another camera/lens question

[yajsab]

Need suggestion from the photographers (yeah, you know who you are  ).

I would like to get more range for wildlife, mainly deer/elks.  I have the 70-200/f4 and the 300/f4 had great reviews.  I could add the 300mm, but need to know from the experienced here to see if I get a 1.4x on top of the 70-200 will give me good range without spending 1k for the 300mm. 

[popeshawnpaul]

It will work and give you about 280mm.  Unfortunately, 280mm and 300mm just isn't enough for most wildlife situations.  Some of my recent sheep shots have been with the 70-200 f2.8 IS and the 1.4x like the photo of the month for january picture.  I had to get within about 30 yards for the group shot though.  With the 300mm f4 you would use it with the 1.4x to make it a 420mm f5.6 most of the time.  This is the combination Slider has and I don't think he shoots without his 1.4x very often...

[huntnphool]

I agree with Pope, most of the time I find 400mm is not enough and would like just a little bit more. The 400mm f/4 DO is my next big purchase, along with the 1.4x I should be okay for 90% of my shooting and if not I will rent the 600mm.

[boneaddict]

Did you mean 300 isn't enough or 400 Rob?  I think 400 is about the best overall.  Obvious there are advantages to 500 etc., but 300 is almost not enough gun for average wildlife shots that aren't park animals. 

[yajsab]

Thanks.  Sounds like I would need the 300 along with the 1.4x.

[huntnphool]

Did you mean 300 isn't enough or 400 Rob?  I think 400 is about the best overall.  Obvious there are advantages to 500 etc., but 300 is almost not enough gun for average wildlife shots that aren't park animals.

I have found 400mm to be not quite enough for the pic I want Bone. I haven't tried it with the 1.4x yet so don't know if that would be the difference or not . Right now I have to crop the full body pics I get with the 400mm to get the shot I was looking for in the first place. I think the 400/1.4x combo would be just about right for most of the shots I am looking for. That being said, the 600mm was a joy to use especially when we added the 1.4x to it, I was getting clear shots at 840mm I really dont want to spend $9,000.00 on a lens right now though that why the 400mm DO is on my list.

[robodad]

Need suggestion from the photographers (yeah, you know who you are    ).

OK you can't include me in that statement yet but I did find a great site to look up all sorts of camera/lens  information !!!


http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html#zoomprime