is £1500 cheaper.

I wouldn't take both out together I don't think, but can't help thinking that the option of either would be of benefit.

Any thoughts from the gurus of TP?

Thanks

Paul
 
Go Sigma 500mm, will miss not have the 400 wouldnt you?

or down grade the 400mm to f5.6, to help with funding.

I could be interested in the 400mm do, as that was what i was after, dut due to a lack of secondhand ones around opted the f5.6, but if you use the 400 alot you will miss it badly
 
Without claiming to be a guru on the subject Paul, my experiences of the Canon 500nn f4 make the IS invaluable. Canon recommend it's still used on a tripod. The enormous length of these lenses exploits every bit of vibration and movement even when tripod mounted. Photographing the moon - with or without converters is a good extreme test of IS - you can actually see the difference in the viewfinder when IS kicks in.

Image quality with this lens and either converter has totally exceeded my expectations. It's heavy though, and hand-holdable only in very short bursts -say 30 seconds or so.

There's no perfect lens though - sometimes the 500mm is just too long, although with both converter options you get enormous reach potential at the longer end. I know Andy Rouse would tell you that most of his incredible tiger shots from moving vehicles have been taken with the Canon 100-400L.

I have no experience of the Sigma, but good luck with your choice - I know how difficult it is. :)
 
to add to CT's post, make sure you can get a 500mm and your other camera gear on a plane as hand luggage also, 500mm can take the lens out of your normal camera bag and into a seperate one ! most airlines are running a single bag for hand luggage now.
 
Thanks for the thoughts to date chaps. I do know that one of the real benefits of the 400 is that it is actually quite usable in car but I also know that for birds and the wild open plains of the Masai Mara and Serengeti, reach is everything.

The lack of weather sealing has only just dawned on me with the Sigma. I love the fact that I don't worry about the 400DO in the rain, or in deserts so I think the choice is becoming keep the 400 and have some spare cash or swap it out for the Canon 500...

I tend to use the 70-200 with 1.4 or 2x extenders as required for shots from vehicles of the closer stuff (I don't like the fact the 100-400 isn't weather sealed and am happy with the quality of the 70-200 with a 2x)

IanC - thanks, I already have a bag that will fit the bill fine. Reminds me, must pop a review up of it sometime.

Paul
 
With regard to not taking the 400 and the 500 out together I have to say I've found that two bodies - one with the 500mm and one with the 100-400mm attached, with both converters in the bag, is as near as you're going to get to being equipped to handle anything that gets thrown at you. That's with her indoors carrying the second camera and lens though. For a lone tog I think it would be a bit of a load over any distance.

A recent bonus I've found is that I can get good results from the 500mm using a monopod although it does need to have the gimbal head mounted on it to make it a really usable combination.
 
I currently carry two bodies - one with 70-200 and one with 400 and 2 1.4x and 1 2x extenders as my normal kit. This is often for shooting from vehicles. In fact, I then often have a 3rd body with 24-70 on it but that is a lot to carry even for a short distance. I can't see why I would want to take 2 big primes out with me on a single trip. The 400 f/4 and the 500 f/4 are close enough in spec that it would be a weight vs. reach decision everytime...
 
I entirely agree. A lone tog has to make some sensible choices before going out I think. For lone trips I take the 1D and the 500mm. The Lowepro long lens case takes the two assembled and ready to shoot, but you know you're carrying it!
 
CT said:
I entirely agree. A lone tog has to make some sensible choices before going out I think. For lone trips I take the 1D and the 500mm. The Lowepro long lens case takes the two assembled and ready to shoot, but you know you're carrying it!
Click to expand...

lmao just imagine how i feel with a 600 in the bag ;) hehehehe
 
I can see the problem of carrying 2 huge lens's at the same time, but from my experiances, depending on what track or corner on the track would depend on what focal length id require, either 400mm or 500mm as i wouldnt have the option to move backwards to reduce allow the 500mm to fit.

If you get want you want and can afford the 500mm, and will be in the position to get the 500mm todo the job of the 400 then the 500mm has tobe the lens to get, in my circumstances id prefer both a 400mm and a 500mm option
 
Think I am decided that I am decided that I am going to swap out the 400 for a Canon 500 if I can get the commercials to work. Off to my Canon dealer tomorrow to see what part-ex deal they can offer...
 
OK, been to my local Canon dealer this morning and I'm pretty sure the 400DO is going. Think I'm off to join the 500 f/4L club
 
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