Canon EF300/f2.8 IS or Nikon AFS 300/f2.8 VR

[Robert Empleton]

G'day All,

Which one is better?. If i buy the Canon, i'll use it with my 30D and buy both the 1.4x and 2x converters. If i buy the Nikon, i'll get an D2Xs and 1.7x with it. The main use of the lenses will be BIF, either the Canon with the 1.4x or the Nikon with the 1.7x.

I don't care about high ISO capability of the Nikon D2Xs or having 2 systems. I used Canon and Minolta together already.

Looking forward to any sugestions.

Regards,

Rob

[Fabs Forns]

They are both excellent and very sharp lenses. Can't go wrong with either.

[Alfred Forns]

Robert both are great lenses ... I'm just concerned with the camera choices. .... as good as the sum of its parts? On the Canon side would use the 50D and on the Nikon the D300.

Not talking about noise or better image quality but better AF performance for BIF !!

[Robert Empleton]

Hello Alfred and Fabs,

Thank you for your replies.

Fabs, do you have experience with the Nikon lens and 1.7x converter?. I only used the 1.4x for a trial run with an AFS 300 series 1.

Alfred, thank you for your comment about the AF performance. It would certainly be an option to add a 50-or 60D to the Canon option. An upgrade to the D300 would stretch me too much.

Regards,

Rob

[Fabs Forns]

Robert, with the f/2,8 lenses, I don't mind using an 1.7X, but for BIF, it's not the best choice, since it slows the AF. I sued the 300/2.8 exclusively last birding season and now that I'm using the 500/4 VR without converters, I'm doing much better. For stills, it's fine, but I'm afraid it's not choice #1 for flight.

[Desmond Chan]

[snip] now that I'm using the 500/4 VR without converters, I'm doing much better. For stills, it's fine, but I'm afraid it's not choice #1 for flight.

If I may ask: would the 500/4 be better for small birds - 5" to 8" in length, too?

This's something I've been wondering: is it easier to shoot BIF with a long focal length or short one? I'm thinking since the farther the birds are, the slower they will appear to be flying (provided that I have successfully found and tracked them) and so shooting with a 600 could be easier with more success. My concern is the long primes usually are heavier and that should make them harder to move around, even though for bigger birds such as bald eagles it shouldn't be a problem (based on my experiences with a lighter 200-400) as the bigger birds usually are slower.

[Fabs Forns]

Desmond, the wider the focal length, the easier it is to track, other factors being equal, meaning no telextender or both with telextenders.

[Robert Empleton]

Hi,

Might re-consider my lens option and go for the Canon EF500/f4 instead and use it without any converters for BIF like Fabs. It would just be as expensive as the Nikon option. Yes, it's heavier, longer and not as easy to transport, but image quality has to come first.

Might add an 50/60D and 1.4x later if needed.

Thanks for the advise, much appreciated.

Regards,

Rob

[Juan Aragonés]

I have been using a 300VR lens for a couple of years but I decided to sold it and go for a 500Vr. Th emain reason is focal lenght not any issue with the 300. In fact, I think that the 300VR is the BEST lens I have owned or tested ever. amazingly sharp and lightning fast AF. My main shooting subjects are BIF and I used the lens with the 1,4XT with very good results instead of the fact that AF is sloered with TC. I do not recomend the use of 1,7X or 2X for BIF because Af goes very slow to get the action. Of course, you can get fantastic results with the 2X in BIF but the percentage of keepers is really low. I have tried the Canon 300 and in my opinion the quality is on par with the Nikon.
Now I am using a 500VR (and I really miss my 300) but I am getting much better results with the lens without the need of TCs for BIF. I think that you can go wrong with whatever the brand but if you get a 500 you will never regret. Very handholdable, BTW

[Chris Brennan]

I use a Canon 300/2.8 IS almost exclusively with both 1.4x and 2x TCs. It was purchased as a "stepping stone" to the 500 because that was what I wanted but couldn't afford. The performace with the 300 + converters has been nothing short of mind-boggling but shooting BIFs with the 2x mounted is very, very challenging. I haven't even tried to photograph small fast birds... Raptors have been easier but still difficult. My suggestion is that if you can afford it, get the 500.