Some purchasing advice, please

[Gail Yovanovich]

Hi folks. I'm currently in a position where I have the funds to make one large purchase, and I'm torn between the Canon 1D Mark III body and the Canon 500mm f/4 IS lens.

For birds and wildlife, I currently use the 40D with the 300mm f/2.8 IS and either the 2x or 1.4x teleconverter. This setup gets me fairly close up and is fine for creatures relatively still, but lousy for birds in flight and other moving subjects.

I also own a 5D that I use with smaller lenses (i.e., 24-105, 70-200, etc.) mainly for landscapes, documentary, etc.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated. Cheers....Gail.

[James Prudente]

Gail,

Invest in the lens first. You won't regret it. The 40D with the converters and the 500 f4 IS USM will really shine for your avian photography. You will be surprised how well the 40D will do for BIF photography.

Jim

[Fabs Forns]

Go for the 500/4 and don't look back!

[Steve Foss]

1. Glass
2. Glass
3. Glass

Uh, did I say glass?

[Maxis Gamez]

Go with the 500. Remember lenses don't loose much value but digital bodies DO!

[Don Blue]

I was just in this same position a couple of weeks ago...I was debating on the MK3 or the 500f/4....I went with the 500f/4...I just got it this past Thursday, I'm also using it with a 40D and it works great....

I'd vote to go with the glass.....:)

[Ed Cordes]

Another vote for the 500. I anguished over spending this much on a lens about 2 years ago. Since convincing my wife it was worth the $$ I found that it is absolutely a wonderful lens and worth every penny. The lens will revolutionize your wildlife and bird photography. It will also out live any camera body you are likely to have in your life time.

[Gail Yovanovich]

Many thanks to all who responded with very useful comments. As much as I've been wanting the pro body, I think I knew deep down that glass was the way to go. Your advice has "bumped" me in the right direction, especially when hearing that the 500 will give great results with the 40D (something I was concerned about). Now I've just got to swallow hard and put out the $$$$!

Cheers....Gail.