300mm or 100-400?

Hello,
I am traveling to Colorado Springs for some bird photography this June, and am considering renting a lens. I have a Canon Rebel XS, and am thinking of renting either the Canon 300mm/f4 lens or the Canon 100-400mm/f4-5.6 lens. I currently own a 55-250mm/f4-5.6, but it is too slow, and doesn't have enough magnification. Which of the above lenses would you recommend?

One more question--what is the general minimum shutter speed to be used to capture a still bird (sitting on a branch, etc.). Would 1/160 or 1/200 be enough?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Brian

Brian

Good luck in Colorado Springs -- plenty to photograph. The birds aren't as aclimated to humans as you might like so you can't count on getting really close just by walking up to them (I lived in Colorado Springs for a decade and birded. ).

You don't mention whether you are birding with a more casual approach to photographing, but many of my friends doing this in Oregon almost universally use the 100-400 --they either have to work at getting close (luck, blind, car window or out-the-window at home) or accept the fact that they need to crop to get an acceptable image. IF this is your interest, I'd go with the 100-400. (I have one, and find it slow to focus. But the zoom is great to use to find the bird. I don't use it much). I'm sure there are others that will say 300/4, maybe adding a 1.4x converter.

(And you haven't looked at the 400/5.6, which all of us know has no IS, but Artie would say this is a great choice as well. And Artie likes the 70-200/2.8 II with 2x III; another option.)

Artie's got some great blog entries you need to read, if you haven't already:
http://www.birdsasart.com/faq_4f56or3is.html
http://www.birdsasart.com/faq_1-4is.html
http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/...o-lens-for-me/ (and find the post where he adds the 400/5.6)
and lots of other great content from Artie on this subject -- do a search.


Many of us have moved to longer lenses. So if your goal is to make some uncropped images of the smaller birds, you might also consider doing a websearch for companies the rent a 500/4. You'll appreciate the longer focal length (you haven't mentioned your budget.) Then your dilemna will be what happens with a bird that is too close for the magification either small/close or a big bird like an eagle that is at a reasonable distance...



With respect to 1/160 or 1/200 - the smaller birds seem to be always moving. If I set the body on high speed drive and make several frames, I'll usually find one sharp enough with such low speeds. But a lot of discards, so I like to increase the speed so that the birds movements are stopped cold ....you can increase the ISO to achieve this at some expense in noise. Nothing worse than going to edit that once-in-a-lifetime image of a small bird only to find motion blur in the head, or wings. Bigger birds don't seem to be as fidgety.

Have fun. Go to the top of Pikes Peak and/or Mt Evans - look for the Rosy-Finches. Or at Cripple Creek/Victor. Top of Mt Evans or Guanella Pass has Ptarmigan, as well as Mountain goats. Lots to see.

Brian,

I was in the same place just 12 months ago, not Colorado Springs but having to make a decision as to what camera and lens to hire for a trip out to the desert. At the time I had very little information to go by and certainly did not have the resourse of BPN. I was just starting out as a photographer.

I hired a 100 - 400 as my 'animal lens' and found that it was a lens that I could carry all day and while maybe not the perfect bird lens you only have to look at the work of Daniel Cadieux to see what is possible. I also found the adjustability useful as we oftern stumbled across something the size of an Emu that was close and I could in a second pull back to the needed focal length.

The whole experience was a positive one and soon I realised I was addicted and drooling over camera websites and catalogues.

On another note I was recently asked as to what lens to buy for general animal photography with some birds thrown in and due to there fixed budget the 100 - 400 was purchased. I did point them to looking at 70-200/2.8 II with 2x III but the cost of this set up was more than they wanted to spend. I'm not sure as to renting costs.

My experience here is that the smaller the bird the more it moves around - They are so busy feeding all day.

Hope I have helped.

The 300/4 L IS is a razor sharp lens and takes a 1.4x TC beautifully to become a 420/5.6. It has a minimum focusing distance of 1.5 meters so when you get tired of birds it becomes a dandy macro substitute, especially with said TC. I never use mine anymore as I've had a 500/4 for awhile but I published plenty of bird photos, both in-flight and perched, with my 300 before I moved up to the 500. Sorry to complicate matters.

DB

P.S. The slide out, twist lock lens hood on the 300 is extremely convenient....engineering genius!

Brian,

I agree with Danny. I have a 100-400, 300 f/4. L IS, 300 f/2.8 L IS and 500 f/4 L IS. I very rarely use the 100-400 as it is not as sharp as the 300 f/4. I take the 300 f/4 when I need to travel really light.

Roger

Thanks everyone for the help! I am focusing mainly on photography, but would like to add a few to the life list as well. I don't know if you are familiar with the site, but I will be visiting Aiken Canyon, south of Colorado Springs. And yes, I'll be sure to check for Rosy-finches on Pikes Peak.

Thanks!
Brian

In June we'll have lots of songbirds, like warblers and goldfinches. Colorado has about 40 state parks and, of course, a few national parks and national wildlife preserves. I don't know if you'll see mountain goats and big horn sheep on Pikes, but I'm certain that you would on Evans and that's a wonderful drive-to-the-summit type adventure.

We have a surprising variety of waterfowl also. I'm about an hour North of The Springs, if you want to hunt for songbirds, waterbirds, deer fawns, coyotes, etc. in an easy access environment.

I don't own the 300/2.8, but I've handled and worked with one a little. It's very manageable to hand hold and use with the TC. For songbirds, I think you'll find 300mm x2 a better focal lenth. Same for all the finches. Rog owns both lenses, so I'll defer to him. I just thought that, since you're renting, why not go with the 2.8? I hand hold my 500/f4 about 90% of the time, so the 300/2.8 feels positively svelte in comparison.

If you're tempted to let me guide you at Cherry Creek State Park, just say the word and I'll put some time on my calendar.

Yes, I did consider the 2.8 300mm, but I will be renting for two weeks, and would like to keep the price under $150. As for the Cherry Creek State Park, thank you very much for the offer but I have a very busy schedule as is! Thanks again though.

For birds 400F5.6, for mamals 100-400. The 400F5.6 is great for BIF quick to focus and light to handle and good IQ.
I use the 400F5.6 on a 40D and the 100-400F on a 5D and it works for me in African National Parks. When I can afford it I rent the 300F2.8 or the 500F4 with and without 1.4 TC depending depending how close i think I will be to the subject, but for birds 500F4, if you can stretch your budget.

On the other hand the 100-400 I have at the moment (my 2nd one as the first was not a good copy) is as sharp as the 400mm prime I had and sharper than the 300mm f4 + 1.4x combo I also tried.