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Pat Trev

Pat Trev

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Location
Media, AK, US
Shooting birds with my 7D, 80-200 HS G and 2x Kenko teleconverter just isn't doing the job. Super slow focus with the teleconverter and not enough reach without. $5,999 for a 300/2.8 and no other 300mm in sight and no availability in the used market.

What's a bird photograpgher to do? Canon has so many viable options, better prices and availablity. My patience with Minolta, Konica Minolta and Sony has run out. We only live once and I can't wait years for these lenses to be made then wait more years to save enough money for them.

Sorry for the rant. I'm looking at the 30D or Rebel 400 (I hate the name Rebel!), 300/f4 and a 1.4 teleconverter. This line-up just cannot be found in KM or Sony.

Looks like my 80-200/2.8 APO HS G, 28-75/2.8, 75-300/4.5-5.6 and Sigma 400/5.6 will be up soon...

Is there any way to talk me off the ledge?

Pat
 
I can only advice you, stay with the 7D and take the Sigma 100-300/ f4 and a Kenko TC 1,4. It's a great combination for wildlife (the Kenko TC 2 you have already) It's not to slow for wildlife, but I have no experience with birding.

Kind regards
Wilfried
 
Have you considered one of the Sigma 400mm or 500mm lenses?

50-500 f4-6.3
170-500 f5-6.3

I have the 50-500 and have had good luck with it. I have also used it with my sigma 1.4 and kenko 2x teleconverters. I am not a bird person but would think these two lenses could be used.

Regards,
Dave
--
----------
Maxium Digital - 7D, 5D, 7Hi
http://www.pbase.com/daveh_photos
 
you will ever be happy. As you well know, and has been posted here many times, the 7D autofocus mechanism is one of the features we all yearned for impriovement in the 7DII.

This weekend I was shooting in a low light gym and I spent more time hunting to focus than shooting. I watch a young student walking around with his nikon just firing away.

We've all been patient, just 2 more weeks won't hurt, myabe, just maybe there will be a surprise. With the no fix of the 7D issues, you have to have a backup plan and my plan to reality starts in 2 weeks.

--
Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

Member of the 7D and Beercan Cult!

The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming clearer and its calling me to the darkside!
 
Hmmm, I shoot birds with a 7D, Minolta 300mm f/4.0 and a 1.4x tcon. Seems to get the job done in most situations. Practice and careful attention to technique yields high quality results.

Hawk:



Pelican:



Owl:



Meadowlark:

 
Dave Huntoon said:
Have you considered one of the Sigma 400mm or 500mm lenses?

50-500 f4-6.3
Click to expand...
Surely you jest! I've been on waiting lists at all top sellers for more than a year for a Bigma. They just quit making any A mount lenses at Sigma adding further insult after the Sony farce. Telling someone to buy a Sigma in A mount is poor advice.
Dave Huntoon said:
170-500 f5-6.3

I have the 50-500 and have had good luck with it. I have also used
it with my sigma 1.4 and kenko 2x teleconverters. I am not a bird
person but would think these two lenses could be used.

Regards,
Dave
--
----------
Maxium Digital - 7D, 5D, 7Hi
http://www.pbase.com/daveh_photos
Click to expand...
--
Shercando
 
Shercando said:
Surely you jest! I've been on waiting lists at all top sellers for
more than a year for a Bigma. They just quit making any A mount
lenses at Sigma adding further insult after the Sony farce.
Telling someone to buy a Sigma in A mount is poor advice.
Click to expand...
There is no indication that Sigma has stopped making a-mounts. They have been shipping new batches all summer. The most likely issue is that they were cautious in production levels and weren't ready for the large number of early Sony A-100 sales. In Japan Sony sold almost double its expectation for the first month.

BH has three Sigma Long Telephoto and telephoto zooms listed for soon or September and they tend to be pretty accurate. The 50-500 is listed for September.

As to the Nikon kid shooting more often... was he closer? And do you know how many of the shots actually came out? What lens?

When the grass looks greener... find out what seed was planted first...
--
------------
Ken - KM 5D
Sigma Trinity 10-20, 24-135 f2.8-4.5, 70-300 APO DG
http://www.cascadephotoworks.com
 
Pat,

I used to own the 300/4 G with the 7D and I found it to be an excellent lens in terms of sharpness, colours and contrast. Also, as far as AF goes, it was the fastest in my previous Maxxum lens lineup. It also worked well with the Sigma 1.4x EX TC.

Having said the above, the 30D is an excellent camera. As I said countless of times, I found the Canon system to be faster and more accurate with AF than my Maxxum system---both digital and film.

