Should I drop the big bucks for this 400mm f/2.8?

[jbg232]

I know someone who is willing to sell me his canon 400mm f/2.8 for $2400. Obviously it is a good deal, I was initially holding out for a 500mm or 600mm prime for my birding but I almost can't refuse that kind of a deal. Anyone have any experience comparing these lenses?

 

[Edge100]

I say go for it. Get the 400/2.8, add a 1.4x extender for when you need it, and you have a 400 f/2.8 AND a 560 f/4 with awesome optics; perfect for birding.

Oh, and buy a monopod!

 

[toxic]

if 400mm isn't long enough, or you don't already have a lens around 400mm, you're probably better off with a longer lens. if you don't have anything close though, it'll give you flexibility if, for some reason, 500mm+ is too long.

in the end, buy the focal length you need. teleconverters don't replace "real" focal lengths.

but if you shoot in low light regularly and need that kind of length...i guess throw out everything i said and get it, since it's the fastest and longest lens Canon makes.

 

[compuwar]

I know someone who is willing to sell me his canon 400mm f/2.8 for $2400. Obviously it is a good deal, I was initially holding out for a 500mm or 600mm prime for my birding but I almost can't refuse that kind of a deal. Anyone have any experience comparing these lenses?

I generally shoot with a Nikon 400/2.8. I find that the IQ with Nikon's matched 1.4x is about the same as the 600/4 giving up 40mm of reach. I also find that I'm able to shoot for longer when things are closer (and I'm not afraid to crop either) given the extra stop of light- as much as 40m at each end of the day. If the lens is in good condition optically, I'd probably go buy a Canon body at that price.

You should know though that a 400/2.8 is *heavy* compared to a 500/4, and likely about the same as a 600/4. You'll need a sturdy tripod and gimball head to get the most out of it. But at that price, the money you've saved should get you the support you need.

The Nikkor fits on a D2x into a LowePro Lenstrekker 600AW if I don't add the first lens hood, and can be deployed in under a minute onto the tripod, though I found I had to reinforce the tripod holding straps with extra webbing to not bop people walking beside me on the head.

 

[jbg232]

The thing is that I have a 100-400L IS f/4-5.6 (used 99.99% of the time at 400 f/5.6) right now that I handhold. Giving that up would be a necessity for this lens I assume.

 

[compuwar]

The thing is that I have a 100-400L IS f/4-5.6 (used 99.99% of the time at 400 f/5.6) right now that I handhold. Giving that up would be a necessity for this lens I assume.

I'm a big guy, and I can hold my Nikon 400/2.8 for about a minute and a half at a time, and well, it's not something you want to do for IQ reasons.