Need advice on telephoto zoom Lens

[alan_k]

Granted I'm on a crop sensor (60D), but don't overlook the wide end of those zooms. I've got the 70-300L, and 70 is a pretty useful for landscape and portraits.

I do a lot of bird photography with this lens as well. I've never used the 100-400, but my guess is that in many situations you won't do any worse with the 70-300L. You're going to be cropping with both lenses (because, you know, birds are jerks), and the extra sharpness and better IS of the 70-300L will at least make up for the extra reach of the 100-400L.

Here's a recent set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12341100@N06/sets/72157632681526309/

I had the 70-300 IS USM, and yeah, the 70-300L is definitely a great upgrade from the nonL lens.

 

[bycostello]

the weight of the lenses would be the decider for me... depends what you shoot i guess...

 

[CarlTN]

Pgsdeepak, the hummingbird is quite nice!

Alan, I like the fat sparrow, and also the eagle...it's even fairly sharp (if it's slightly cropped, which I assume it is).

 

[alan_k]

Sparrow was ~100% crop, eagle was cropped but not as much, both potentially sharpened a little in post.

This next set might be a better set to look at actually, the one I listed earlier I was leaning awkwardly out of a car window for most of the shots. Try this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12341100@N06/sets/72157629929173478/with/7234291296/

 

[Brand B]

Here are my options to decide from
1. Buy 70-300mmL and sell the Non L (may be buy a kenko teleconverter in the future)
2. Buy 100-400mm and keep 70-300 Non L for travel
3. Buy 100-400 and sell the 70-300mm Non L

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98679084@N00/sets/72157631596245964/

Some parallels between you and me. I upgraded from a 40D to a 5D3 last fall. I have a 100-400L and was contemplating a 70-200 2.8 ISII, but decided (mostly due to an upcoming trip where I will be highly mobile and after dragging the 100-400 around Tokyo) to get the 70-300L instead.

I have to say I am really pleased with it, and find I do not use the 100-400 very often any more. Zero complaints on its performance, and the shorter reach, while every now and then a drawback, is often mitigated for me as the resolution of the 5D3 lets me crop to get the composition I wanted anyway.

To really know which I'd lean towards in your shoes though, I'd need to know how important weight, size and portability are to you. It looks like you are doing a lot of hiking and outdoor work (somewhat similarly to me), so I
think you would end up appreciating the 70-300L. On the other hand, for the bird shots, you will end up using the longer range of the 100-400 more than I do I think.

 

[CarlTN]

Alan, very nice...I'd love to go to Glacier NP too!

 

[pgsdeepak]

I have got 100-400 through CPS equipment evaluation for a week. First impression is, "ITS BIG and HEAVY"!! may be not for me. I dont see me using it as often as I would like to. I also tried the 5D MIII. Loved it. SO I guess, with a full frame camera and 70-300mm focal length, it sounds like a more optimum combination for me. I did not try the 70-300mmL yet, but after reading all the reviews, I am kind of convinced, I should go for it!!!!

 

[CarlTN]

I did not try the 70-300mmL yet, but after reading all the reviews, I am kind of convinced, I should go for it!!!!

Glad to see someone actually winding up following the advice I gave! Unfortunately, I am not following my own. I decided to try a Sigma 120-400. It's 40 to 60% cheaper than either of the Canon L zooms, and I need to conserve money (unlike some people on here...hey I'm envious of ya!). I'm enjoying it on my Benro carbon fiber monopod.