Go To telephoto?

[ducksoup]

I'm looking for advice for a new telephoto lens for outdoor photography. I currently own a T2i but looking to upgrade to either a 7D or 6D body. I have the 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses that came with the camera plus a Canon 100mm macro and a 50mm 1.8 nifty fifty. What are you using for your go to telephoto for wildlife photography? Do you see much difference between the cropped sensor vs full sensor cameras? Thanks for any help and suggestions.

[grandpawrichard]

It's no secret, I use and love my Canon 400mm f5.6 L telephoto lens for all of my Eagle photography needs.





My wife on the other hand uses and loves her Canon 300 mm IS f4 L telephoto lens for her Eagle photography needs.





But then, I still have Big L Lens envy and would love to have a 600mm L or an 800mm L lens for the extra reach! My budget however says "No Way Jose!"

You will see a Huge difference between crop sensor cameras and Full frame sensor cameras. Full frame cameras give you much more clarity, depth of field and finer details in the photos so that when you do a major cropping everything will be so much crisper. But you also will find that they are not compatible with a large array of wide lenses and that you will loose the extra reach that a crop sensor body gives you when using a telephoto lens.

For the time being and immediate future I think I will just stick with my beloved Canon 7D camera bodies. To me they are the most wonderful cameras I have ever had in my hands and they do their job tremendously!

Dick

[Alchase]

Crop sensor, I know two people who changed from a 7D to a 5D and now wish they had not.
I am not saying that the 7D is better then the 5D, just that some people prefere one over the other depending on what they are shooting at the moment.
My Sister has a 7D and a 5D, when shooting with a telephoto, she has a EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM, she likes the 7D better then the 5D. When shooting portraits with her EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM or the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM
she prefers the 5D.

If you have the money any of these would be nice

EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM ($1699.00)
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM (1599.00)
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM ($2689.00)
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM ($1499.00

If you are on a budget
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM ($649.00)

All those prices are from the Canon sight, used you can get much better prices.

Here is a great Lens review and comparison sight,
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=738

You can select a lens on the left, then select a different lens on the right and compare at the same settings.

This video is awesome 1D 12 shots per second shutter speed!
Canon 1D C Shutter Speed

[huntnphool]

You are going to be way better off sticking with the L series lenses, if you buy pre owned you can use it for a year while continuing to save money, then when you are ready you can sell it for about the same money you paid for it and combine that money with the saved and upgrade to the next lens. You will not be able to do that as easily with non L series lenses. Stick with Canon lenses as well.

I would start with the 70-200mm f4, the f2.8 is nice but you will find you seldom use it at f2.8 so why spend the extra money. If you can afford it go with the "IS" version, you can find them for about $850 pretty regularly. If you are on a strict budget then go with the same lens without "IS", they can be found for about $500 regularly.

These were taken with a Canon 70-200mm f4 IS

[Alchase]

Sweet

[huntnphool]

I'm looking for advice for a new telephoto lens for outdoor photography. I currently own a T2i but looking to upgrade to either a 7D or 6D body.

If going with a crop camera I would also look at the 50D, unless you need a video camera.

[Bean Counter]

Phool: you snap those shots with a 7D? 

[huntnphool]

Phool: you snap those shots with a 7D? 

No, those were shot with a 20D

[jyerxa]

that chipmunk photo is really crisp! wow. 

[huntnphool]

that chipmunk photo is really crisp! wow. 

Its a good lens. Here is another chippy, everyone seems to love these little guys.

[Fishhuntmike]

+1  for the 400mm f5.6L, especially if you shoot in Manual, wide open.