Dois egrets

Have been "playing" with my new 400 f/5.6 lens this afternoon and am very impressed with the AF speed and accuracy for BIF ("Birds in Flight") shots; much better than the 100-400mm zoom.

Garça-branca






Carraceiro



Shot with Canon 1D Mk III, 400mm f/5.6 L USM + 1.4TCII at 1/8000s f/8.0, 560mm, ISO 800.

Both shots "hand-held", very little processing other than cropping (approximately 40-50%).

Colin

Spectacular photos! Congratulations


Pedro

Good choice on the lens

Fantastic pictures!!

Greats moments

Thanks Pedro,

I think that for "birds in flight" shots this lens is (as the Americans would say) the "best bang for the bucks".

1 abraço,

Colin

joao.macarrony escreveu:Fantastic pictures!!

Greats moments

Obrigado João,

These were just "test shots" (and need more post processing) - I think that this lens is capable of excellent images with any Canon body from the 30D (or maybe even the 20D) upwards. It also works very well with the 400D, my "snapshot" camera.

1 abraço,

Colin

Hi Colin,

I would like a lot to see the difference of the “post processment”

For BNIF ("Birds not in Flight" ) whould you recomend the EF L 500 mm f/4 IS USM?
This one will be my next buy (when?? I don’t know ).
I think I have to go to the US.

1 Abraço,
Pedro

Hi Pedro,

The 500 f/4 L IS USM is the BEST birding lens, but it is not very portable!!. It also works well with the x1.4TCII with very little loss of image quality. I use it on a Manfrotto 055 tripod + Wimberly II gimbal head, although it is just about usable "hand-held" for short periods (depending on how much time you spend in the gym !!!).

The 600 f/4 is as good in terms of image quality, but "hand-holding" is not possible. Even carryining that lens mounted on a tripod for more than 500 metres is a "NO GO".

There is a new 800mm f/5.6 out now which weighs rather less than the 600mm, but the price is about €14,000!! Everyone says that the 600 + 1.4TC gives just the same image quality.

Beware going to the U.S. to purchase. If you do it "legally" and pay sales tax and import duty the price is not that much cheaper. If you decide to buy let me know, I can put you in touch with a very good ebay seller based in Scotland who buys from the U.S. and does all the necessary paperwork and sells at approximately 30% less than shop prices (probably 50% less than Portuguese prices!!).

He trades as "Kerso" (Ian Kerr) on ebay and is very well respected amongst U.K. buyers. You could probably "Google" him.

Regards,

Colin

Thanks Colin,

My 400mm lens it´s still a "baby" (it has only 1 year), the 500mm it´s a "next year project".

We will be waiting for more "test shots" of yours new 400mm!!


Pedro

Hi.
Great shots and great lens!
Tacking pictures of "BIF" isn't a easy task but a lens such that would helps a lot.
Certainty after post processment they will be still better.
I agree whith you when you said that this lens is portable and after this one, the 500mm it is not very portable.
Also I agree 100% whith you in concerning purchases of USA!
I already bought some articles of USA and, beyond the delay certainly that they go to stop in Customs and the taxes for articles of a certain value (that must come duly declared) are huge!
Regards
Loureiro

I must say I use to take photos with a 300mm f2.8, sometimes with two converters attached (yes 2!!!). One 1,4x and one 2x. The quality? Is good for publication, even in National Geographic... Of course it is difficult for birds in flight, for that I use only one converter.
I think people worries to much with image quality. The problem, is that they think about image quality of the lens instead of thinking how to avoid camera shake.
Today I got my new 40D. I buy it on the USA and it was must more cheaper than in Europe, even after the taxes.
Abraços
Eduardo

joseloureiro escreveu:Hi.
Great shots and great lens!
Tacking pictures of "BIF" isn't a easy task but a lens such that would helps a lot.
Certainty after post processment they will be still better.
I agree whith you when you said that this lens is portable and after this one, the 500mm it is not very portable.
Also I agree 100% whith you in concerning purchases of USA!
I already bought some articles of USA and, beyond the delay certainly that they go to stop in Customs and the taxes for articles of a certain value (that must come duly declared) are huge!
Regards
Loureiro

Thanks José,

And interesting to hear of your experience of buying in USA. I bought a Wimberly II gimbal tripod head directly from the manufacturer in the US. It took a very long time to get it released by Portuguese Customs and it cost me more than if I had bought in the U.K.

A friend bought a Nikon lens from Hong Kong (an ebay company). To avoid sales tax the package was marked "Return of repaired lens" but was opened by Portuguese Customs who realised it was new. My friend still has not received the lens or got his money back.

I have also heard (on photographic forums) of people actually going to the US and buying equipment, throwing away all the packaging and returning with the camera and/or lens. Customs are now so aware of this practice that they are able to see where the items were sold (from serial numbers) and will confiscate equipment if you cannot produce sales documents and evidence of taxes and duty paid.

So, an apparent "bargain" can easily become an expensive mistake!!

Colin

Hi,

I already bought some items in the US (ballhead, mount and flash extender) every time in two weeks I had the goods at home (every thing legal). Never had any problem.

By the way, the lens that was first talking about (500mm) in the US is still 15% cheaper than in Germany (if it was in Portugal, I would pay 50-60% more).

Best regards,
Pedro

Hi, again.
As already was said buying of the USA can always worth the penalty... the prices are much more low. We must do our accounts. The last article I ordered to come from there, done all the accounts was for more about 42% - 43% of the initial price, having in account the transports and the customs taxes that we pay in the end of the price, Vat, etc...
Also is no worth try to “lie” the Portugueses Customs, If you receive goods as a gift and the package is open in that case they do the price and there is no way to complain.
When we order something out of the EEC, we have two hypotheses - or comes right for our house without passing in customs, type goods without declared value (Gift’s, repairings or with declared value below € 22,00) or it goes there and in that case it delays more.
Currently hardly is possible purchase something of voluminous size without being controlled!
Regards

Since we seem to have gone off topic here (but VERY useful discussion), I will just "lighten" it up a bit with a few more images taken this morning with my Canon 400 f/5.6 on my 1D MkIII. Theses are just a selection of shots of various Gaivota-de-patas-amarelas, all hand-held in very windy conditions. I was particularly interested in testing the autofocus in AI Servo mode, especially against a "busy" background. This lens is fantastic!












Colin

Spectacular photos!!! Very Very good!! FANTASTIC!!!

Congratulations Colin!

Regards,
Pedro

Thank you for your kind comments Pedro - I did spend a bit more time on processing than I did with the egret shots.

Although the 100-400 zoom is a good lens (and it is versatile in that it can be used for landscapes if necessary), it is certainly not as sharp at 400mm as the 400 5.6 nor is the AF as quick and accurate.

There has been a great deal written about the pros and cons of these two lenses on all the photographic forums but in MY experience the prime lens wins, especially for "in flight" shots. I would recommend this to anyone as a birding lens - it is also cheaper, weighs less and has a nice built-in lens hood compared to the zoom. I am looking forward to trying it out on some raptor shots.

Um abraço,

Colin