Canon 100-400 or Sigma 120-300?

[Newhythebirder]

Hi,

I use a 40D (recently upgraded from the 10D) and have a Canon 100-400 IS. I am considering a secondhand Sigma 120-300 f2.8 as I hear it works really well with a converter and will give me the reach I would like to improve my bird photography.

Does anyone have any opinion as to whether the Sigma would be a good addition to my lens collection or is it too similar to the Canon 100-400?

Appreciate any views.

Steve

[glsammy]

From what I've read, there would be no comparison. The 120-300 F2.8 is a cracking lens, one I'd buy in a flash if I could manage it.(The weight.) You can add a 2X converter and have a 600mm F5.6 lens, keeping all auto functions; what more the combination works really well, going by the images I've seen.

[AndySwinden]

I've not tried the Sigma lens you mention, but from experience of other Sigma's Im sure the quality will be good, so long as you can hold it still - especially with the TC on. I personally would not buy any long lens without IS / VR / OS.

[Muggsy]

well while your on lenses yeah, the questions are starting already

I plumped for a 75-300 for my eos 400d did I do the right thing ?

Which lense should I choose to obtain pictures such as the chaffinch and greenfinch coming in to land, posted by glsammy

I am in complete awe over those 2 photos

I'm a complete ludite, I need all the help I can get, so I apologise in advance for seeking short cuts

Muggsy

[eeyore]

i think graham used his bigma (sigma 50-500) to get those but buying a longer lens is not a magic bullet to getting good photos - you also need dedication , ability and a large degree of luck

it is perfectly possible to get good shots with a 300mm lens like yours , you just need to either be nearer the subject (which suggests a hide or a remote release) or pick bigger subjects such as red kites

btw if you pm me you email address i will send you the advice sheet i wrote last year on photographing birds in flight (which a lot of wabite have allready had and found useful)

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

well while your on lenses yeah, the questions are starting already

I plumped for a 75-300 for my eos 400d did I do the right thing ?

Which lense should I choose to obtain pictures such as the chaffinch and greenfinch coming in to land, posted by glsammy

I am in complete awe over those 2 photos

I'm a complete ludite, I need all the help I can get, so I apologise in advance for seeking short cuts

Muggsy

Thanks Muggsy!

As Pete said in the last post, I use the Sigma 50-500mm. What you need more than anything else is good light, good luck, and good friendly birds!

The Chaffinches are at a site where I can sit within 10ft of some feeders, the birds are so used to people they take no notice. I think you'll find that for some of the chaffinch ones, I'm not even using the lens at the maximum 500mm, so your 300mm would work just as well.
I also use manual focus, pre-set for a certain distance. I also use a cable release so I can see the birds arriving, enabling me to start shooting before they arrive. Many, many failures follow, with just the odd success.

I'm assuming you mean some of my recent ones, I have got some older shots, taken last year, which were taken in different circumstances.
This is one of them:


This was at full 500mm, at Centre Parcs, where the post and birds were in full bright sunlight, which helped no end by allowing for very fast shutter speeds. This one was 1/1250.sec. F7.1, using ISO 800.

[Muggsy]

thanks for that mate.

I have a large water tank that several different species are using regularly, both to drink at and also for bathing.
I am sitting in a shed, a measured 9ft from the birds. Of course I have cheated, removing many of the twigs that they use, leaving only ones that are useful for me
Im practicing with the focus on the twig while watching from another angle, then gently pushing the button without looking through the lense. ( must get a cable must get a cable)
Its kinda working, problems occure when a larger bird comes into shot ie, the drinking birds are mostly goldfiches, blue tits, great tits, when a song thrush arrives, its out of focus

I was supposed to be working this morning, spent 40 minutes in the shed, not a problem, then 3 hours in front of the computer checking what I had captured, blimey time flys by, gonna have to work twice as hard tomorrow.

Thanks once again
Muggsy

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

thanks for that mate.

I have a large water tank that several different species are using regularly, both to drink at and also for bathing.
I am sitting in a shed, a measured 9ft from the birds. Of course I have cheated, removing many of the twigs that they use, leaving only ones that are useful for me
Im practicing with the focus on the twig while watching from another angle, then gently pushing the button without looking through the lense. ( must get a cable must get a cable)
Its kinda working, problems occure when a larger bird comes into shot ie, the drinking birds are mostly goldfiches, blue tits, great tits, when a song thrush arrives, its out of focus

I was supposed to be working this morning, spent 40 minutes in the shed, not a problem, then 3 hours in front of the computer checking what I had captured, blimey time flys by, gonna have to work twice as hard tomorrow.

Thanks once again
Muggsy

Coincidentally I was at that same site again today, trying to get some more wing shots. I took over 1.5 GB of shots, not one of the winged ones were any good. As I said, good luck is very important!
Your lucky with your birds, I'd love to get goldfinches.

[Muggsy]

Originally Posted by glsammy

As Pete said in the last post, I use the Sigma 50-500mm. What you need more than anything else is good light, good luck, and good friendly birds!

I'm off to Australia at the start of next month, a last minute decision to go, hence to rush to go armed with the equipment that will give me the best chance of that "one off" shot.

The Fairy Wrens and Robins are quite confiding in the bush as are the many species of Honey Eaters found in the gardens.

Light shouldn't be a problem, or will it ? should I have lense hoods ?

Thanks once again
Muggsy

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

I'm off to Australia at the start of next month, a last minute decision to go, hence to rush to go armed with the equipment that will give me the best chance of that "one off" shot.

The Fairy Wrens and Robins are quite confiding in the bush as are the many species of Honey Eaters found in the gardens.

Light shouldn't be a problem, or will it ? should I have lense hoods ?

Thanks once again
Muggsy

lens hoods are always handy for cutting glare but most problems with light come from not having enough when shooting at dawn, dusk or overcast. to combat this i'd recomend getting a flashgun, i dont know your financial circs but the top end of the canon range is the 580ex (roughly 300 notes) while a cheaper alternative which is nearly as capable is the 420ex (170)

one other point - if at all possible take at least one camera body and lens in your hand luggage - as you dont want your photographic chances ruined when the airline sends your hold luggage to munich by accident

[Muggsy]

Originally Posted by eeyore

when the airline sends your hold luggage to munich by accident

yes thanks for that, I think

taken the other advice on board too and gone for a 430EX, ordered a cable release while I was there also.
Thanks once again
Muggsy

[paulthomas]

Originally Posted by glsammy

You can add a 2X converter and have a 600mm F5.6 lens

Opinions seem to differ about it's performance with the 2x TC.

[HowlinWolf]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

Light shouldn't be a problem, or will it ? should I have lense hoods ?

Thanks once again
Muggsy

Always shoot with a lens hood attached. Apart from the benefit of giving the front element some protection, an appropriate hood will improve contrast and colour, even if the sun is behind you. It varies as to how much contrast is improved, but it is a good idea to give yourself the best possible advantage in what you're trying to photograph.

HW