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Bird watchers birthday please help

I have used my 70-200mm f/2.8 II with a 1.4X or 2.0X TC III for perched birds, but forget it for birds in flight (BIF). A 400mm f/5.6 is my BIF lens period. Shoot at 1/1000 at f/8 if possible for greater depth of field. I do much better with a 6D body than a 40D or 60D. I choose the non-IS 400mm over the 100-400mm II with IS since you can only limit the near focus to 3 meters on the zoom vs. 8.5 meters on the prime. I wish the zoom had a second 10 meter focus limit.

For birds in the wild I would say you always want more focal length. Look for a used 400mm f/5.6. Don't waste you time and money on a 200 or 250mm lens. Longer than 400mm would be nice but cost and weight are the issues. A 500mm f/5.6 would be nice but it doesn't exist.
 
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