Zoom or Prime - RIAT 2016 - Canon 7d2

GeoffMoorePhotography

GeoffMoorePhotography

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Hey guys, so I'm having a little bit of a dilemma, and I cant decide if I should trade in.... I currently have the Tamron 150-600mm, at present its really only used for the occasional Airshow, and it weights a ton.
The question is, should I trade it in for a Canon 400mm F5.4 Prime. I'm expecting the Canon to be optically the same if not better at the comparable 400mm mark, is the loss of 200mm made up for in the quality of the image.

I know the 600mm of the Tamron is gimmicky, but its fairly decent at 500mm, The canon is now 20 years old! a lot has changed in optics since then.

Does anyone have a view on the above 2 lenses? Any experience with using both?

Feedback appreciated.

Regards
Geoff
 
It depends on where are you shooting from and what you want to achieve, I personally use a 600mm f4 on a full frame and a 70-200 on a 1.3.. and I don't mind clipping wings or blades if I'm filling the frame with cockpits. ;0)
 
I have the Sigma 150-600mm sport and 400mm 5.6 prime and at 400m the prime is certainly sharper (and lighter) than the Sigma.

Must admit I would be hard pressed to get rid of either as I do find the zoom a lot more convenient than the prime at airshows but if I were in your shoes I would trade in for the 100-400mm MKII if you can afford to as it gives the best of both worlds from what I can see.
 
Thanks mike, yeah the canon 100-400mm mk2 does look splendid. My Tammy is in pristine condition. Should be good for £500 I'd hope anyways.

As for the 600mm f4 both the price and optics are not comparable. Nice lens mind you, slightly out of my hobbiest league though.
 
The Canon 100-400 mkII is a belter of a lens and would work very well with your 7D mkII. Not been to RIAT yet - really want to get there - hope you have a great time.
 
@andyred is correct, the 100-400 II is a beast and would be worth hiring for RIAT.

However, for aviation the 400 f5.6 is one of my favourite lenses ever, cheap, light, very fast AF and ridiculously sharp. On the 7D2 with the pixel density you really will have long lens capability. From inside the show you will need it though, pretty much worth photographing the take offs and maybe a pass where the jets pull up in front of you then putting the camera down and enjoying the displays. From Rhymes or Totterdown 400mm will be too much at times and with a long prime I actually keep my left eye open to pick the jet up coming in fast and only close my left eye when I have a good track on it. If you start with your left eye closed and the camera to your right eye sometimes you won't find fast jets!

Can't really comment on your Tamron, I believe they suffer with slow af and sharpness at longer focal lengths though.
 
Hi @Craig_85, I have shot from Rhymes before, but with the new CAA ruling its now a NO Go!. As ill be show side this time, and that the display line is likely to be moved even further away from the crowd line. I used the Tammy last year and was happy with it for the most part, just dont use it for the rest of the year! The Canon 400mm F4 maybe a better bet, with an 1.4 extender as well. I have 70-200mm F4 for the take offs on my second body. ...hrrrm will need to decide soon, may just rent the 400mm F4 and do half a day on each :)

Regards
Geoff.
 
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