I like your gear choices. My bird photography mentor uses the Canon 400 5.6 and he has gotten great images with it for years. Personally, I think the best bang for the buck lens and body combo available right now is over on the dark side with a Nikon D500 (crop sensor) and their newish 200-500 f/5.6. I know, it's a zoom but it is prime sharp and it is hand holdable. It's not as light as the 400 5.6 but that thing is so tiny! I also shoot with a 500 f/4 and almost always use a 1.4 or 1.7 teleconverter on it. Still, on a budget, right now, you can't beat a D500 and the 200-500 f/5.6. Keep up the good work, I only just discovered your channel so I look forward to seeing more of your future and past videos.
Interesting information. I have a D7200 and use a 300 f4 EF ID i also got second hand. I wasn't really into birds but after visiting Kruger Nat Park I am hooked on birds
I also use 7d Mark II + 400mm f/5.6 (sometimes with extender which ends up as 560mm f/8.0). This combo is really hard to beat. Any brighter lenses cost a fortune. The only two things I am missing are the IS and weather sealing. Second one I did achieve by adding some self made cover :-)
Its probably the first time I saw such passionate couples in to bird photography and the long time since when you have been in to this photography. I wish if I could ever meet you guys in this life. Truly inspired by both of you!!!
Having changing my photography style to mostly urban, I sold my copy of the 400mm 5.6 L lens many years ago, but I can still vouch for its excellence when it comes to "on-the-go" wildlife photography - even when I then had to climb up the hill to shoot kites in the Chilterns in England, after a sucessful couple of decades of reintroducing the formerly-endagered species into the wild. Gearwise, I wonder if, with all progress in its cameras' focusing system that Sony has achieved in strides along these last three years (such as animal eye tracking on the A9 II) if you're still using Canon gear. Also, nice to see you guys work as a team. It iinspíres me to do the same with the misus someday.
I've been subscribed for about a year. I have a Canon 80D and just got a new Canon 400mm 5.6 last week. Love the lens and I decided to get it from seeing how well it performs for you! Thanks for your videos!
Hey guys- My 14 year old daughter and me spend time together taking photos of birds and other wildlife. We both enjoy it very much and get to spend time together. Also to be able to take photos and enjoy nature and get exercise is a great thing. It is great you guys are able to share that together!!
The 400 5.6 almost made me go for Canon! A great lens to have indeed, but often I need a little more focal length and wider aperture. I use a 500 F4 for a few years now and am completely used to the weight, also shooting it handheld and walk around with it no problem at all. It is just a matter of getting used to. Allright, may be only for the male bird nerds.. ;-)
When I saw the thumbnail I thought to myself "Hey that guy looks like Trevor from Astrobackyard" then I clicked on the video and sure enough....Keep up the great work!
Been shooting with the Canon 7D Mark II and the 400mm F5.6 for a while. Nice combination. Added the Canon Extender 1.4x extender III for a 896mm reach but had mixed results. At f/8 with only 1 AF point working, BIF were difficult, and the autofocus was often slow. Bought a refurbished Canon 80D, and a refurbished Canon 100-400mm II. It seems both of these were tuned to work with the Canon 1.4x Extender III. At 896mm have 27 AF points available. Great for BIF. And the pictures are all sharp. The zoom is an added bonus when a subject over fills the frame. I rarely take the 1.4x extender off. A monopod helps with the weight. Heavier than the 400mm F5.6 combination. But I rarely use the Canon 7 D Mark II or the 400mm F5.6 lens. The Canon 80D, Canon 100-400mm II, and the Canon 1.4x III combination is that good. If you can, rent the combination and try it out.
I thought that was your Trevor! haha You got me deeply into astro imaging, now I get a relaxing backlog of videos about your birding adventures, Funny how the progression can be with photography! Loving my new mirrorless and tamron telephoto
Love you guys' enthusiasm towards bird photography. I really enjoyed the video. I have a Tanrom 150-600 g2 which is on the lighter side in terms of telephoto lens goes but still carrying a 4 lbs lens for an entire afternoon is no joke.
I am just getting into birding myself...I picked up some Leupold binoculars....a friend of mine is going to lend his pentax k-3 with sigma 170-500mm lens(older lens) should get me started while I save up for my own camera gear!!
Great, well considered review. I agree about buying good used lenses (not so much with camera bodies - I think it's a bit riskier, and bodies change more frequently). Personally, I like the new 150-600 mm IS lenses together with a robust camera strap. Keep up the good work!
