Dr.CalebRodriguez

Just my two cents worth. I have used a variety of lenses and cameras. The Photographer makes it all happen. The reason that I say this is that you always hear about super telephoto lens and their prices.

I love the older style Canon 100-400 L Lens. It can be often found used and pretty much built like a tank. Also have used all of the 150-600 Super Telephoto. I find that both provide about the same amount of keepers and would make a great choice. I only say this because the 100-400 weighs in at about 3.25lbs and the Other 150-600 can weigh from 4.25-well over 6.00 lbs.
If weight is not an issue have at it. For the money though you will get e much better lens with the 100-400. Should be found for less than $1000.

Hope that this helps.

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

You asked specifically about a telephoto lens for your Canon t5 and have received much good advice regarding such lenses. However, given that you describe yourself as "only a beginner and casual user so don't want to break the bank...", you might want to consider (if you have not already done so) a "bridge" camera, such as the Canon SX60, in lieu of an expensive telephoto lens of 400mm or more. I think you can pick up a used Canon SX60 on eBay for $300, very possibly less. It would give you 65x magnification, a so-called "equivalent" of approximately 1560mm max focal range. It would be relatively compact and fully usable for "normal" shooting as well as longer shots.

The Canon SX60 certainly isn't the only such camera around. It is just one of a number of sophisticated and reliable bridge cameras that happens to come to mind.

Best regards,

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

From what I've been hearing from others, OP might be better off looking for a refurbished {or gently used} SX-50.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Correct. The converters are limited to certain matched L lenses That is why they are "White". Good explanation.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You should be looking at KEH in addition to eBay.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Anything longer than 300mm is going to be fairly expensive... but will be a whole lot better lens than your EF 75-300mm! Faster focusing, image stabilized and better image quality.

Well, you might consider a Canon EF 100-400mm IS USM... the first version with the push/pull zoom. The Canon USA online store has them for about $1350. BUT... you might as well buy it brand new... B&H Photo has it in stock for $1300. (The "II" version costs about $2000.) And, for only a little more $ you could get a brand new Tamron 150-600mm "G2" VC... $1400. There are also still first versions of the Tamron 150-600mm VC around, for under $900 B&H has them in stock).

Too much $? Look for used/discontinued Sigma 120-400mm OS HSM or 150-500mm OS HSM... Those both can be found used for between $550 and $650. Sigma also used to offer a 50-500mm... but it's often more expensive, plus is a much bigger and heavier lens. Actually, all of these are fairly big lenses.

The Canon 400mm f/5.6L USM is an excellent, fast focusing lens.... you might find it used for under $1000. New it sells for over $1300. But it lacks image stabilization, which is very helpful on really long lenses like these. Also, a fixed focal length (i.e., prime instead of a zoom), isn't quite as versatile as a zoom might be. All the zooms mentioned above have stabilization. I think they all have higher performance ultrasonic auto focus drive, too.

A teleconverter is a "cheap" way to get longer focal length. But a Canon T5 will not be able to autofocus any of the above lenses or your 75-300mm in combination with a teleconverter. All the above lenses are f/5.6 or f/6.3 at their longer settings and when you add even a 1.4X teleconverter, you lose a stop of light.... too little light for the camera to focus. It's "f/5.6 limited". The only "f/8 capable" Canon cameras are the 80D, 7D Mark II, current and most recent 5D-series, and 1D-series models. You could try to manual focus them, but that can be frustrating trying to photography small, quick moving birds.

In addition, teleconverters always "cost" some image quality... are best used with high quality, prime lenses. Some zooms are "okay" with them. But a lot just make for too poor image quality for it to be worthwhile.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

First, it won't physically fit between his lens and the camera because there is interference. Second, it's not on Canons list of lenses it will work on. Third, many 3rd party TC's will work because they are designed differently, but the optics aren't as good and IQ will suffer.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Yup, I agree with you. I don't have that lens but I have several other Canon lenses that are not L series and they work fine with Tamron and Vivitar 2X converters on both the Rebel and the 6D and I'm sure you are right with the Kenko 2X. :-) It is just the Canon converters that are restricted to special lense due to the protrusion on the end that goes to the lens. There is a lot of rant on this thead for a fairly simple solution. There is a hogger over in the classifieds with a Tamron 150-600 for sale for under $700.

izzT5obi

Thanks for the replies, good info, looks like i ll have to go used,sounds like sigma or Canon400

agillot

if you dont mine manual focus , a Tokina SD 400MM F5.6 PRIME 72MM filter size , can be found on line used for less then $ 100 , have one , nikon mount , and it work very well , nice and sharp .

SteveR Loc: Michigan

If you're shooting at a distance, focusing should not be a problem. This might be a good investment. Since it doesn't auto-focus, you can stick a teleconverter on it and not worry about being at f8.

izzT5obi

Thanks, not familiar with teleconverter, will do some research

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Make sure you're looking at rear-mounted teleconverters; some vendors sell product labeled as "teleconverter" which screws in as a filter does; they tend to give rather awful results.

izzT5obi

thanks, good to know

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You'll be really happy with the v1 100-400L if you can find a good copy in the $800 range used. Don't pay more for a lens this old ...