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

Phocal wrote:

Denjw wrote:

lescrane wrote:

Sure the prime lens will be sharper,but even if price and weight were equal I'd go with the zoom.

Why? Flexibility.

When shooting birds you are invariably shooting at the full focal length for reach. I previously used the 50-200mm + EC20 and guess where I took most of my bird shots, 400mm.

I have to agree, 90% of shots taken with a zoom are taken at the ends and with a telephoto the end mostly used is going to be the long end (a wide angle tends to be the short end). Plus I, as well as most others into telephoto shooting, have both have lenses that cover the other focal lengths that are both sharper and faster.

You can get closer to small song birds or BIFS.

Why can you can closer with a zoom ahead of a prime if at equal focal length?

Getting close to small birds is more about knowing their habits, how timid they are and your stalking skills.

As Danny (nzmacro) says getting closer is the key, and I quote what he said in his terrific thread.

"Contrary to what a lot of people think we do with long tele lenses, we use them at close range. The closer to the subject the better and that applies to any tele lenses really. That's where the details are, in being close to the subject. "

Once again I have to agree with Denjw. If you are serious about wildlife photography stalking skills are the best lens in your kit. If you don't want to stalk then setting up a hide is going to get you close also, but that limits you to one location (stalking can be used anywhere).

Would a zoom helped me get closer this tiny bird, 8-9cm.

You can also zoom out if you find yourself too close to waterfowl or large herons.

Not often you need less than 300mm to be "to close" to large waterbirds. They usually very skittish. Maybe if in a boat or kayak.

See my previous post about what to do if they get to close for the entire body. Or, you can switch lenses or if you have a 2nd body switch to it. Currently my main wildlife lens is my ZD 150mm ƒ2.0 plus both TC's and I have not touched my 50-200 since getting it. I do have an advantage with the 150 tho, it is amazingly sharp with both TCs and I can switch them out in less then 10 seconds if something ends up to close and I want a full body shot (I keep the TCs in small pouches clipped to the D rings of my backpack straps). But I will typical just take closeup photos like in my previous post.

Some will argue the zoom over a prime because it is easier to find things at 100mm and then zoom in to 400. For those I say, practice and it will become 2nd nature. I have zero problems finding a small bird quickly in my viewfinder with a prime, but that comes from practice.

Good points.

I think I may have okay stalking skills... ...what I learned walking recon and ambush patrols probably applies.  Patience, quietness, blending in, slow movement, frequent pauses, avoiding heavy / noisy footfalls, selection of position, hand signals, and being acutely aware of surroundings; noise, movement, even smell from whatever is there... ...and watching whatever is there react to whatever alerts it / them... ...no interest in putting on face paint again though!

Intimate knowledge of bird behavior is no more than general though.  So, I'll have to learn more.

Our favorite is the Pelican, after that other water and shore birds, and we have many Ospreys a couple of miles away.   But, we like all birds...

All this is a welcome challenge to be sure.

Hats off to you and others.

Doc