About 30 years before I got into photography nearly 40 years total now I started as an amateur astronomer and I'm still going with that. But after nearly 40 years even I have never had an APO refractor so congratulations on starting there.
sorry to be offtopic but does anybody know of a way to log back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot the password. I love any tips you can give me!
@Pierce Jake thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site on google and im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Good to see you both back again with your very calm attitude to ornithology compared to some of the more in your face and a thousand miles an hour presenters. Have a great year of birding.
I rented the Canon 400mm and tried it with bird shooting and plane spotting. Very sharp image and love the lightweight. Unfortunately, canon discontinued this lens, so not available for sale in local dealership any more.
Love buying used and getting s great deal! Refurbished is also a good way to go. A factory refurbished camera or lens has been taken apart, repaired, cleaned, tested, and has been re-beautified, for instance they replace old rubber, scratched screens, etc. so it looks like a new camera. Refurbished comes with a short factory warranty for a nice price. Less scary than buying used, but not as good of a price usually. If you are a birder and you already have an expensive birding scope you might as well try digiscoping. Like they say in the video, you can get some really great shots. You really can't be a hardcore birder and distinguish birds at a safe distance, get accurate counts, etc. without a good scope so might already be carrying your scope and tripod with you everywhere anyway. Some good scopes have digiscoping attachments designed for them which makes it easier, and if you have a camera with internal image stabilization you solve part of the shaky shot problem. A bridge camera with a long lens like a Fuji FinePix S9900W is a good starter birding camera. It has a 1200mm lens, essentially; however, it only works well in bright bright light. With a little practice you can get some great shots, but you'll also get some shaky, grainy shots if you don't have a lot of light because of the small sensor and tiny aperture. As a portrait photographer I already have a nice camera body, so I have a Nikon D810 combined with a Tamron 150-600mm which is a good 600mm budget birding lens for Nikon and Canon with image stabilization. However, for someone starting out specifically for birds or wildlife, I would recommend to go the other way and spend $3000 or more on a lens and less on a camera body (basically the opposite of what I did). This is because the lens will stay with you for a long time, but camera bodies get outdated very quickly, so you might as well invest in the lenses first. "Good glass first" is a lesson many people learn after they buy crappy lenses and are disappointed in them. That's not to say that the Tamron and Sigma beginner tele lenses are bad, they are just not as good as some more expensive lenses. For birding, a faster shutter speed and a high-end focusing system can be very important. So a Nikon D500, for instance, which has a super fast shutter and a phenomenal focusing system is a fantastic wildlife camera, but more expensive for beginners. Canon users are lucky to have that 400mm f/5.6 because Nikon does not have that nice light, semi-inexpensive 400mm tele. For Nikon you need to get one of their 300mm and maybe a teleconverter to extend the reach, or upgrade to the more expensive longer lenses (which are historically fantastic and the reason many hardcore wildlife shooters like Moose Peterson choose Nikon). The best budget starter lens on the Nikon side is the older 700-300mm VR which you can find for under $400 now that newer versions have come out. This is one of the sharpest sub-$1000 lenses there is, but I would recommend jumping up into the $800 range and looking for a used or refurbished Tamron 150-600mm for a few hundred bucks more if you don't have the cash to jump up into the thousands for the best lenses.
For birding, you do need a camera with a good AF system and frames per second. A Rebel or Nikon 3000 or 5000 camera will probably not cut it for bird photography.
Hi Guys, Another great video. Have spent about 12 years myself in bird photography starting back with the old Canon 20D and a 70-200mm IS zoom lens. Now have the 1DX Mark 2 and 600mm with 1.4X on a tripod. Ironically, now that I have my dream setup I find that the added weight is really getting to be a problem. Now that I am in my sixties everything hurts after an all day shoot. Will probably end up like you have and spend more time with the walk-around setup. Many of my friends here in B.C. shoot primarily with either a 400mm F/5.6 or the new 100-400 IS 2. Your images look great with your setup so I wouldn't change anything if I were you. I will be taking all my gear to Kamloops B.C. at the end of May to shoot great grey owls and song birds. Hope you get some great shots of spring migration. Would love to come out there sometime to get birds that are not here on the left coast. Take care and good light - Steve Large www.larges.ca
Thanks for the comments Steve - we hear great things about the 100-400 IS as well, sounds like a great option if you are looking for some added mobility. New birding territory is always exhilarating, good light to you!
Steve I shot with the 400mm f/5.6L prime lens for years and loved it. I've owned the newer 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II (version 2.0) USM zoom lens for about a year and absolutely LOVE it. I will be 71 in May and travel the world full-time (365 days a year) as a photographer and writer. I can totally relate to the aches & pains you talk about. Steve at www.IndochinePhotography.me
The most important lesson you didn't mention here, is to go up the ladder of gears, tools and knowledge, as you did, one step at a time, when start is near the bottom line, so your learning curve is not only complete, as it should be, but also based on very solid foundation of knowledge and experience, as it has to be. Well done both. Canadians truly make better things than us, even Nerds!
Awesome video! It's really important to choose a camera system not just for the bodies, but for the lenses as well. The Canon 400 5.6 is such great value for money!
I'm recently new to you channel. Why are you not posting ever? You are in St Catharines and we are in Hamilton a d want to bird with you. Can that happen this winter 👍👍👌👌👌💖😘👏
Thanks for the video, but I reckon you would have been better off getting a EM1 MKII or mklll with an olympus 300mm f4 or Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens f4. In addition to great glass, you would have a very portable Pro system
I love my combo of Nikon D500 / Nikon D5 together with a Nikkor 600mm 4.0 FL. That may not be a cheap solution at all but what it delivers is blowing you away... As really a brilliant low cost solution I would recommend a Nikon D500 together with a Nikkor 200-500mm 5.6.
Nice video again guys. As a Nikon shooter, I would say the D500 and 200mm-500mm f5.6 is a tremendous combination. It often produces shots comparable with my 600mm f4.
The 200-500mm is so much cheaper than long primes, and it performs almost as well (1 stop darker at f5.6.) Pair it with the D500 or D850 and you have a wildlife monster. The newer bodies and their improved low-light performance help make up a bit for it being an f5.6.
Very good video. I just bought a Canon 300mm f4L to replace my beloved 18-400mm tamron. Sharpness is what I'm looking for and this video showed me I can get with that lens. Thanks for posting.
Hi, I fell onto this while looking up how too's - update firmware for the camera etc. Well done, love your enthusiasm!!! Boy, you two took me back a few years... Not going as far back as when I got my first camera but 1st DLSR was a Rebel t4i 18-135mm (which I still have and use once in a while), at once point I had a Williams Optic 400mm telescope connected and ya, what a challenge - but I did manage to get a cool male Oriole photo and in flight! Also some Snowy!! Seeing what others had and their photo's I was getting kinda of envious and kept my eye's open on Kijiji for a 7d Mii and finely one came available that I could afford with only about 6000 cycle count, at the time I had a 70-300mm Tamron which was awesome, but hey.. Kept my eye's open and ya, a couple of years ago I managed to snag a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, yep also via Kijiji!! Oh, try not to carry by the body, those lens's are heavy and put a lot of stress on the camera mount - carrie it by the lens and look for a strap that mounts to the lens instead of the body - I bought a shoulder strap from Henry's last year and it is great and takes the weight off your neck.
Great video for those of us not wanting to spend a fortune on Camera gear but still like sharp photos. I shoot wildlife in Eastern Ontario (and the odd African Safari) with a Canon 7D Mk1 with a 70-200mm f/4 L IS zoom lens that I picked up when the USD/CDN was a parity. I also use a Canon 1.4X extender, but find it limits the f/4 lens somewhat. I carry a light monopod for lower light conditions. I am considering upgrading to something in the 400-600 range, but as you like the lightness of the Canon 400mm f/5.6 prime lens, though the Sigma 150-600mm lens is tempting...
I had the same combo as Ashley, the Canon 7D Mk 2 and 400mm prime lens. I was getting great results but I wanted more versitility so I bought the Canon 100-400mm mk 2 zoom lens. After comparing the two lenses I could not see any drop in sharpness. So I am very happy with the new lens, especially for bird photography. I am able to hand hold it all day without getting tired.
I also use the same setup as yours for "macro" the 100-400mm mk II close focuses about a meter from the subject. Shoot raw and crop for composition in Photoshop.
I am using Canon 7D mark ii with 400mm f5.6 for wildlife or bird photography what I feel it produce great result but in tarms of low light shooting at handheld very difficult to control. But feel happy it's produced great result
Image stabilizers are great things. Save up for the 100 - 400 ii zoom. You wont think the results you're getting now are so great if you do. Seriously. Its on another planet compared to the 400 5.6
Reach is king for bird photography so I think the Sigma 150-600 is the best lens on a budget under 1k... I use the Contemporary lens and it's fantastic, coupled with an 80D which has a decent enough frame rate at 7fps.
