Who Chose the 300 f4 over the 100-400 for Birding and Why?

Phocal wrote:

ahaslett wrote:

sdw1 wrote:

Phocal wrote:

sdw1 wrote:

This nags at me HRC2016 - in a good way - as I actually mostly liked the 75-300 II - and wonder if it was the right move to get on with just the 40-150 and MC... ...but then, I want more reach, speed, and weather sealing... ...but the money is a hurdle...

Doc

If you shot an EM1 I would recommend the 50-200 SWD with both EC-14 and EC-20. For someone on a budget that is one of the best values in any system. With the EC-14 you have 280mm and the EC-20 can take you to 400mm and the IQ goes from amazing to good (depending on TC used). You could get a 50-200, MMF-3, EC-14, and EC-20 for about the price of the Panny 100-400.

Thanks for the advice Phocal.

I'm aware of that combination but need to get more familiar with it - and will look into it.

Doc

I have an EM1 and the 50-200SWD. It's a great combo but adding the EC20 is a step too far. Really emergency use only. At 300mm my Canon 300mm outperforms it easily.

Andrew

Why do you say adding the EC-20 is a step to far? It works perfectly well, but is only really useful if you are going to use at 400mm (at 400mm it is only 1/2 stop slower then the Panny 100-400). I used the Canon 300mm for many years and there is little difference in IQ from the 50-200 w/ EC-20 (the 50-200 is probably a bit better). With the EC-14 you get 280mm (which is close to 300mm) and the 50-200 is easily better then the Canon.

I can't get Flickr photos to link so here is a link to my Flickr album with sample photos from the 50-200 w/ EC-20. The frog and gator photos are from a day I spent using it with the EC-20, which resulted in this thread. Scroll down to the end where my sample shots from the zoo are and look at the detail captured in the flamingos feathers.

Maybe my EC20 isn't as good as yours.  My 50-200SWD is a much loved lens.

50-200 plus EC20 f/7.1 1/320 at 294mm

Canon 300mm f/4 at f/4.5 1/125

Bigma at 294mm f/7.1 1/250

Andrew