I don't know how much you are willing to spend but the great thing about Canon is that you have more lens selection and they are available now. I am not a bird photographer but if I were there are a lot of choices (depending on how much I am willing/able to spend):

100-400 L IS
300/4 L IS
400/2.8 L IS
400/4 DO
400/5.6 L
500/4 L IS
600/4 L IS

Also, you can add the excellent 1.4X Extender II to any of the above lenses to get more reach. Needless to say there are a few more third party-lens options to the above.

Moreover, again depending on your finances, you can move up to the outstanding 1DII/1DIIN for even a faster and more accurate AF.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

José
Pat Trev said:
Shooting birds with my 7D, 80-200 HS G and 2x Kenko teleconverter
just isn't doing the job. Super slow focus with the teleconverter
and not enough reach without. $5,999 for a 300/2.8 and no other
300mm in sight and no availability in the used market.

What's a bird photograpgher to do? Canon has so many viable
options, better prices and availablity. My patience with Minolta,
Konica Minolta and Sony has run out. We only live once and I can't
wait years for these lenses to be made then wait more years to save
enough money for them.

Sorry for the rant. I'm looking at the 30D or Rebel 400 (I hate
the name Rebel!), 300/f4 and a 1.4 teleconverter. This line-up
just cannot be found in KM or Sony.

Looks like my 80-200/2.8 APO HS G, 28-75/2.8, 75-300/4.5-5.6 and
Sigma 400/5.6 will be up soon...

Is there any way to talk me off the ledge?

Pat
Click to expand...
--
Shooting with the famous Replacements (1DMarkIIN, 30D and SD700IS)
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/canon_1dmk2n
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/canon_30and20d
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/maxxum_7d
 
Shercando said:
Surely you jest! I've been on waiting lists at all top sellers for
more than a year for a Bigma. They just quit making any A mount
lenses at Sigma adding further insult after the Sony farce.
Telling someone to buy a Sigma in A mount is poor advice.

--
Shercando
Click to expand...
Thats funny I bought my Bigma LESS than a year ago with no problems at all. I took a look at the B&H site and both lenses are listed as "Aprox arrival September". There is also the used market. So, maybe you are right but I guess we will see sometime this month is Sigma ships them.

Regards,
Dave
--
----------
Maxium Digital - 7D, 5D, 7Hi
http://www.pbase.com/daveh_photos
 
Hi Jose,

If I can successfully sell my current equipment, I will be looking at the 30D with the 300/4, 100-400 or the 70-200 with IR and 2x converter. Right now I'm leaning towards the 70-200 + 2x converter since that's what I have now. I need the 2.8 for an ice hockey team I've been following. Definately need the faster lens for that! But I hope I can find these items in a store to try the focus speed with the converter. I hate to give up my Maxxum but there are no 300/4 to be found--even so, the focus will be too slow and the cost too high. I hope to see you on the other side.
Pat
 
Pat- The AF on the 7D is not the greatest as I've noted other times. But the freedom given to me by the in camera anti-shake more than makes up for it in my book. Cost wise this seems to be a big plus over the other manufacturers expensive stabilized lens. Still, like you are saying, if you can't find the glass you need it does you no good. I was lucky enough to pick up my high end lenses a few years ago when everyone was dumping thier Minolta gear to go digital. It would be very hard to find and very,very expensive to buy my current set up in today's market. Good luck with your decision.
 
Dave Huntoon said:
I have the 50-500 and have had good luck with it.
Click to expand...
Good luck trying to find this lens as well. I've been looking for months to no avail. I'm painfully waiting to see what Sony does for their next DSLR body, and if I don't find it a suitable upgrade to my 7D I'm likely switching to Canon as well - mainly for lens availability and AF speed.
--
Ron
Torrance, CA
Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/rambler358

 
Beautiful stuff James! However, lack of lens availability and pricing is a concern for most right now.
--
Ron
Torrance, CA
Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/rambler358

 
Dave Huntoon said:
Thats funny I bought my Bigma LESS than a year ago with no problems
at all. I took a look at the B&H site and both lenses are listed
as "Aprox arrival September". There is also the used market. So,
maybe you are right but I guess we will see sometime this month is
Sigma ships them.
Click to expand...
Good luck - I've been looking at B&H's site and Adorama for the Bigma. B&H had it first listed as "Approximate arrival July", then Aug, now Sep. Who knows when we'll ever get to see one!
--
Ron
Torrance, CA
Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/rambler358

 
Pat Trev said:
What's a bird photograpgher to do?
Click to expand...
FWIW, if I were serious about bird photography and had money to buy a system, I'd probably shoot Canon in a heartbeat ... go for it. On a budget, you can do good work with any system, but if you've got options, Canon just has the best selection of lenses, not to mention that thoroughly enjoyable USM focussing. (And, of course, if you shoot Canon, you won't get laughed out of an Art Morris workshop ;)
  • Dennis
--
Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com
 
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