I'll make a point here for newbies that Trevor and Ashley illustrate so well: it's about the photographer and the effort to learn their craft and equipment. It's a patience game. Enjoy not just the photo you are trying to get but the journey to get there. On to equipment talk. The venerable SX50 is a great intro into birding pix. Lillian Stokes turned me on this on her web site when I was frustrated in my early days with a rebel and telephoto kit lens and having L lens envy. The only problem today is finding one but there are some options like the P900. It satisfied the itch until I could move up to nicer DSLR lenses.
Oh wow I just got a 7D and 400mm 1.4-5.6 L series Lens, both were from a second user dealership here in the UK. Together they cost me an arm and a leg as we say but they are as new. Just found your video and have subscribed, feeling most encouraged after watching this video.
I enjoyed your video as a first time viewer. I am the first to sing the praises of the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L (non-IS) USM super-telephoto "prime" lens. It's a GREAT lens and a SUPER value. However, I'm not sure I would agree that it necessarily captures sharper images than a zoom. I shot with the prime for years and got some outstanding images with it, but my current lens is the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM super-telephoto "zoom" lens and it also produces stunningly sharp images. It also has the added advantage of zoom, IS and a 1-metre MFD (which is extraordinary). In both the Galapagos Islands and Southern Patagonia (Argentina) I was actually able to approach wildlife closer than the 3.5-metre MFD allowed on the prime (which was a problem). With my new lens I can stalk the critters to within 1-metre (on a good day) and MFD is not a hinderance. I shoot with both the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and 7D Mark II. But I totally agree with you: folks need to buy what they can afford and use effectively. Keep up the good work. Best wishes Steve Dennstedt at www.IndochinePhotography.me
Stephen F. Dennstedt The biggest advantage of the 100-400 & negative to the 400 f/5.6 is the presence (or absence, respectively) of IS. BUT if you nail focus with the 400, or use a tripod, the 400 is definitely sharper IMO. I have one and can't bring myself to leave it. Just keep practicing to hand-hold the 400 and you'll be rewarded.
I think the 400mm f/5.6L is an EXCELLENT lens. I shot with it for years and LOVED it ... light, fast and super sharp. I never had a problem with it being non-IS. Having said that, however, I find my 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L to be "equally" sharp in real world shooting. The biggest advantage (for me) is the ability to focus to just 1-metre with 100-400mm versus the 3-metre MFD of the 400mm. The zoom has also been very helpful. The 400mm is the better value but the 100-400mm really holds its own when it comes to IQ. At least that has been my experience. You can't really go wrong with either lens.
Something I have considered for some time now concerning the min. focus on the Canon EF 400 mm f/5.6L is attaching the Canon tube extender, i.e., EF 12, it is the shortest of the two they offer & gains about 2 ft. on min. focus, i.e., from about 12 ft. to 10 ft... I plan on purchasing the EF 25 extender as well, whereas when doing macro style shooting with or without a macro lens, it gets you in closer to the subject with tack sharp focus... The beauty of an extender is, it is just that, no glass involved, albeit a slight loss in light gathering ability but that can be worked around easily enough... Kenko makes a 3 piece set in 12 -20 & 36mm for considerably less money too... :-)
Hi there Ashley and Trevor . . . Really enjoy your Videos . I'm from New Zealand which has some very special native birds . . . I use a Canon100/400 zoom because it gives me more flexabilty when I am in the Bush . . . By the way is that a male NZ Tomtit picture on the wall next to the doorway ?
