Nikon 80-400Vr vs Canon 100-400IS

[ltabb]

I'm interested in taking pictures of birds and I'm considering the Nikon D50 with the 80-400VR and the Canon 350D with the 100-400IS. I want something that I can hand-hold so that I can react quickly to warblers fliting in the bushes and for panning to capture raptors in flight. If anyone could offer advice of a comparison of these setups, I would greatly appreciate it.

I had been a long-time Nikon 35mm SLR user,but I'm not locked-in to either of these setups, so if there is reason to consider alternate bodies, or if there are third-party lenses I might consider, please feel free to let me know.

Thanks for any advice!

PS: I think I will also post this to the Canon forum.

 

[DaveMC]

I have no experience with the Canon however I can offer you a look at my bird gallery, all taken with the Nikon 80-400VR. Hope this helps.

http://www.pbase.com/cooldave/blbirds

Dave.

 

[josh007]

I own the 80-400VR and is razor sharp. One problem, the autofocus is slow so is not for birds in fly. I borrowed the a Canon Rebel with a 100-400IS from a co-worker and I can tell you If I were starting in photography today I'd be buying the Canon. The autofucus on that lens is superfast even mounted on the cheaper DSLR they make.

I would love Nikon to come on with more lenses to match Canon offerings. Why I shoot Nikon ? I hate the ergonomics of Canon cameras, but that's me.

That said you would be happy with either system.

 

[ltabb]

Thanks for the feedback. My heart still leans toward Nikon, but the majority seem to favor the Canon.

I was hoping to find a clear reasoon to prefer the Nikon, but that hasn't happened. I plan to make a decision within a week.
Thanks again!

 

[Alex Vaillancourts]

I have seen some comparison and the canon seem more sharp, also focus is faster and their IS is more recent. Hope that Nikon will update this lens in near futur, long overdue.

Note: Nikon color are better IMO.

 

[BoyOhBoy]

I recently saw a decent deal on a 20D (in case you want to upgrade for quite a bit of moolah) but it may have expired

http://dealnews.com/deals/Canon-EOS-20-D-8-2-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-for-1-099-after-rebate/98148.html

 

[root107910]

Recently read somewhere that the push/pull design of Canon attracts dust to censor.

 

[Alex Vaillancourts]

Recently read somewhere that the push/pull design of Canon attracts
dust to censor.

Yes I have forgotten to mention it, this is the main problem with this lens, I have a preference for a zoom on a ring.

 

[Jeff4500]

Hi:

For Birds/Wildlife get a 300 AFS (f4 or 2.8) and the 1.4 and 1.7 TCE Converters. They define sharpness and even the f4 on my D70 will focus quickly (even with the 1.4) for on the wing shots. Did I mention that these lenses are sharp?
--
Regards,
Jeff
http://www.marketmagic.com/PFA/index.htm

 

[morris]

True, the nice cool breez that comes out of a 20D as you operate the zoom feals very nice on a hot day.

Morris
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http://qcpages.qc.edu/~morris/POD

 

[morris]

The Canon 100-400 IS on a 20D dose focus faster than the 80-400 VR on a D70s. If 1/10th of a second makes the difference then to Canon. On either lens you have to wait for IS or VR to stabilize your lens and this takes about 1/2 second. Many complain about the sharpens of the 100-400 IS above 300mm. I did not experience this problem on the ones I’ve tried. I've heard some but not as many say this about the 80-400 VR and I can say that is not the case with mine. I do plenty of flight photography with the 80-400 VR on my D70s and get good results. For example:



I grew up in a manual focus world. I’m much slower than either of these lenses.

Morris

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http://qcpages.qc.edu/~morris/POD

 

[JoeR]

--Does the Nikon 80-400VR have a metal lens mount?

joer56

 

[valerif]

i like this lens

people say it is slow but it is sharp and this is the most important thing for me

 

[bobmax]

Some time ago was conducted by PopPhoto which found the Canon a "little bit" better at the long end and the Nikon "a bit better" at the short end. That said, I've seen some amazing results from both.

Bob

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BobOly