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Message: <blockquote data-quote="avan" data-source="post: 1492889" data-attributes="member: 20314"><p>Both lens are at a very good level of quality, wich one are the better? the answer depend of what you need to do and wich compromise you want to make. The 400mm generaly are a bit sharper wide open and have a faster AF than the zoom or the 300mm +TC1.4, but it's only f5.6, and the minimum distance are at 11 feet vs 3.5-5 feet for the option. With the 400mm generaly you need a tripod, lens with IS give you more autonomy, but a tripod give you reel stability in low light and a more easy way to chase small bird like warbler also. I personaly don't have a sure hand, so tripod are better, reel or not, I believe in sharper prime, I also like a faster AF, also find that the bird are never too close to my taste, I do mostly bird and use the excellent 70-200mm f4 IS for mammal or walk around wildlife, so for myself, I choose the 400mm prime. At the finality, only you know what you want. For sure you can't regret any choice between those options</p></blockquote><p></p>