Canon 500mm f4 IS or 400mm f2.8 IS

[Cashie]

Hi, :h?:

I'm in a bit of a dilema, I have been wondering which of these lenses would be best for birding, the 500 at f4 with 1.4X TC, or 400 at f2.8 with 1,4X TC, I know the 500 has a bit more reach & the 400 is one stop faster but does that make the 400 a better proposition?

I will be getting them at the same price , so which would you buy?



Paul :h?:

[IanF]

I own neither but if I had the money it would definitely be the 500mm f4. It has that extra reach and from what I've seen can be used with both 1.4x and 2x converters. They're both chunky lenses possibly more suited to tripod use despite the IS so to gain the full benefit the 500mm seems a better proposition to me.

[macshark]

I will be getting them at the same price , so which would you buy?



400 f/2.8L is 5.37Kg
500 f/4.0L is 3.87Kg

500 f/4.0L will AF faster than a 400 f/2.8L with a 1.4x TC.

[postcardcv]

The 400 f2.8 is a beast of a lens, as has been pointed out it is a good deal heavier than the 500 f4. Personally I'd go for the 500 f4, mainly for the extra reach, but also the lower weight. From what you see out and about the 500 f4 seems to be the most popular big white lens for birding, though personally I'd really like a 600 f4!

[Ragna]

I find the 500 a big lump to carry around but the 400 2.8 is about 40% heavier than the 500 and IMHO makes it far to heavey to carry around cant say ive ever seen anybody use a 400 2.8 for bird photography,

[Cashie]

Thank you all for your input guys, you have convinced me, I will get the EF-500mm f4. Cant wait until saturday!

Cheers

Paul B (:

[gmax]

I will be getting them at the same price , so which would you buy?



Paul :h?:

Buy both, give one to me and I'll let you have my professional opinion ;)
Only kidding (?!), get the 500mm prime ..
Cheers,
Max

[Cashie]

Derrrrr! ok then Max (o)<

[AGH]

I think the 400 F2.8 is about the same price as the 600MM F4, go for the 600 imo.

I've got a 500F4 although a superb lens I wish I'd brought the 600...

You can never have enough reach when photographing birds and with the noise of the camera shutters nowadays it helps to be as far back from your subject while still filling the frame as possible.

Tony

OOPS didn't realise you was getting the 400 at the same price as a 500,, sorry...

[GYRob]

i had all these thought's a year or so ago after many hours reading i got the 500f4 isL as it can be hand held for a short time and the weight to carry is somewhat less than the other 2.
Rob.

[a.dancy]

Either lens would be superb. It all depends how you go about photographing birds. With our dull days there will be many days when you could use the extra light gathering power of the 400f2.8 which should (in theory) work well with both 1.4 and 2x converters. But rest assured you will always wish you had more reach. I saw some print shots taken with the 400mm and they were most impressive and so so sharp. However, if you enjoy walking about rather than setting up a hide then there is no question...the 500mm lens will bring you more satisfactory returns. Of course you can still use the 500mm lens for hide work.

Good luck with your decision, I wish it was one I was in a position to make!

[Cashie]

Either lens would be superb. It all depends how you go about photographing birds. With our dull days there will be many days when you could use the extra light gathering power of the 400f2.8 which should (in theory) work well with both 1.4 and 2x converters. But rest assured you will always wish you had more reach. I saw some print shots taken with the 400mm and they were most impressive and so so sharp. However, if you enjoy walking about rather than setting up a hide then there is no question...the 500mm lens will bring you more satisfactory returns. Of course you can still use the 500mm lens for hide work.

Good luck with your decision, I wish it was one I was in a position to make!

Thanks for your input Adrian, I have decided on the 500mm as I will be moving about quite a bit & I dont think it would be a good idea to carry a lens weighing 11 lb +around and that is without the body converter ect.
I will be picking it up in the morning so lets hope it's not P :-O raining so I can give it a try.

Paul :t:

[digishooter]

I have the 500 IS L. I don't regret a penny spent on it. I might add, to all the other recomendations, that along with the reach, this lense will give you some great BG's because of the narrow DOF. The compression will blurr the colorurs in the BG into some splendid results. I recomend a good monopod or tri-pod. Enjoy, I do. :t: :t: :clap:

[Cashie]

Got my 500mm f4 today & it's superb, I am sure it was the right choice, and i'm sure I will get use to it in no time at all.

Thanks again everyone for putting me on the right track.

cheers

Paul B (: