Comments on: Big Glass Advice Request… https://www.birdsasart-blog.com/baa/2015/06/28/big-glass-advice-request/ The blog of bird photographer Arthur Morris Sun, 05 Jul 2015 04:41:29 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8 By: Mal https://www.birdsasart-blog.com/baa/2015/06/28/big-glass-advice-request/comment-page-1/#comment-1723235 Sun, 05 Jul 2015 04:41:29 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=27781#comment-1723235 I love this post and the discussion in the comments, even if it’s mostly because it sparks some great daydreaming about buying some of the gear being discussed. Personally though…
#1: None of the above. Certainly no combination that included both the 600 & 500 f/4s or the 400 & 300 f/2.8s. In fact, not the 400mm f/2.8 at all.
#2: With that budget (and ignoring the “don’t spend it all at once” voices in my head) I’d get:
600mm f/4 (my dream lens for bird photography; super-sharp, excellent reach, great with 1.4x, and ok with 2x).
300mm f/2.8 (mind-bending lay sharp, “light-weight” for BIF).
1DX (I own the 5D3 and have used the 7D2 for birds; the 1DX seems like the best of both worlds with great image quality & AF, plus high fps).
#3: 300mm f/2.8 … Unsurpassed sharpness.
#4: With no travel in mind and no great interest in mammals or larger birds, I wouldn’t recommend the 200-400. For me though, with high interest in all those things, I consider it the best lens on the market by any manufacturer, bar none.
#5: Don’t buy the 400mm f/2.8. Too heavy for long periods of BIF. Specifically for birds, I also wouldn’t consider the 500; the 600 is the must-have.
#6: 1DX … the image quality of the 5D3 with (better than) the frame rate of the 7D2.
#7: SB, given you live on the same continent as Artie, I’d definitely be joining in as many IPTs as possible. Artie, any plans for an Australian IPT sometime? Lake Eyre next time it floods perhaps? Queensland shorebirds?

]]> By: Ben https://www.birdsasart-blog.com/baa/2015/06/28/big-glass-advice-request/comment-page-1/#comment-1723073 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 21:28:41 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=27781#comment-1723073 In reply to SB.

Oops, sorry to have stepped on your corns SB.
I too worked hard for my living, so hard in fact, that now I no longer have to.
There was no negative critique, just a straightforward opinion which you are free to take or leave as you wish. And no negativity or critique at all, just an observation on life’s little learning curve which you seem determined to avoid. Admirable but also quite futile. Like the rest of us, you will make mistakes and hopefully, learn from them.
If you would care to actually read what I said, you will see I suggested the 300mm F2.8 with the 1.4x and 2x extenders as a starting point. It is an exceedingly fine lens, works well with extenders and the combination would provide you with plenty of flexibility without too much bulk or weight. The 200-400 would also work but is relatively big, slow and heavy in comparison. Otherwise you could pick more or less anything from of the other assorted and conflicting opinions with a blind fold and a pin because without knowing what you want to shoot and where you intend to shoot it, any advice on choice of lens/camera body is shooting in the dark. (Note the clever pun)

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