peferguson

As I converted to full frame in the last year, and subsequently switched to Canon from Nikon, I have come to a point where I need to decide on a prime super telephoto lens. I mostly do landscape photography, but also a wildlife (mostly mammals, no birds yet), and am fortunate to have the opportunity to go to east Africa on a regular basis to work at a mission hospital. One of my favorite things is to do wildlife photography on safari. Which brings me to my dilemma. What telephoto lens to purchase. I will shoot a 5D4 and 7D2 with a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II (really nice lens), and an as yet undetermined super tele (which I plan to pickup used).

My thinking was to get a Mark I IS version of either a 400mm f/2.8 (+ a 1.4 EF III) or 500mm f/4. In my Nikon life, I used the 200-400mm f/4 lens which was great, but I can't justify the cost of the Canon equivalent. I am new to the Ugly Hedgehog, and would appreciate people's thoughtful advise / wisdom / opinion as to the pros and cons. I would rent a lens to make a more informed choice, but when I go I am gone for 4-6 weeks, which makes rental cost prohibitive. Thanks.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Don't rent one for the trip, rent one now and shoot locally to test it out.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Great suggestion.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

The old 400mm f/2.8 is too heavy. I have the original 500mm f/4 lens and really like it. But to tell the truth, for African Safari I think your 100-400 Mark II is fine. I know a couple of guys that lead photography tours to Africa for a living and that's what they use now instead of their heavy 500mm or 600mm primes.

JPL

Too bad you have switched to Canon. Nikon D500 and the 200-500 mm lens is a great combo for this kind of photography. Why not rent this for one trip to carry along with the Canon gear?

Bob Boner

I used a 500mm lens until I realized it was not as long as I wanted for wildlife, so I traded it in on a 600. I have never regretted it. The 600 is always on my 7DII when I'm in Yellowstone, or Custer, or wherever I'm trying to photograph wildlife.

Haydon

I personally would stick with the 100-400 for lighter and more flexible work when used for safaris and that's coming from somone owning a 500F4.



These type of comments seem to be prevalent nowadays. Sorry JPL this doesn't help matters whatsoever. It's just negative reinforcement.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Still think renting is a good idea, just rent and use it before you leave and make the decision based on shooting and using the lens! You be better prepared when you get there!!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The 100-400 suggestions are right on target. If you're interested in a prime, look at the 400 DO II.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Canon makes a very fine 200-400 with built in 1.4x teleconverter that is awesome but expensive.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

pf, Welcome to the Hog!
I can see your answers are going to be all over the place!
Here's what I can say about all of this. It depends!!! LoL
It depends mostly on how you will use the lens and if you have any transport limitations.
As has been said, the 400 is VERY heavy and the 600 is about the same but feels a lot heavier because as with all these big primes, the bulk of the weight is at the very front of the lens.
If you will always be in a tripod, it's less critical. Personally I do a lot of handholding.
All of these lenses are almost impossible to handhold if your subject is moving. The problem is two fold. First you have limited holding time because of the weight. Second, for the same reason and because of the very narrow angles of view, it's difficult to quickly find a subject, thus increasing the hold time. The 500 is the skinniest lens as well, so it fits into a backpack a bit easier.
My recommendations are two.
1, put a 1.4x behind the 100-400.
2, If you MUST get the prime, hold out for the 500 mkll because it weighs 2 pounds less than the mkl and is much more hand holdable and transportable than the 500 mkl.
The zoom, as you already know makes it extremely easy to find a subject while zoomed in then simply zoom out to bring it closer. Repeat if you lose it. If you loose the subject with a big prime, it will be gone before you find it again.

You already have the 5DmklV, to bad, because a 5Ds is worth another 200mm crop-wise!!
Again, welcome and good luck!!!
SS

venkatesh_eng

There is a 600mm f4 DO that is likely to come out soon. Canon has already shown the lens at Canon EXPO and hopefully by end of this year would be in the market. That would be the lens that would be light weight and you could carry when travelling on safaris. Check it out at canonrumors.com website.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I would rent and experiment before getting a bigger lens or using a teleconverter. You may get just as nice images by using the 100-400mm and cropping. And if you get longer than 400 you really are going to need a tripod, aren't you? Do the safaris you go on allow for use of a tripod?

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

I used to own a 7D mark II and had a second hand Canon 300mm f2.8L IS + Canon 2 x TC III and the images were gorgeous. The light in Africa should easily allow for f5.6.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

Get over it. will ya????