Wildlife Lens. 400mm or 50-500mm

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I am wanting to do more wildlife/bird photography with my 60d.
What i have in mind is going to a prime 400mm f5.6 L USM lens as a first choice (i have a 1.4TC) or another lens to consider is a sigma 50-500mm.
I would like some feedback on the choices listed if anyone is using either with the 60d body or a pending 7d body.
Thanks in advance.
 
For birds in flight, the Canon 400mm f/5.6 is awesome. Light, sharp, and fast to focus.
 
If you go 400mm 5.6 L with 1.4 tc you will loose auto focus on your 60d or even a 7d ! ……other than that a great lens as StewartR says , other option and one i've used is the 300 f4 L is , this will work well with your tc still have auto focus and 420mm f5.6 with IS …..just a thought .
 
I used to have the 70/200 f4 and the 300 f4 both with a 1.4 TC.
The 300+TC combination was quite good and worked well with a 40D and then a 7D.
The only difficulty I found was that I frequently had the wrong lens mounted,it was either too long or too short.
I got the 100-400 L , but really its a very personal choice.
It comes down to how much you will use a fixed focal length.
 
+1 for the 300 f4 with 1.4X over the 400. You'll have a choice of 2 focal lengths- both with autofocus and IS- and you'll have a stop over the 400 when using the 300 on it's own.
The 400 should be a little sharper if only due to having fewer glass elements, but I suspect you won't get much joy out of using it with the TC.
As trout fisher suggests a zoom is only a good buy if you're using the range. If you're only ever using it at the long end you'll be better off with a prime- it should be a little sharper and you'll get a slightly longer focal length ( I assume you're not photographing wildlife that is infinitely far away!)

On the zoom front the Sigma 150-500 might be a good option too. £100 cashback from Sigma still.
 
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I got a 300 f4L IS just before Christmas and I've used it both on my 70D and 5D3 and with a Kenko 1.4x converter on both. I've also got access to a Sigma 150-500 OS (the wife's now but used to be mine) and I really love the Sigma on the 5D3 but it's not as good on my 70D. I'm planning on using the 300 + 1.4x on the 70D and the 150-500 on the 5D3 for this years air shows and zoo trips etc. but I'll also be taking my 70-200 f2.8L IS II and 2x MkIII converter for that just in case moment that I need more length on the 70D.
 
Have you looked at the Tamron 150-600 a friend of mine just bought one and mounted it on his 60d he is getting great results... $1069.00 U.S.
 
Both the lens you list have excellent reputations, I would imagine the prime is pin sharp. However if you regularly ohotograph birds in flight you might find yourself missing the flexibility of a zoom. 400mm could leave you overgunned at time, prime example last year, on the boat at Mull photographing the fish eagle, only 3 photographers out of around 8 got an image as the bird took the fish from the water, most had too long a focal length, some long faces I can tell you!
 
some great advice coming in, thanks.
I will have a look at the tamron 150-600
 
I currently use a Canon 400mm f5.6L more often than any other lens on my 70D. I have a Canon 1.4x III Extender (which I usually use on my Canon 70-200mm f4L) but it knocks the 400mm's f5.6 to f8 and is far more tricky to get sharp focussed shots, so I don't use that combo.

It performs amazingly well at f5.6 and is easy to handhold (without the Extender which seems to over balance it) and lightweight enough to carry around all day.

It's true what they say that there is no such thing as one perfect lens, and so it depends what sort of wildlife you want to photograph.
 
I want to do more BIF shots, thats why im leaning towards the canon 400mm.
With my 1.4TC i will loose AF but that will come into its own when i have time to manual focus it for other wildlife.
Thanks.
 
The canon 400mm f5.6L doesn't have the reputation for being the best reasonably priced BIF lens available for no reason. Most of the time I tend to need the full 400mm so this gets used a lot. I also have a 70-200mm for the times I can get close enough.

If you do a lot of work close to the subject, then maybe consider the 100-400mm for its versatility, but for the best bang for the buck BIF lens - it has to be the prime
 
I've recently got the Sigma 150-500, good lens although I'm struggling a bit to get used to it. Might have to hit the gym and pump some weights!
 
You think the 150-500 is heavy, you should try the 120-300 f2.8 which is what I upgraded to, from my 150-500 :D The 150-500 is the best way to get a decent long lens at an affordable price. I was very happy with mine for a few years.
 
I've got the 50-500 and use it on my 5D3 and 70D.

I've just got back from Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands and used it extensively. The range was more than useful on more than a few occasions and the results on the few shots I've been able to look at so far have been excellent.
 
Thanks for all the advice and input.
I have decided to go with a 400mm prime, everything i have shot so far is at max distance, and as others have posted it has the track record as a proven performer for what im wanting.
Now to have a look at the best place for price.
 
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