Canon EF 400 F5.6 lens

[kilbey252]

Hi all

Has anyone got any advice about this lens for bird photography?? Will be using tripod and cable release whenever I can and am largely concerned with getting my images as sharp as possible (have been disappointed with my 70-200mm L F4-5.6 canon lens in that respect... wonder if it's a slightly defective lens??).

Is there any better choice out there under £1000 for bird photography? I use a canon 20D body.

Any advice will be greatly welcomed... have looked at the poll but any additional info will be really appreciated.

Cheers
Dave

[GerryNick2]

The Canon EF 400 F5.6 lens is a very nice lens, you only have to look in the Gallery to see the quality and sharpness of images this lens is capable of producing!

Gerry

[galanthus]

I started a thread on this lens a few weeks ago, link below. There's also one or two others around somewhere.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...ifference.html

[matt_xyz]

I can't recommend the 400 f5.6 strongly enough, it's a great lens.

Not sure how you'll get on using a remote shutter with it, but I suppose it depends what you're photographing. For small birds you need to move the camera/lens so quickly to get the AF point on them that you may as well use the main shutter.

Anyway, the lens is fairly easy to handhold in good light if you can keep your shutter speed above, say, 1/400. I regularly use mine handheld but also regularly use a tripod.

Here are a couple of recent examples but there are plenty more in my Gallery:





Matt

[willing to learn]

It has taken some great pictures in the Gallery. I like my 100 - 400mm usm IS lens as most of my pics are taken freehand and of course it has the zoom. I suppose that your shots are going to be taken tripod mounted the 400mm will fit the bill spot on.
Regards
Colin

[GuyF]

I only bought this lens a few days ago, but I'd definetely recommend it. So far I've been very impressed with the speed of focussing and the sharpness, I use it handheld, I'm sure it would be even sharper with a tripod. It also seems good at picking up detail and colours.
When I was looking into getting the lens one thing that was putting me off a bit was the minimum focussing distance, but having tried it out it's nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be, and I can't see it being a problem very often (although it was a bit tricky at Slimbridge yesterday when all the ducks were paddling around by my feet)
Guy

[HARIMAU1610]

I also rate the 400 lens, its a great lens. It has its pro's and cons but for the money its a great bit of kit. You can see lots of examples in the Gallery of what this lens can do.

Ian

[Ollie]

Another f5.6 400mm user here.

If it's sharpness and detail you are after in my opinion it can't be beaten.

I use mine with a tripod and get excellent results. Although it hasn't got image stabilisation it's a light lens that is excellent for birds in flight as well.
Roger

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by kilbey252

Hi all

(have been disappointed with my 70-200mm L F4-5.6 canon lens in that respect... wonder if it's a slightly defective lens??).

Dave

Have you checked the lens when stable and pointing at
an inaminate object, e.g. brick wall.

Don't need a tripod, just some heath robinson arrangement
of pillows / books / tables etc..

Mirror lock and then timer will help too.
If that is pin sharp then the problem is in the user - I
have this problem !!