Hi David,
The new 100-400 mark 2 is an excellent lens by accounts so
far, certainly a step up from the mark 1. I've heard good things
about the new tamron and sigma superzoom lenses, but I would
expect Canon's new 100-400 to leave them behind.
If you aren't dead set on a zoom, the Canon 400mm f5.6 is the
very best lens you can get on a budget. Ridiculously sharp,
light, excellent build quality. I shot with the 100-400 mark 1
for two years before switching to the prime, and I have been
blown away. You do lose IS, but I haven't found it to be a
problem at all, and I can handhold it down to really quite low
shutter speeds.
The 600mm mark 2 is nice and all, but for less than $1500,
the 400 f5.6 rules all!!!! I got mine second hand for $950.
However, i wouldn't be using any of these lenses (tamron,
sigma 150/160-500/600, the canon 100-400 or the canon 400mm
prime) with a 1.4x converter. The image quality just takes too
much of a hit, especially on the zooms, and you also lose that
extra stop of light, as a 1.4x converter turns an f5.6 lens into
an f8 lens.
Don't forget that with the 7D mark 2, you have the benefit of
that 1.6x crop sensor, giving a 400mm lens the same field of
view as a 640mm lens.
Hope that helps some,
Cheers,
Julian Teh
Sent from My iPad
Thank you all for your replies. I currently
have a 100-400mm f4/f5.6 with the 1.4 teleconverter on the
Canon. Will persevere with that for longer while I decide
if and when :) Yes, I have checked the cost of the big
Canon lens, and not happening soon.
Anyone have experience with hiring for that 'special'
trip?
Cheers
D
