Author Topic: 300mm f/4 IS vs 400mm f/5.6 (Read 20273 times)

Xalanx · « **Reply #26 on:** September 03, 2009, 11:59 »

Quote from: MatHayward on September 03, 2009, 09:17

Why not rent them to try out for a week before you decide? www.lensprotogo.com I have used in the past and he has both those lenses in stock available to rent.

Mat

Mat, this would have been the best option, but it's something impossible here - there are no photo equipment stores where I live.

However, I made up my mind. The choice is 300mm f/4 IS, and maybe the 1.4x TC (Kenko, I hear it's okay - will have to research a bit for this).

400 is too long and doesn't have IS - this can get irritating, and the 135 and 200 don't have the same "fun factor" like a tele that I can also use for some wildlife

I also recommend to anyone who has the same dilemma, this website: http://alfieri.smugmug.com/Tech-Talk/Lens-and-Camera-Sample-Images

This guy owned them all and he took some really good photos with these lenses. Best photo samples I could find.

hqimages · « **Reply #27 on:** September 04, 2009, 06:39 »

If you're going hand-held, just get the faster one! Also depending on your climate, eg. I'm in Ireland, it's ALWAYS low-light, so I have to go with faster lenses.. 300mm is plenty long anyway!

Xalanx · « **Reply #28 on:** September 04, 2009, 07:09 »

Quote from: hqimages on September 04, 2009, 06:39

If you're going hand-held, just get the faster one! Also depending on your climate, eg. I'm in Ireland, it's ALWAYS low-light, so I have to go with faster lenses.. 300mm is plenty long anyway!

Assuming UK is the same as Ireland, you need 300mm f/2.8 IS over there. I spent some "spring" months in UK few years back.

I'll get the 300, because it has IS, IQ is great and it's not too long. And yeah... I might use the macro function too.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #29 on:** January 04, 2010, 22:33 »

Hi Xalanx,

I think Mat makes a good point about renting for the day. I used to shoot sports when I first started out and I think the more the better I would go with the 400 but don't they offer the 400 in an IS model. That would be the only bummer. Shooting at lens focal length would have you shooting at 1/400th which can be tough on a grey day especially at 5.6.
I have a 300 2.8 if you would like to see a shot from it I would be happy to send one along if you want to PM me. I will say when shooting in tight with my 300 there is no way to shoot wide open and carry much depth so I wouldn't think shooting at 5.6 with that length would be much of a loss except for the extra stop for shutter speed. Tough choice but again I would rent them both and put them through the grinder first. Good luck and have fun.

Best,
Jonathan

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Author Topic: 300mm f/4 IS vs 400mm f/5.6 (Read 20273 times)

MatHayward

Xalanx

hqimages

Xalanx

Jonathan Ross

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