Canon 70-300 or 100-400 L Lens??? (Page 3): Cassy, what kind of a head are you using. I shoot mine using a gimbal head on the tripod quite often with no problems. I normally shoot this...

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

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.

Cassy,

what kind of a head are you using. I shoot mine using a gimbal head on the tripod quite often with no problems.

I normally shoot this lens handheld though. I try to find a tree or my truck hood for a rest if possible though. This lens is quite accurate if used properly. Keep the SS above 1/1000. When using a tripod shut the IS off! This is a must with this lens. Last, practice your tracking skills. Practice, practice and more practice! When you start to track a BIF use 100-200mm, once you find the BIF go to 400mm. You will find it much easier to start your tracking this way.

Can you post a couple of your photos? Make sure you check the (store original) box. This will help us diagnose your possible problem.

Jim D

GLbro Loc: Sacramento County

I have the 300 lens and I love it! I carry it in my walk-around bag, and use a simple tripod to keep it level. I put it on IS, set it on my tripod, and set the timer and let the camera do all the work. I think it is great in the field. Have fun with it.

old ferret Loc: salisbury plain, uk

The 70-300 L IS USM will accept an extender providing it's not a Canon one, I use a x2 and a x1.4 non Canon on my 7D

jbreen

I have both and find the 70-300 easier to hand hold as it is shorter and lighter. If you are birding, the 100-400, naturally, can reach out and does yield excellent results. However, it is a BIG lens and, depending on the shooter's hand/arm strength and stability, could give you worse results than the 70-300. You should probably give them both a try (rent if need be) and see if your own personal limitations would dictate a shorter, lighter lens.

Bill Golden Loc: Briarcliff NY

old ferret wrote:

The 70-300 L IS USM will accept an extender providing it's not a Canon one, I use a x2 and a x1.4 non Canon on my 7D

Do you lose autofocus? Does the lens hit up against the extender. I read that the Canon extender can damage the 70-300L lens. What brand extender are you using?
Bill

old ferret Loc: salisbury plain, uk

Bill Golden wrote:

Do you lose autofocus? Does the lens hit up against the extender. I read that the Canon extender can damage the 70-300L lens. What brand extender are you using?
Bill

On the 1.4 auto focus still works (Make is a British Firm that went bust (Jessops), you may get one on Ebay though.
The x2 yes you loose auto focus above f5.6 ((Teleplus Pro) Japanese made for various makers) but I am normally on a tripod and using manual settings.
The 1.4 gives very good images, the 2x slightly soft but for that elusive shot for your own records okay.

The extenders don't touch the lens or mirror, it seems it it's the Canon ones that touch.

Hope this helps

Regards Bill

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

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.

The 70-300L tops the 100-400L in almost every review and in almost all aspects, but you loose considerable reach. Take a look also at the 400/5.6L, which has better IQ than the 100-400 and is also lighter by a big margin and is very easy to handhold!!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

A good friend of mine, Judy 2011, uses the 100-400L lens as her go to lens. She lives 10 minutes from Antelope Island in Utah and spends as much time photographing the wildlife there that she can. Here is her last photo post and she is using this lens. This will show you what it is capable of. BTW, she shoots handheld, unless she can rest the lens on her car door.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-199741-1.html

mutrock

I sold my 70-300 and bought the 100-400. Do not regret it based on image quality. The 100-400 does not get me the same quality as the prime lenses in the 100-400 range but it does get me much higher quality than the 70-300.

DavidM Loc: New Orleans, LA

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.

I have this lens and love it, Try using a monopod and Shutter Priority (TV) setting on your camera. The bird photo below was shot at our local zoo. Settings were ISO 100, 190mm focal length, f/5.0 1/640 sec shutter speed.

I wasn't prepared for him, but this is what my camera was set at.

Also added a few more I shot with this lens.

picturedude Loc: Yosemite natl. park, Ca.

I have both lenses and love the 100-400. I also use mine with a monopod. If only for resting my arms between shots. Once I'm taking a shot the monopod is off the ground. I'm like you when it comes to hanging my camera around my neck and just let it hang freely. Just remember, everything takes a while to get used to.
(PS I've never liked using a tripod for a monopod. Too many things to get in the way!). Good luck!!!!!

Vic. Loc: Ohio

I have the 100/400 and hand hold it most of the time. I am 77 yrs. old and have real good results, do you use image stabilizer shooting birds I use priority mode iso 200.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Vic. wrote:

I have the 100/400 and hand hold it most of the time. I am 77 yrs. old and have real good results, do you use image stabilizer shooting birds I use priority mode iso 200.

I do not use the 100-400 anymore (as I opted for the 400 prime, and for shooting birds, I do not miss IS at all. Whenever I can get close enough and use my 70-200/2.8II, I always turn off the IS (even with the 1.4x TC attached).

Bob Boner

You are already covered from 100-300. It would make sense to me to get a prime 400mm. Canon's 400mm f/5.6 lens is one of the best for bird photography. It is faster focusing than most, especially IS lenses. For birds in flight, I find IS to be of marginal (if any) value.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

anotherview wrote:

A slow SS

View, hey, that was a little bit of a low blow!! But hey, alas, I resemble that comment. :lol:
SS