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

Started Jul 29, 2016 | Discussions thread
OP sdw1 Regular Member • Posts: 194
Re: Who Chose the 300 f4 over the 100-400 for Birding and Why?

Phocal wrote:

sdw1 wrote:

Good response Phocal.

I'm waiting to see what the EM1 II will be like also. And thanks for the discussion about the f-stop being so important. Some seem to think 1 stop, or a half stop is not a big deal - but it may be in iffy conditions. I felt the 75-300 II was slower than I wanted - but it did seem to do well in bright conditions.

Doc

For me 1 stop is a lot. It can mean the difference between ISO 800 and ISO 1600 and may never process the ISO 1600 after looking at it. Sometimes a shot is fine at ISO 1600 and then other shots it is not, depends on the animal I am photographing and distance to subject. When close (Little Blue Heron filling the frame close or closer) ISO 1600 tends to be ok, add some distance and I typically throw them away after looking at them.

If you found the 75-300 slow you fill the same about the 100-400, it is less then 1/3 stop faster.

That's a good point... ...that the 100-400 might be too slow.  But those who use it don't seem to be bothered so much by that - and cite the lens's other attributes; range, size and weight, weather sealing, and good image quality.  But, like you, I threw away those with subjects too distant with a longer focal length.  I also used a 100-300 Pany for awhile - and, same thing happened.

Doc

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Olympus E-M1 II
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