Which lens do you prefer for BIF & Wildlife: I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as...

ronz Loc: Florida

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Well - without knowing your camera system, kind of impossible to have a discussion of options ...

Frank W Loc: Adirondacks in NY

ronz wrote:

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

Olympus OM-D E-M1 with 75 - 300
Because that's what I have and learned how to use it.

Dragonfly Loc: Indianapolis

I have a tamron 150-600 and rarely use it because it's big and heavy.
I use my 55-300 mostly.
It's good enough for some awesome pics and small enough that I don't mind carrying it.
This is the lens I keep on my camera 90% of the time.
And almost always shoot hand held.
I shoot with a Nikon D7100.

ronz Loc: Florida

Sorry I shoot Canon, 5d iv & 7d ll. So I have full and crop

treadwl Loc: South Florida

Sadly, most will not agree with my choice of tools but here it is. I shoot a Nikon D800 & D850. Before purchasing those bodies, when I retired, I used a Nikon D300s. My lens choice is Nikon 200-400 f4, vr. I am beyond thrilled with this lens. I got incredible sharp contrasty photos with the Nikon D300s and they quality of the photos has only improved now that I'm using the D800 series. I've added a tc1.4 for extra reach so I am now 550mm on a full frame camera. I'm selling many of my shots of both birds and wildlife. The key is patience, working to to get close enough to fill the frame and knowing how to use the gear. It took me several months when I first got the lens to master it, but now I would never turn back and love the gear and the results. You can view samples at Reminisces.smugmug.com. The key is getting GOOD glass not just a cheap long lens.

Happy shooting.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

ronz wrote:

Sorry I shoot Canon, 5d iv & 7d ll. So I have full and crop

If you don't want too heavy, the superior decision is the 100-400L II. Available for the lens and both your bodies is adding a 1.4x III.

If you find the 100-400L too heavy, then slightly narrower-aperture primes are the next option. But, the weight doesn't drop that much.

EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

On another, higher level is the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM. It's about the same weight with as the 100-400L, but physically larger (a lot of sized added with the hood). Awesome lens with options for both 1.4x (to 420mm) and 2x (to 600mm). Very hand-holdable just as the 100-400L and the other primes mentioned.

BB4A

ronz wrote:

Sorry I shoot Canon, 5d iv & 7d ll. So I have full and crop

Those are my two in-the-field bodies, too! Either great minds think alike, or fools seldom differ?

For great handheld capabilities and relatively(!) light weight, I have found the EF 100-400L IS II USM to be awesome, on both / either body. Canon is doing a discount deal on them still I believe, and for me & my photography, just an awesome lens.

Dragonfly Loc: Indianapolis

The best lens is the one you don't mind carrying around.
Best...go to a camera shop and try several...then imagine carrying them around for a few hours.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I use a Sigma 150-600. I still need the option of picking a length that is provided by the 150-600.

However, given your experience, you might be able to handle the higher tracking demands of the 300 or 400 with or without a 1.4.

Once I get better at finding and shooting these fast moving objects, I plan to add one of these lenses to my bag.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

BB4A wrote:

Those are my two in-the-field bodies, too! Either great minds think alike, or fools seldom differ?

For great handheld capabilities and relatively(!) light weight, I have found the EF 100-400L IS II USM to be awesome, on both / either body. Canon is doing a discount deal on them still I believe, and for me & my photography, just an awesome lens.

EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II USM currently on sale at Canon for $1,899 after a $300 discount. https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/ef-100-400mm-f45-56l-is-ii-usm

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

ronz wrote:

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

If you can live with the smaller M4/3 sensor there are some good choices that are compact, relatively light and have long reach. Panasonic puts stabilization in both lens and body for effective hand held shooting.

My preferred lens is the Panasonic Lumix 100-400 which has the FF equivalent field of view of 200-800. A little newer is a prime Panasonic Leica 200 shown next to a Nikon with the equivalent field of view:

(Download)

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

ronz wrote:

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

I have just started using a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR with a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC 14E III 1.4x on a Nikon D7200.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

ronz wrote:

Sorry I shoot Canon, 5d iv & 7d ll. So I have full and crop

Well I use a 5DIV and 80D (used to have 6D and 7DII) and for birds I now use 100-400L mk II (+ 1.4x III). And I used to use a Tamron 150-600. They are not as heavy as some combos but still fairly heavy. I find a screw on pistol grip (about $15 on Amazon) helps when hand holding, and finding things to brace or rest weight on helps. You could also look into body pods.
You can try the Sigma or Tamron 100-400, they are lighter and the 1.4x extenders for them are lighter also.
I also sometimes use a Tamron 180 macro with a Kenko 1.4X Pro 300 extender for 403 mm Angle Of View on my crop sensor.

When I can do it without too much trouble I use my rig on a tripod and gimbal head. Finding where they congregate and finding cover nearby or putting up a pop up blind works. Alternate is put out feeders to bring them to you.

When it comes to BIF there is seldom "long enough" and "too long' doesn't exist. Though when I first got into birds all I had was a 70-300. It didn't take much time for me to go long.

TMcD Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Understanding that you have Canon gear, I'll still offer the suggestion of taking a look at the m4/3 systems. Although I also have Canon gear, I find that for BIF, the Olympus OMD E-M1 II with the Pana/Leica 100-400 is a great combination especially when weight is a consideration. The reach is tremendous and it's hard to beat the image stabilization when using such a long lens. Good luck!