More lens questions - Canon: I've been pretty well dazzled by the photo's posted here with Tamron 150-600 and am on a wait list. BUT, I can get a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM...

RegisG Loc: Mid-Tennessee

I've been pretty well dazzled by the photo's posted here with Tamron 150-600 and am on a wait list. BUT, I can get a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens, like new for the same price as the Tamron.
My questions are:
Does having IS make it a carry lens for better chance at wildlife than the Tamron?
If I feel the need for 600mm, would I loose anything with a 1.4 added to the Canon?

Camera will be Canon 70D

Appreciate any help for this growing/learning photographer.

Thanks,
RegisG

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

What kind of wildlife?
For anything like BIF using a fast shutter speed and panning and tracking moving birds it's better to leave IS off anyway.

Cameoblue Loc: British Columbia Canada

RegisG wrote:

I've been pretty well dazzled by the photo's poste... (show quote)

I have heard good things about the Tamron but have never had a chance to use it. Some Hoggers have posted some very good shots on this site. On the other hand I own and love my Canon 100-400L. I have had it for a couple of years now and it amazes me each time I use it for clarity and ease of use. The IS is first generation and will save you a couple of stops as opposed to 2nd generation of newer Canon lenses, which will assist you in up to 4 stops. I use the IS all the time while carrying the camera. The only time I shut it off is if it goes on a tripod as this is one of only a slight few lenses that Canon recommends shutting off with a tripod.
Also the 100-400 has two IS switches, mode one to assist horizontal and vertical movement and mode two to assist you while panning. The 100-400L is a great lens and on a crop camera like yours will give you a reach of over 600mm. Adding a 1.4 to it, you will lose some image quality. The question you have to ask yourself is how often will you be needing to shoot past 400mm, if most of the time, then stick with the Tamron rather than add the 1.4

Finally the push/pull feature on the lens is faster and more smoother moving (IMHO) from 100 to 400 than rotating the lens while taking BIFs (and rodeos and races). Some do not like this feature but I find most of the nay sayers have never even held the lens let alone used it.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

RegisG wrote:

I've been pretty well dazzled by the photo's poste... (show quote)

Regis, If you can find the 100-400 for anything close to $1000, I would jump all over it. Put a 1.4x behind it and tape the pins to keep your auto focus working.
The lens is very sharp, even wide open and at 400mm. You can always get your money back out of it at that price, and probably make a little.
But sorry, I don't know anything about the Tammy. ;-)
SS

lbrandt79 Loc: League City, Tx.

SharpShooter wrote:

Regis, If you can find the 100-400 for anything close to $1000, I would jump all over it. Put a 1.4x behind it and tape the pins to keep your auto focus working.
The lens is very sharp, even wide open and at 400mm. You can always get your money back out of it at that price, and probably make a little.
But sorry, I don't know anything about the Tammy. ;-)
SS

How does one go about taping the pins? I have the 100=400 and the 1.4.

RegisG Loc: Mid-Tennessee

Swamp Gator - Yes, I would like to include BIF. So I guess IS slows down the lens...
Cameoblue - Great to hear that you can take action shots with the 100-400
SharpShooter - I did find 2 sources at around $1k and was pretty sure that price will not go down if I change in future.

Friend locally said that the lens may be too slow unless light is real good.

Thanks for all the tips.
RegisG

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

RegisG wrote:

I've been pretty well dazzled by the photo's posted here with Tamron 150-600 and am on a wait list.
RegisG

I don't know if I'd buy the Tamron 150-600 unless you plan to buy a new Canon body as well. Right now, the Tamron lens will not track moving subjects in AI Servo mode with older camera bodies such as the Canon 7D. One of the few Canon bodies that does work with this lens is the new 70D. Later this year the new 7D Mark II will probably we a real winning combo with this lens as well.

Haydon

jeep_daddy wrote:

I don't know if I'd buy the Tamron 150-600 unless you plan to buy a new Canon body as well. Right now, the Tamron lens will not track moving subjects in AI Servo mode with older camera bodies such as the Canon 7D. One of the few Canon bodies that does work with this lens is the new 70D. Later this year the new 7D Mark II will probably we a real winning combo with this lens as well.

Sadly, even the 5DIII has issues with AI servo and the Tamron. Hope they address this problem. I'd love to have that lens on a second body, but I don't own a body that isn't affected. Guess I'll just have to stick to my 500F4 for now.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Haydon wrote:

Sadly, even the 5DIII has issues with AI servo and the Tamron. Hope they address this problem. I'd love to have that lens on a second body, but I don't own a body that isn't affected. Guess I'll just have to stick to my 500F4 for now.

That's what I'd heard too but wasn't sure. I have the 5D Mark III too and probably wouldn't want to chance buying the Tamron unless they had ironed out those problems first. I know that my 7D wouldn't work because a friend of mine has that combo. But he plans on the new 7D II when it comes out this Christmas.

NM prairie dog Loc: Farmington New Mexico

Swamp Gator you take some of the best BIF on the forum I did not know about keeping IS off during flight. I took a series of 17 pictures using 150-600 Tamron with 60D of a bald eagle in flight the last seven were too blurry to even save. I don't know if having IS on had anything to do with it.
Thanks for your input
John

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Haydon wrote:

Guess I'll just have to stick to my 500F4 for now.

Haydon, I was starting to shed a tear for you, till unread the punch line!
But I feel your pain. I used to have the 500, and BIF's were almost impossible. My 100-40" was better, as I could zoom out, then in. ;-)
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

lbrandt79 wrote:

How does one go about taping the pins? I have the 100=400 and the 1.4.

79, just google, "taping the pins on the Canon 100-400", and a pic comes up with some text on exactly what to do. It's real easy.
I have found if you cut a small piece of scotch tape, it works well and has never come off. I used to worry about that.
It's only a pain if you're sharing the extender with several lenses. As it won't report the TC. Good luck. ;-)
SS

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Cameoblue wrote:

I have heard good things about the Tamron but have... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup::

Canon must be selling a bunch of the 100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS USM lenses because it's been in their line up for a LONG time.

Personality, I like the push-pulll zoom. It's fast &; smooth. I usually l3ave my 5D MKII & 7D on AI S lServo & the IS set for horizontal/vertical if I'm hand holding. On my Manfrotto, I turn IS off. I've gotten some great moon shots this way.

Cameoblue Loc: British Columbia Canada

RegisG wrote:

Friend locally said that the lens may be too slow unless light is real good.

Thanks for all the tips.
RegisG

Does your fried have or ever had used one or are they just speculating? Surely there must be a way for you to get to try out the lens and see for your self if it is for you or not?

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

SharpShooter wrote:

Regis, If you can find the 100-400 for anything close to $1000, I would jump all over it. Put a 1.4x behind it and tape the pins to keep your auto focus working.
The lens is very sharp, even wide open and at 400mm. You can always get your money back out of it at that price, and probably make a little.
But sorry, I don't know anything about the Tammy. ;-)
SS

Taping the pins on the Canon TC only works on good bight days and it does slow the AF down. Better off getting a Tamron 1.4X TC, it works better in AF than the Canon TC does. That is what I use on mine.