Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

I have a canon rebel t4i with the following lenses: canon 18-55; canon 75-300; canon 50; sigma 18-250. I am itching for an L lens and have been watching the canon 100-400. A photographer friend has told me to hold out for a canon 70-200 2.8 with an extender. I am concerned that might be just too much for me. I am a 68 year old female who mostly enjoys shooting birds, sunrises, some macro and although I have one I do not enjoy the tripod. Given this information which lens would you think better suited for me and which of my existing lenses should I sell to help finance?

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

Canon 18-55, the sigma 18-250 will still give you the focal lengths as the canon 18-55.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

What type of pictures do you take? To buy a "L" lens to show your friends or to use and why "L" lens because you want one or have a reason to use it. I have "L" lenses and non "L" or non Canon lenses but I got them for a reason. I would only buy full frame lenses so you can grow and not have to replace them when and if you go full frame. You still make mistakes. I have my 17mm TS and found that it is more difficult to use in the sun light as it doesn't have a sun shade. Thinking of getting a 24mmTS and that another big step $$$$
Good luck, have fun and I hope this helps. I'm not trying to be hard nose just trying to help you not make some mistakes i made.

Harryd68959

I have had all of the lens you own. I have not had the 100-400 but recently traded for an older 70-200 2.8 IS. I think you might want to rent each of them for a day and see if you want to try to carry and hold each of them. The only lens I would keep is the 50. For macro its ok. I have seen a used 100mm really reasonable.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I have a 70-200 2.8 with a 2x I use frequently. It is very flexible. A 70-200 2.8 and a 1.4x should work very well on your t4i and maintain AF through the whole range. I also have a Sigma 150-600, but find I seldom use it as the 70-200 and the extender is more flexible and easier to pack. The 100-400 4.5-5.6 will work with an extender, but you will have AF issues on your body as you zoom. The 70-200 2.8 with a 1.4 will have a max of f/4 while the same lens with a 2x will have a max of f/5.6 allowing AF operation. The 100-400 with the 1.4x gives you a max of f/6.3 at 100mm and f/8 fully zoomed. The t2i will not AF through all of that.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

The 70-200 f2.8L is almost exactly the same size and weight (~3.5 lbs) as the 100-400L, so no big difference there. Remember that there are several versions of the 70-200 f2.8 - you’ll want one with IS if you go that way. There are also 2 versions of the 100-400 - the MKI is a “push-pull” zoom, while the MKII is a “twist” zoom like the 70-200 and is reportedly an improvement over the MKI. On the other hand, some like the speed of zooming with the MKI, and they can be found for about half the price of a new MKII, so a bargain.

Regarding the extender with the 70-200. If you go that way, I would recommend that you limit yourself to a Canon 1.4x MKII or MKIII extender - they are both an improvement over the MKI, and many find that going to 2x loses too much IQ, but you may differ. The 1.4 will give you 280mm max at f4 while the 2x will provide 400mm max at f5.6. The 70-200 f2.8 is no lightweight, but it is one of the most versatile lenses you can choose. Personally, I would go for it first unless you plan to need the extra length of the 100-400 for wildlife, etc. Your crop body plus a 1.4 extender (which you can add later if you need it) may provide the “reach” you need with the 70-200, and the extender could also be used with the 100-400 if you add that lens later. Just my thoughts and opinions...

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I agree with the comments about the relatively same weight & size of the 100-400L II and the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II. You might find both are too large / heavy for your extended use and should handle one / both before making a purchase decision. I think the 100-400 is the better overall choice unless you're shooting indoor work for the majority of your activities, not the intended purposes you mentioned in your post. Looking at your other lens and your intended usage, I'd keep only the EF 50, get an EF-S 10-18 IS (wide angle work), and then debate what for a general purpose zoom, say the EF-S 18-135 IS.

If you find the L zooms with IS are actually larger and heavier than you can handle, even after considering a tripod, look at the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM or the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

You don't mention what type of pictures you take. That determines what lenses you will want/need.

Lots of landscapes - wide angle for most people but some use telephoto to do closeup landscapes of specific features.

Lots of family snaps and portrait or semi portrait then the middle range of 70-150 or so.

Birds, wildlife, sports (open field) than the teles and tele zooms are it. The 100-400L is very good for this kind of photography-outdoors in daylight. I use a 100-400L mkII (had the mkI before, it is still a great lens) with extender for birds and butterflies. I also have a Tamron 150-600 G2 (used to have a G1). I have two bodies 5DIV and 80D-I used to use a 6D and 7DII. That 70-200 with or without extender is for indoor sports like basketball or stage performances etc.

Low light - that 50 you have is probably very good (mine is 1.8)

I use a tripod with gimbal head for when I am setup in a location. I hand hold (using a pistol grip on the tripod foot) when moving around and sometimes have a monopod hanging on a strap just in case. I am a 73 year old male, fat and out of shape, exercise of the arms and shoulders definitely helps with hand holding larger lenses.

My main interest is birds, butterflies and flowers but I also do car & truck shows or other festivals (we have a Steam Punk event yearly) at the railway museum I belong to as well as the trains and interiors of cars in our collection (14 mm f/2.8 for that). I have gone all day at the Steam Punk event and Civil War Encampments with my 24-105.

I sometimes do planes, esp old war birds since my house happens to be right where the planes do their turns to go back to the airfield where the "Planes of Fame" museum is located when they are practicing.

I also do a lot of macro, mostly flowers, plants and insects. For that my main lens is a Tamron 180 macro. And I own the gear for doing focus stacking of my macros. I also have a couple of flashes - one with a guide # of 60 for use on birds at distance in shade or other poor light situations.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

The OP said "I am a 68 year old female who mostly enjoys shooting birds, sunrises, some macro and although I have one I do not enjoy the tripod. "

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Guess I should put my glasses on and finish my first cup of coffee before trying to read things on the monitor. Yes my day is just starting, I stay up late reading and then sleep late.
I did just notice though that she lists macro photography but she did not list a macro lens.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

The 100-400L (new version) is a fantastic lens. If you are an avid bird and wildlife shooter and get out quite often to photograph them, this would be the lens for you. I have a friend who shoots this lens and she is a marvelous wildlife photographer. She has posted here previously as Judy 2011. However, at that time she had the original 100-400L. She handholds it, so that should not be a problem.

I'd keep the Canon 50, Sigma 18-250 and sell the rest.

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thank you, marine73.

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thanks for your input, Picture Taker. To answer your question: the friend who jump started my recent interest in photography with his fabulous photos has a 70-300 L and told me from the beginning that I needed to save up for an L lens to improve the quality of my images. I don’t anticipate ever going to a full frame camera. I have no professional aspirations. I have said before that my ultimate goal is to be able to print something I’d be proud to hang on the bathroom wall. 😊

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

That makes sense, Harry. I might ask Santa for gift certificates to Lens Rentals!

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thanks for your reply, dsmeltz. Following your observations I am thinking that the ISO would have to be bumped considerably if using the 100-400 because a lot of what I shoot is early morning. My camera doesn’t handle too high an ISO setting.