Jumping into a Canon Birding set-up

[Paul Kammen]

Hi all,

Just looking for some thoughts on bird photography gear from Canon.

I'm currently an Olympus user, and over the past few years have acquired a nice set of lenses. However, with the change to micro-four thirds from the company, and due to some frustration with a lot of hunting for birds and a little disappointing focusing speed, I'm going to go over to Canon. Taking about 100 eagle shots with the new Olympus EM-1 and a 300 2.8 with a tele and having so few turn out due to poor CAF pushed me over the edge.

At this time, I'm looking at the 70D body as it's new, and may grab the 7D II when it comes out in summer or fall. From what I have read about birds in flight, both can handle that well. I've heard arguments for the 7D and the 70D, but in reading forums it seems I can get slightly better noise control on the 70D, and a few have argued it is ever so slightly sharper, but I imagine that is up for debate.

For lenses, I'm going to go all-out for the 800 5.7 used. I'm also looking at the 1.4 tele for bright days when I need all the reach that I can get. For anyone who has used this lens, how does she perform when focusing on a perched bird or trying to track a bird? Obviously there's a learning curve, but I'm hoping it can do well. I was also considering either the 70-300 or the 100-400. It would seem the 70-300 is a better value. I'm a little confused though why the $1K difference in price - is the 100-400 that much better or sharper? Or is it just the 100mm extra? Do I really need that if I have the long telephoto? Birds are my primary topic, but I also would use it for train photography. I've read different arguments for different focal lengths, but it comes down to distance/reach, and also getting a good value on a good used lens.

The other lenses are a wide-angle 10-22 and a 17-55 lens for walkabout street photography or the occasional portrait.

As far as a flash, any recommendations?

I'm certainly not a pro, just an avid hobbyist. I'll likely be paying this off for 2 years but am going to take advantage of low interest, and as birding is what I love to do I just want the best possible equipment. I also see it as an investment as well.

My work is on my own web page at fatherpaul.smugmug.com; as the title suggests in the "real world" I'm a Catholic priest. I do sell my prints there, do an occasional show, but certainly haven't made much off of my photography, as it's a hobby. (Another fringe benefit is no wife to yell at me for buying photo gear .)

Thanks for any tips, and look forward to learning more from this forum and posting photos. Here's a recent one from a Florida trip from last week.

http://fatherpaul.smugmug.com/Other/...p%20copy-L.jpg

[Paul Kammen]

Hi Paul,
As far as bodies go, I don't know the 70D. The 7D is loved and hated, but many here use it with great results.
The 800/5.6 lens is superb for birds. One thing that I found mildly limiting is its minimum focus distance of 6.0m. But with a tube you could fix this.

Be aware that the 7D/70D does not autofocus with the 800/5.6 and the 1.4x: this is only supported with the 5DIII and the 1D series bodies.

A nice bonus of the 800/5.6 is that a lot of users are switching to the 600mmII, so you could pick one up for a fair price. Have look here as well: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...otography-Gear You might however investigate the new 600mmII as well (with 1.4 and 2.0. Note: 600+2x does not autofocus with the 7d/70d)). This big glass (600 or 800) will be in your bag for a long time.

Both the 70-300 and the 100-400 are great lenses. I personally don't like the 'pump' zoom of the 100-400. So I would take the 70-300.
Regarding the wide angle lenses: I would stay away from the EFS lenses and buy a proper L lens.
Flash: EX580 or EX600

Thanks for the tips. Indeed I can get a good price on the 800 5.6. Though might the 600 with the 1.4 tele be better, or would that not work on the 70D? Which do you think is the better set-up?

[Paul Kammen]

Thanks so much for this information. At this time I'm leaning towards the 800mm lens used, as it will save me about $3,000. However, for those that use the 800, is it pretty darn sharp still bare without the tele? On a 7D or 70D that's an effective focal length of about 1280. I believe it would be slightly longer with the 600 and the 1.4 TC, but hopefully there's not much of a drop off in terms of sharpness.

[David Stephens]

The 70D will not cut it as a bird in flight body. I'd suggest that, as a minimum, you go with a 7D, but it's got it's limitations with its AF consistency. The 5D MkIII and the 1D X are superior, but at much more money. If you can wait until the fall, I'd suggest waiting for the 7D MkII. Maybe buy a 7D refurbished or used to use until then.

I wouldn't suggest the 800mm. Since you're going to go into debt, then I'd suggest the Series I 500mm and then pray that the 7D MkII will AF at f/8, so that you can use the 2.0X TC-III for static subjects. The 800mm is going to be too tough to hand hold for BIF. If you could afford it without going into debt, the top combination for birding, IMO, is the 600/f4-II and the 1D X. The 500/f4 I can be hand hold and has superb IQ bare, with the 1.4 and 2.0X TC-III. If the 7D2 doesn't come out, then a used 5D MkIII is a good way to go.

Buy some time right now, but don't get a 70D.

[Diane Miller]

Get a Better Beamer to extend your flash range 3-4x for telephoto work. And you're going to need a very sturdy tripod and gimbal head for that lens. For the 800 you'll probably need a Wimberlay II. That and one of the big tripods will add another $1500 or more to the package. And you'll probably want a big lens backpack to carry the camera + lens more than a few hundred yards. That's another few bucks.

If I were you, I'd wait for the 7dII. And since you're just getting into it, you might want to consider a much less expensive, and much more versatile lens, for starters. The new Tamron 150-600 is getting a lot of good reviews and is only ~ $1000. It would be basically hand-holdable in decent light.

[Paul Kammen]

Get a Better Beamer to extend your flash range 3-4x for telephoto work. And you're going to need a very sturdy tripod and gimbal head for that lens. For the 800 you'll probably need a Wimberlay II. That and one of the big tripods will add another $1500 or more to the package. And you'll probably want a big lens backpack to carry the camera + lens more than a few hundred yards. That's another few bucks.

If I were you, I'd wait for the 7dII. And since you're just getting into it, you might want to consider a much less expensive, and much more versatile lens, for starters. The new Tamron 150-600 is getting a lot of good reviews and is only ~ $1000. It would be basically hand-holdable in decent light.

Thanks for the input...I have been into it though for 4 years, so am selling my existing set-up from Olympus and jumping over. I'll be ordering a 70D, and then use that as my second body when the 7DII comes out. As I can get a good price on a used 800, having some feedback from another forum (Art Morris' blog) I'll be going for that one. I already own a good tripod that worked well with my E5 and 300 2.8/2x tele set-up, but I do need a replacement Wimberley head.