Winner between 300mm F4 with 1.4 TC vs 400mm f5.6

[Jaff]

Just to settle something that's been bugging me, would the Canon 300mm f4 with TC be as good or better than the Canon 400mm f5.6 as the TC on the Canon would make it effectively a 420mm f5.6 and includes IS (which may not work though).
In a similar way how would the Nikon 300mm f4 with TC compare to the Canon 400mm f5.6 (Canon quality winning through I suspect).

This query is because of Tanager selling his 400mm saying that he prefers to use his 300mm with TC's.

Thanks for helping me sort out my aching head, oh wait that's just because I've got a terrible cold! :'D

Jaff

[macshark]

If we are talking birds in flight, or shots on a tripod, 400mm f/5.6L will win flat out.

For hand-held shots, 300mm f/4L + 1.4x TC is probably easier to handle, but with some practice (and luck), 400 f/5.6L is capable of generating sharp images at shutter speeds as low as 1/200.

There is also a cost difference involved.

If you need a 300 f/4 IS lens for some other application (e.g. sports), and if you can afford only one expensive telephoto prime, 300mm + TC is probably the way to go. This may also be the better combo if you need to work under bad light conditions most of the time and your subjects are mostly static.

If you are looking for a telephoto prime that is only for birding, and if you have interest in taking pictures of birds in flight, 400mm f/5.6L is the right choice.

[GYRob]

the 400f5.6L - is sharper then the bare 300f4 and when the 300 has a tc on .
if you need 400mm its the best out there .
and i agree with all macshark say's.
Rob.

[Jaff]

Cheers guys. :t:

[gmax]

If we are talking birds in flight, or shots on a tripod, 400mm f/5.6L will win flat out.

For hand-held shots, 300mm f/4L + 1.4x TC is probably easier to handle, but with some practice (and luck), 400 f/5.6L is capable of generating sharp images at shutter speeds as low as 1/200.

There is also a cost difference involved.

If you need a 300 f/4 IS lens for some other application (e.g. sports), and if you can afford only one expensive telephoto prime, 300mm + TC is probably the way to go. This may also be the better combo if you need to work under bad light conditions most of the time and your subjects are mostly static.

If you are looking for a telephoto prime that is only for birding, and if you have interest in taking pictures of birds in flight, 400mm f/5.6L is the right choice.

Seconded!

One more thing, if you are talking about sharpness and aperture (LOL), the 300mm is sharp when stopped down to, say, f/6.3-8, while the 400mm is sharp also wide open; the naked 400mm at f/5.6 is sharper then the 300mm+1.4xTC (420mm) at f/5.6
Using a TC with the 400mm decreases IQ, but it's negligible. The picture attached shows an example taken with the 400mm with a 1.4xTC on at f/8 effective aperture (f/5.6 nominal) at ISO 800

Cheers,
Max

[Jaff]

Nice pic Max.
I'm waiting for the Dragonflies round here to kick in to gear and then I'll be snapping away!