Canon 70-300 or 100-400 L Lens??? HI I bought a 100-400 L lens a few months ago and continue to have problems taking pictures and holding the lens. :-( I am thinking of selling this...

Cassy Loc: New England

HI
I bought a 100-400 L lens a few months ago and continue to have problems taking pictures and holding the lens. :-(
I am thinking of selling this lens and buying the 70-300 L Lens. Has anyone had bought lens and is the 300 better?
I just have a hard time hand holding the lens, but when the birds are moving and flying I can't use a tripod. I'm so confused and disappointed the 400 isn't working out.

amehta Loc: Boston

Cassy wrote:

HI
I bought a 100-400 L lens a few months ago and continue to have problems taking pictures and holding the lens. :-(
I am thinking of selling this lens and buying the 70-300 L Lens. Has anyone had bought lens and is the 300 better?
I just have a hard time hand holding the lens, but when the birds are moving and flying I can't use a tripod. I'm so confused and disappointed the 400 isn't working out.

Have you tried using a monopod? It supports the weight, but you can move it very quickly.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I wouldn't attempt to handhold a lens that long. I have a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 on my Sony A850 that I don't attempt to use without being mounted on a monopod. They're typically too heavy for handheld work. Monopods also give you a steady base for using slower shutter speeds. Three pounds is a lot of weight to try to handhold anytime.

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

The 70-300 is often short for birds, and has a lesser image quality reputation than the 100-400 as a wildlife lens.

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

nicksr1125 wrote:

I wouldn't attempt to handhold a lens that long. I have a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 on my Sony A850 that I don't attempt to use without being mounted on a monopod. They're typically too heavy for handheld work.

Just depends on your physical condition and how steady your hands are.
I ALWAYS hand hold my 400L f5.6.

OTOH, I rarely hand hold my 500L f4.5. I can do it on occasion, but not for long.

Cassy Loc: New England

nicksr1125 wrote:

I wouldn't attempt to handhold a lens that long. I have a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 on my Sony A850 that I don't attempt to use without being mounted on a monopod. They're typically too heavy for handheld work. Monopods also give you a steady base for using slower shutter speeds. Three pounds is a lot of weight to try to handhold anytime.

Hi, I actually have tried using my tripod with only using one leg, so I can move around quickly. Just doesn't seem to work well. Is there really a difference between Tripod (using only 1 leg) and Monopod?

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

Cassy wrote:

Hi, I actually have tried using my tripod with only using one leg, so I can move around quickly. Just doesn't seem to work well. Is there really a difference between Tripod (using only 1 leg) and Monopod?

Yes. I've used both. Monopod is much less unwieldy if you're going to try to move quickly.

But I prefer my tripod for more solid, level shooting.

anotherview Loc: California

You did not mention the Shutter Speed you use or the camera. A slow SS could give blurry images.

The general rule for a full frame camera is that the SS has to match the Focal Length as a minimum for a handheld shot to turn out sharp.

For a cropped sensor camera, you will have to multiply the focal length by 1.6 in the case of a Canon camera to know the Effective Focal Length. The resulting EFL number tells you the minimum handheld SS.

Image Stabilization of course changes this equation, allowing handheld shots at a slower SS -- as many as 3 or 4 f-stops slower when handholding the camera.

I own and use the Canon EF 70-300mm L IS Lens. This lens produces sharp, high-quality images, used correctly. I do mainly landscape photography with it.

Note that this lens cannot mount a tele-extender due to its configuration.

You seem to have difficulty with technique. I hope this comment helps.

