Canon 300mm f4 or 70-200 f2.8???????

[Pingal Chanda]

Dear friends...

I am using canon 400 body and a 55-250 lens.
I want to upgread my lens.
Basicaly i am an wildlifephotographer.
I am really confused that for which lens i will go for . A 300mm f4 or a 70-200 f2.8.
As both the lens have better quality.
I am from India. Please help want your suggestation..
Please help. And i also want to use 1.4x teleconverter for birds.:confused::confused::confused:

[Don Railton]

Dear Pingal

I too have a 70-200 lens and a 1.4 converter which I use on a 10D. I find this combination too short for a lot of situations and slow to focus when I do have enough reach. This tends to be very frustrating and severly limits what I can do in some situations... My suggestion is to go for as long a glass as you can afford, especially if you want to photograph smaller and/or more timid birds, animals etc. So I would reccommend the 300mm or even consider the 400/5.6 which I think is approximately the same price (but without IS) and seems to get a good comments from those who use it...

DON

[David Stephens]

Well, you've got to start somewhere. Either of those lenses would be a significant upgrade for you and they'll both work well with a 1.4x TC.

You'll actually lose reach going with the 70-200mm, but it'll improve your IQ over your current lens. You might consider the 70-200mm f/4L IS, if you're willing to upgrade your body to something like the 7D, with much better high-ISO performance than your older body. This strategy allows you to forego large aperture lenses and effectively use f/4 and f/5.6 lenses. Most f/4 lenses will function well with the 1.4x TC.

Look at your past wildlife shots with your 55-250mm. Are there many (any) shots taken at less than 250mm? If you're like me, there are very few, particularly of birds. To improve your reach, then you'll need to look toward the 300mm. There is also the 400mm f/5.6L to consider, but it has no IS and will not work very well with the 1.4x, even in good light.

At this juncture, many people also consider Sigma, which offers good value in relatively long lenses.

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Pingal - I own both of those lenses (Canon 70 - 200 f/2.8 and Canon 300 f/4) and as a wildlife and bird photographer I couldn't imagine trying to get consistent shots with the 70 - 200. Actually the 300 is rarely long enough but it helps to use the 1.4 TC which it takes very well. I only use my 70 - 200 for photographing pets, kids, etc. and it is amazing in that department. Good luck.

DB

[Pingal Chanda]

Thank you to all your suggestation will help a lot...........

[Christopher C.M. Cooke]

Pingal, you will never regret buying the 300 f/4 for both its quality, reach, and macro abilities.

Best of luck with your choice.:)

[Andy Garcia]

The 300 f/4 is my favorite lens. I also use it with the 1.4 telecon and get great results. I also have a 200mm f/2.8 prime, but I find it too short for birding.

Andy