santa carver Loc: Hillsboro OR

Issues with/thoughts on Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Versa Sigma 150-500MM Sigma 50-500MM?
I have a Canon T3i and am looking for a wildlife lens. I normaly use my T3i in manual mode as far as "f" stop and shutter speed but in some cases would like to use Auto focus mode With IS.
But I'm hearing there are some issues with battery power not being enough to drive AF at fast rate (I have seen a couple of statements like this "This is a big lens with big power requirements. The 40D had a hard time driving it. The 7D and 1DS make it come alive.")
Does anyone know anything about this issue?
I'm heading to Alaska this summer and looking to do some animal shots along with Bald Eagles in flight.
Thank You in advance
Bruce

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Here are some pics I took with my 50-500mm Sigma today, handheld. My Nikon D90 powers it wonderfully. I am not much of a fan of the Canon push-pull zoom feature.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-22647-1.html

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Santa, I don't know anything about the sigma. I can only guess that a big heavy lens will need a more powerfull focus motor. That though probably shouldn't make it run slower, though I could see it killing your battery faster. But you need to get that info from the bigma guys.
As for the 100-400 I have used it a lot. It works fine on my 5Dll. On your crop you would be shooting a natve 640. That is plenty for all but small birds. If you are in close on small birds you may still need a 1.6x to really bring out feather detail. That is where the sigma would come in handy. If you want to shoot auto focus with the 100/400 and a 1.6 you need to tape the pins. Mine lives this way since I shoot a FF. and it works pretty well but much faster and more reliable without the 1.6. Of course if you go full manual it is fine but for manual focus the viewfinder gets a little dark if you are in overcast or evening conditions. I think if you are shooting big animals and bald eagles and such the 100/400 would be fine w/o the 1.6. I would always carry a 1,6. the 100-400 is a great lens. Don't forget that for all it's bad press it is an L and it's cheap. I have better lenses but they cost $5K more.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

I would say if you have the money, it's hard to beat the Canon, especially considering its price point. $1500 gets you a hell of a lot of lens. It's the reference standard. If you can live with the push-pull zoom instead of a rotating barrel, you will probably grow to love it for wildlife. It likes good light, but on a tripod, you can get very sharp images. Nearly every pro Canon wildlife shooter has one, they're that ubiquitous. My bald eagle shot from the other day was taken with one, handheld from about 200 yards.

judy 2011 Loc: Northern Utah

I have the T3i and the Canon 100-400. I use it tons for wildlife. I love the lens! I just took pictures of kestrels yesterday. Like it was said....if you have the money....go for the canon.

santa carver Loc: Hillsboro OR

Judy was the turkey vulture taken with the 100-400? Were you using auto focus? Image stabalization? Was your camera in auto mode or manual mode.
How is you battery life when using this lens?
Thank you Bruce

judy 2011 Loc: Northern Utah

Hi Bruce, the turkey vulture was taken in the Landscape mode. With my 100-400. Auto. IS ....yes. I don't think it uses up a lot of battery. But then I use this lens so much that I can't really compare to the other lens. I have about 4 batteries. I don't seem to change them very often so guessing they last me some time. But....I do take lots of photos when I go out. I tell my husband unless I take at least 100 pics on a outing....then it wasn't a good day. har har

I use the Landscape mode a lot cuz the colors are better. I don't know much about photography so I'm doing things easy way. I know nothing about photoshop and don't have it but I can see where it would really come in handy for colors.

Since reading posts here I have bought a book. (But....sad to say....I haven't looked at it yet....but I will!)

Connie Sue

I have the sigma 150-500
Love it with my canon 60D
It takes great clear shots very happy with it

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Santa Carver:

I Canon cameras, too. I usually shoot with the 7D. My widest zoom lens is a 28-300mm F3.5-5.6 IS. It is about the size of the 100-400mm, yet it does not drain my batteries much. I also add a battery grip to all my cameras, which enables me to shoot up to 3,000 frames with the two batteries each camera has.

Peter Nagy

papakatz45 Loc: South Florida-West Palm Beach

I use this lens for wildlife &kids baseball. It focuses very fast and gives great pictures. As far as batter life, I usually shoot 300-400 shots during a game over a 2 hour period with no problem.

Meredith Images Loc: Stratford, CT

I have used both of these lenses with good results. I rented the 100-400 when I went to Yellowstone -- using it with a 40D (and at times a 2x extender).

I rented the 150-500 the past Oct. for a Florida bird trip. Works great with the 40D both hand held and on the tripod.

I had thought for a while my next lens purchase would be the 100-400 (got the 70-200 2.8 last year), but I'm seriously thinking about the 150-500. Less $$ and more reach!

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

melphoto60

was just at creve core camera store and used the 100-400 on my 40D didnt have any problems driving this lens and when I'm testing a lens I see how fast focus is using a close object then a far object, focus was fast and spot on. Why are you asking abt 40D when you have a T3i ?

santa carver Loc: Hillsboro OR

Wanted to understand if anyone was having same issue with T3i.
This is the answer I got back from Canon Tech people,
"The EOS Rebel T3i was designed to be used with any EF and EF-S series Canon lenses. It does not power any particular lens any less or more than the lens requires. A lens that uses more power may drain the battery in the camera faster than a smaller lens, but the performance otherwise should be the same."
So it sounds like I shouldn't have any issues.