:-D Apologize, probably not. Reconsider my comment, SURE. Cpnt Jack was looking for help and that should or could have been given in a simple, less confusing manner that answered his question. Too much info can be just a bad as the wrong info or not enough information. As for all the information you and others were dispensing, it was all good, just more than what was asked for.
My best

Harris Hawk Info:

Taken 2011-11-16 @ 10:57:03
300mm f/4 lens
1/2000 second @ f/7.1
Manual exposure mode
ISO 400
no flash
Canon 7D

Thanks, J. Goffe

Good decision! I have the 100-400 as well as the 150-500. Both are nice lenses.

Very nice images!!! Guess I'll throw in my 5 cents. I also like the 300mm f/4 Canon. Here is an image of a Harris Hawk taken at Bosque del Apache NWR in NM week before last.

Harris Hawk

Yes it will be much sharper with better definition and better contrast. That holds true whether you are talking about the 300mm f/4 that is not IS or the 300mm f/2.8 that is IS. Only about $5 grand between the two lenses. I use the 300mm f/4 and the 400mm f/5.6 for birds in flight. Both are relatively inexpensive and are light weight compared to there bigger brothers. A number of folks that I photograph with, especially at Bosque del Apache NWR in NM, are using the 300mm f/2.8 with a 2X converter. Great results and they are happier than when they used a 500mm or 600mm f/4 lens. I use a 400mm f/4 IS DO lens, but only on a tripod. Still too heavy for me to hand hold.

Now back to your original question. Unfortunately, you are comparing apples and oranges. Yes, all these lenses are made by Canon but the prime lenses (fixed focal length) are lenses and carry a large $ price tag. Your lenses are all entry level lenses except for maybe the 10-22. You might want to check out Sigma, Tamron and Takina for additional choices. Yes they are expensive but you will see the differences immediately and come to love your new glass. You might check out the 100mm - 400mm canon zoom as it has proved to be an excellent lens over the years.

My best, J. Goffe

Maura1600, What type of professional photographer do you intend on being? That question must be dealt with early on in your career planning. Some aspects of photography are much more artistic than others. Some are much more technical than others. What are you? I am a forensic photographer which is technical and that matches my personality and capabilities. Many fields in photograph are more technically creative than Artistic. Pick your direction before putting yourself where you shouldn't be.

Best of luck, J. Goffe

DBlackard, you have been given excellent advise. Your lens selection can be dependent on where you are going and what you want to photograph. Your 55-200 will probably be your favorite lens. I say that because I lead photographic trips to Alaska every year and my 70-200 is my favorite. If vyou are considering the purchase or rental of a longer lens, I might recommend the Sigma 150-500 with VR if you intend on capturing wildlife. Someone else recommended the 10-22 wide angle lens and I definitely agree. Without going too crazy on lenses, just enjoy your trip.

Capn Jack, Pay attention to what Adubin has to say. All others are making a mountain out of a Mole hill. A plus is Adubin is showing you images to back up his advice. You have purchased a great macro lens and may or may not need to use the extension tube depending on what you're photographing, how close you want to be to it and how much you want your frame filled with your subject. Just enjoy using it along with your camera. You'll learn fast if you try experimenting. Remember, it's digital!!!

Both are quality lenses made to do macro photography. What you're asking about about two different lenses. If these were pick-ups, one might be a 1/4 ton Chevy and the other a 1/2 ton ford. I use Canon but know the 105mm Nikon is a great lens. So is the 100mm Canon that I use. I also use the 150mm Sigma when I need more separation between the subject and the camera.

So you might ask yourself if the more telephoto Sigma is what you want. Either lens will give you great images for many years! Just to tell you how great the Sigma is, I sent my 180mm Canon macro back to Canon when I tried, and eventually bought, the Sigma 150.

Have fun and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Very well done. I like one or two. I see in color, therefore the third is not one of my choice.

Both Canon and Nikon are good cameras. Which feels best to you? Which provides the feature you want? I know the Canon 60D is an excellent camera as 2 people in a recent workshop were using them. One had the Canon 18-200mm lens and the other used the 18-250mm Sigma. Both got excellent results photographing nature and wildlife. The Canon 70-200 you quoted is not a lens with IS and therefore I would recommend the Sigma 18-250 over that Canon lens.

Hard choice but I'd go Canon if it feels good in your hands. Better with high ISO. Better articulated LCD and a locking mode knob. I'd recommend the Vertical Battery Grip as your first accessory.

Your old canon lens are probably not EOS compatible and even if they did fit, WHY? They do not have as good of optics as the sigma 18-250 or the Canon 18-200.

With either ... have fun!

I don't know but I think Not on your 50-150mm lens ... especially if you mean true macro with flat field capabilities. Jerry

Do you want to stay some distance from your subject? Do you need a wide field of view? Answer those two questions and you may determine what direction to look. I use a Canon 50mm f/2.8 when I need to photograph something large (like a book page) and can't move back. I use a Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS or a Sigma 150mm f/2.8 OS when doing macro on small subjects. All three lenses are true macro lenses and each is used for different subjects and distances between the camera and the subject. Have fun!!!

Jerry

Terry, I made a mistake. It was taken at a 1/250 of a second and not a 200th. Taken at f/20 using a Canon 7D and a 400mm f/4 DO IS L Lens. Manual Focus and auto white balance. Hope this is the info you were looking for.

My best, "the f/stops here"

Terry, I'm glad you use different shutter speeds than I. Shutter speeds are only one part of capturing an image the way it was intended. Since you seemed amazed at the speeds I mentioned, I thought I would throw one your way. You said 1/1,000 to stop a hummingbirds wings. This is how I do it at 1/200 of a second.

Female Calliope Hummingbird