Cassy wrote:

HI
I bought a 100-400 L lens a few months ago and continue to have problems taking pictures and holding the lens. :-(
I am thinking of selling this lens and buying the 70-300 L Lens. Has anyone had bought lens and is the 300 better?
I just have a hard time hand holding the lens, but when the birds are moving and flying I can't use a tripod. I'm so confused and disappointed the 400 isn't working out.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Are you hand holding/carrying the camera/lens all the time?
Allow it to hang on your shoulder and rest your hands/arms.
That's what I do.
I wouldn't be too quick to get rid of the lens.
Hope you get it figured out!!
Pat

Cassy Loc: New England

anotherview wrote:

You did not mention the Shutter Speed you use or t... (show quote)

Hi Anotherviewer,
I seem to be having trouble with all the above :-). I am realizing I have a lot to learn about bigger and longer lenses. I do great with my 24-70 or my 100-300 (non L glass, much cheaper lens) but I go to the 100-400 and just have trouble. I guess I am expecting the same results and It's making me SO Frustrated because I'm not getting the results. As you know with Wildlife, I don't have time to set up my tripod and get my camera attached :-). Thanks for the info.

Cassy Loc: New England

Jay Pat wrote:

Are you hand holding/carrying the camera/lens all the time?
Allow it to hang on your shoulder and rest your hands/arms.
That's what I do.
I wouldn't be too quick to get rid of the lens.
Hope you get it figured out!!
Pat

Hi Pat, I am trying so hard to learn how to use it. I dont' let it hang on my shoulder. I will put the strap around my neck and will hold the Lens/camera. Not sure I want it to just Hang. I will try hanging on my shoulder. thanks for the info. I really don't want to get rid of the lens.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Cassy: It takes time to learn how to use a longer lens and the techniques are different than hand holding shorter lenses. I understand your frustration. We have a special section here on the HOG for people interested in Birds in Flight/Birds on Water. Here is a link to a tutorial that I wrote on hand holding longer lenses for BIF's. http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-88437-1.html

I hope this is helpful. There are other tips and techniques that are in that section that can help you, too.

One little tip with that specific lens that I use is to zoom out to find the bird, then zoom in to focus and shoot. Sometimes with the longer focal lengths, even getting the bird in the viewfinder can be a challenge. The "trombone" zoom of the 100-400 is ideal for that technique.

Here is another link talking about getting sharp pictures of birds in flight: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-112461-1.html

Stop by the BIF/BOW forum and post some of your pictures. Don't forget to click on "store original" so we can see the exif data. Several of us would be happy to look at your work and give you suggestions on how to improve it.

Haydon

I own the 70-300L as well and do love it but it's too short for small birds. There's a good reason there hasn't been a replacement on the aging 100-400L. It continues to sell extremely well. In fact I read last year the 100-400L sells 4 times better than the optically superior 70-300L.

I would suggest patience with your 100-400L and increase your shutter speed. Long lens technique is an acquired skill that takes practice. It took me a while to make sharp photos with my 500mm and I had to relearn once I started using an extender.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Cassy wrote:

HI
I bought a 100-400 L lens a few months ago and continue to have problems taking pictures and holding the lens. :-(
I am thinking of selling this lens and buying the 70-300 L Lens. Has anyone had bought lens and is the 300 better?
I just have a hard time hand holding the lens, but when the birds are moving and flying I can't use a tripod. I'm so confused and disappointed the 400 isn't working out.

Thinking out of the box may solve your problem:

http://www.adorama.com/Reviews/pwr/product-reviews/Tripods/Misc-Camera-Supports/BushHawk/p/BH320DPKC-Bush-Hawk-Shoulder-Mount-with-Double-Handle-320D-Pro-Kit-C-for-Pro-Canon-Cameras.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzLVyZSAjKw

You'll be able to handle your 100-400L easier, and following birds in flight with either continuous focus or pass-through techniques can be easily taught to you by and skilled duck hunter/photographer. You won't need all the accessories (i.e., K.I.S.S.; Keep It Short and Simple). You will love the Bush Hawk! If the dealers are out go to eBay and look for the single grip model.

amehta Loc: Boston

Cassy wrote:

Hi, I actually have tried using my tripod with only using one leg, so I can move around quickly. Just doesn't seem to work well. Is there really a difference between Tripod (using only 1 leg) and Monopod?

A monopod weighs about 1/3 of a comparable tripod, or less if you don't put ahead on the monopod. This makes the monopod much easier to use. It's also easier to hold a monopod rather than the three legs of the tripod at the top.