totally confused - lens question for Canon

[Sunshine68]

I was reading the thread regarding purchasing of lenses for birding photography. At the moment, I own a Canon 300D digital Rebel and a Canon 75-300mm zoom lens. I just bought a Kenko 1.5x TC and already experiencing some issues with focusing and lower quality images. I too am on a tight budget at the moment but always willing to save my pennies for a new toy. With all the beautiful pictures posted here, I am really confused on what I should consider as a future investment - money isn't an option if the quality is good and something I can work towards. I've had a 400 mm zoom suggestioned and a flash to shed light on subjects in the shadows or where the sun is not behind me. Would love something with some versatility with ease to photo handheld. HELP!!

[hollis_f]

I was reading the thread regarding purchasing of lenses for birding photography. At the moment, I own a Canon 300D digital Rebel and a Canon 75-300mm zoom lens. I just bought a Kenko 1.5x TC and already experiencing some issues with focusing and lower quality images. I too am on a tight budget at the moment but always willing to save my pennies for a new toy. With all the beautiful pictures posted here, I am really confused on what I should consider as a future investment - money isn't an option if the quality is good and something I can work towards. I've had a 400 mm zoom suggestioned and a flash to shed light on subjects in the shadows or where the sun is not behind me. Would love something with some versatility with ease to photo handheld. HELP!!

I can imagine the problems you're having with image quality - putting a 1.5x on a 75-300.

If you want to shoot handhels then you're really looking at getting an image-stabilised lens. The cheapest option would be to go for the new Canon 70-300 IS. That will be quite similar to your current lens, but the quality will be higher and you'll find the focussing will be faster.

After that you're looking at getting something like...

Sigma 50-500mm (no IS, long reach)
Sigma 80-400mm (with IS, but somewhat slow focus)
Canon 100-400mm (quite expensive)
Canon 300mm f4 (same price as 100-400)

You'll have problems using the 1.5x extender with all of these lenses apart from the 300 f4. With the other lenses it will work in good light, albeit slowly.

If you can stretch to the 100-400 I'd recommend that. You'll really notice a massive difference from the 75-300.

[eastwood]

Frank has made very good suggestions. One word of caution is, if you are looking for the Canon 70-300 IS, USM, check up the US canon web site. They have certain batches of this lens got problems and need to be fixed. (The site actually listed the serial numbers of these lens). Mine falls in that group and I sent it back to Canon Canada where they fixed it for me. I used it alone and with Tamron 1.4X (virtually the same as Kenko). Images when used alone is acceptable, but not exotic. With the extender, it is not good for birds. The image quality dropped a lot and the lens hunts quite a bit with both my XT and XTi. However, used alone, the range is a bit on the short side. The lens I used most often is the 100-400 L IS. There are lots of discussion about this lens in this site and elsewhere. It gives me good image quality and flexibility. And of course the other lens sugessted by Frank can all be put into consideration. Another one that can be on the list may be the Tamron 200-500. I have never used the other lenses except the 2 I mentioned, so you have to look them up and get more information before embarking on any of them.
Cheers.
Eastwood.

[gordon g]

If you want to shoot handhels then you're really looking at getting an image-stabilised lens.

Or a large apeture lens, a high ISO, or good tehnique!
Good technique is definately the cheapest!

[UlfL]

Or a large apeture lens, a high ISO, or good tehnique!
Good technique is definately the cheapest!
Best option ought to be a large aperture lens, high ISO, good technique and IS. ;-)

[IanF]

If the lens is primarily for bird photography then I don't think you can do better than either the Canon 400mm f5,6 or Canon 100-400mm which is more versatile due to the zoom range not to mention the Image Stabiliser which is very effective.