Canon 100-400mm L IS vs Canon 400mm f/5.6L for bird photography on a 7D
Asked 6/14/2011
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I’m choosing between the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM and the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM for use on a Canon 7D. The main subject is birds, including both perched birds at a distance and birds in flight. Is the extra cost of the 100-400 mainly justified by image stabilization, or are there other important differences? Which lens is the better choice for this kind of shooting?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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It all comes down to what she wants to use the lens for. The zoom lens with IS will certainly allow her to use slower shutter speeds at the 400mm end than the prime, but it will also be heavier (1380g vs 1250g) and will lose image quality by being a zoom.
I can't really see the added range of the 100-400 being of use to a bird photographer, as I struggle to get close enough even with a 300mm prime (albeit on a full frame model), so it comes down to the IS factor and weight. Shooting birds in flight will usually require a fast shutter speed anyway, meaning the IS doesn't really help here either. So looking at it like that, the lighter, cheaper prime would seem to be a better option.
Originally by user456. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user456
15y ago
0
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The extra cost is not just about IS. These lenses trade off flexibility against optical simplicity.
The 100-400mm gives you zoom range, which is useful when bird distance changes, and its IS helps for handheld shots of perched birds and for panning support. Owners also like the versatility and the push-pull zoom for quickly reframing.
The 400mm f/5.6L prime is generally regarded as sharper, slightly lighter, and cheaper. For birds in flight, you’ll usually use fast shutter speeds anyway, so IS matters much less there. If the main use is flight shots or maximum sharpness at 400mm, the prime is often the stronger choice.
So: if she mostly shoots birds in flight and wants the best sharpness/value, choose the 400mm f/5.6L. If she also shoots perched birds, handheld, or wants flexibility for varying subject distance, the 100-400mm’s zoom and IS can be worth it.
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