I am about to send away for one of these but I am hesitating just a little. I know this is not the best for IQ but it would be faster AF, better IQ, more reach then my 1-4zoom and I can still handhold. I know that the 400mm DO might be a better choice, but it is $1500 more then the 300f2.8 with 2x tc and I have heard mostly bad reports on it from professionals.
I know this is not the best upgrade but it is what I can afford now and my thinking is since canon lenses retain their value so well this will get me by until I can afford a 500mm f4 or better. I will be able to keep the tc for these larger lenses later on down the road.
I only ever use the 400mm setting on the zoom and the 300 f2.8 + 2x tc would get me to a 600mm f5.6! Which would be just terrific because I have a real problem with getting close enough to 50% of the birds around here despite trying various tactics to get closer. I mean if I was at 12x power that would be pretty amazing and a big difference from 8x.
I know this is not the best upgrade but it is what I can afford now and my thinking is since canon lenses retain their value so well this will get me by until I can afford a 500mm f4 or better. I will be able to keep the tc for these larger lenses later on down the road.
I only ever use the 400mm setting on the zoom and the 300 f2.8 + 2x tc would get me to a 600mm f5.6! Which would be just terrific because I have a real problem with getting close enough to 50% of the birds around here despite trying various tactics to get closer. I mean if I was at 12x power that would be pretty amazing and a big difference from 8x.