Greetings from north central Vermont... I immediately recognized your birds, for I have photographed all of them too! The red breasted grosbeak irrupts into my area as well. I also use the ( original ) 7D and the EF 400 mm f/5.6 L USM... I bought my 7D the same year the MK1 came out, '14 I think. I saved close to $1000.00. I bought the camera & a EF 28-135 mm f/3.5 kit lens for an extra 100 bucks. ( I hate the lens, junk )... I can't speak highly enough on the EF 400 prime lens, the bokeh it produces behind the birds is absolutely beautiful. I agree, prime versus telephoto is the way to go. The 100 - 400 tele's really struggle on the long end, it is asking to much of a lens in my opinion, keep it at 300 or less, they do pretty good. When I am shooting wildlife, typically I set the camera up in advance, most always carry a tripod, more times than not I set iso to 400, spot center focus, AWB, AI Servo, high speed continuous. Sometimes I will bump the iso up to 640 & will go as high as 800, beyond that the noise becomes bothersome for me. I also shoot from my kayak using a Remington Rifle mono pole with a padded cradle, I simply sit the 400's barrel in the cradle & fire away. I have come away with some stunning shots of great blue herons, loons, bald eagles, osprey, Canada geese, turtles, frogs, snakes, etc. ( typically I float right up to them, firing away! ) Currently I am on a " landscape " kick and I backpack out with my legs strapped on, the 7D with a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 attached & I always bring my beloved Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L USM non is along... Dollar for dollar, the Canon EF 400 mm f/2.8L USM non is lens is money well spent. I bought mine for $1113.00 back in 2012 I believe.My first love of all things photography however, is birds and probably always will be as this very nice video has reminded me!Thank you very much for sharing this...Bill Farr @ WGF Studio53... Vermont, USA... :-)
Good talk on starting out for bird photography. I started out with eos 400D, then 7D original ( both from new ) and now a 7Dii ( used ) which is a major upgrade over the 7D. It is at least 2 stops better and clean from noise up to 2500 ISO. I also own EF70-300L IS USM, and sigma 150-600 contemporary zooms. The 70-300 is a great all rounder for sports, portraits, wildlife. The 150-600 is a beast and is not a lens that hand be hand held. Not that I am worried a oitvthe weight, however at 600mm fully extended trying to get subject in the centre of viewfinder is challenging ! My friend has the EF 100-400 and that is a very versatile wildlife lens and one I might get myself. Trevor's 7D with 1x1.4 converter will loose at least 2 stops of light on a DSLR that suffers from low light problems ! Just get a 100-400 mkii as ii is brighter, faster AF than the prime.
I started my bird photography with the 300 f4 IS lens, then moved on to the 400 5.6. I eventually sold the 400 5.6, but kept the 300 f4 IS (just couldn't let it go). I got my 300 f4 lens used for $250 and it's still looks brand new, a steal. I say definitely by camera bodies used because they change so often, but if you are going to put money into something, I always say glass first - get the best you can afford. I am that guy carrying the 600II and tripod now. I still enjoy every bit of time I am in the woods.
I'm a MFT user. But I have the Metabones Smart T adapter for Canon lenses. I am now considering the Canon 300mm F/4 IS or the Canon 400mm F5.6. My camera comes with almost 5 stop IS with a crop factor 2X. Both lenses are used and priced about the same in my country. Please give me your thought on these 2 lenses.
Great videos guys I too have recently just got the canon Ef 400mm 5.6 prime L lens picked mine up second hand for 400 Uk pounds . Loving the lens just need to upgrade my canon which ironically will be the 7dmk2
I got a canon 400MM EF 5.6 L lens and is a good start for some one who don’t have the money to spend buying the 400MM EF 2.8L and the 400MM EF 5.6L lens give good quality images as long as you understand about photography and I also got a canon 70/300MM EF 4/5.6L lens
Hi, Trevor & Ashley 👍🏻 I hope all is well, I miss seeing videos from y’all also I have a Canon 80D and I’m trying to save up to get the Canon 70 - 200mm f 2.8 IS /2 USM lens to be able to photograph wildlife, I only have the kit lens 18 - 135mm. I hope to see more videos from y’all soon. Thanks for sharing, enjoy and have a Great Tuesday !!! Danny
Hi Bird Nirds, Great video, you explain the basics that any newbee photographer wanting to move into wildlife bird photography would well benefit from, especially on starting and building up the gear to take better images. (a subject often missed) buying used gear, as for superzoom quality goe's i do dissagree with you on this one as i use both canon and sigma primes and zooms, for example: my ef 70-200 f4 and 400 mm f5.6 is sharper with my sigma 1.4 and 2x converters than the canon ones i used to own, plus the sigma's focus a tad faster. strange i know it shouln't be the case. and i am a dedicated canon man. sometimes you have to mix it up a bit to get best results and it dos'nt have to be a prime that gets you that image. I use a sigma 120-300mm f2.8 which gives amazing results with my 1dmk3, 50d, 40d. i do favour my 400 f5.6 and 70-200 with or without the 1.4x, j ust so easy to use for birds. like you guys i have worked my way up from the ground.
Nice run down shooting in the wild with budget gear like I do. For the newbies or semi-pros who do walk around photography... the key to a great shot is scouting an area, finding an area for the tripod and your butt, then waiting. This is where technique is fully executed and a relationship with nature is tested. If you're after a specific species, focus in on that species and don't get sidetracked. Once settled in, many opportunities will come to you unexpectedly if you scouted the area well then you can rip some frames as an afterthought. The eye is on the prize. And if the prize didn't arrive that day but was productive with aftermarket birds, go back next weekend or the following until the place you scouted turned into a unique representation of your time. Good luck wild nature photographers!
Super useful video! I'm thinking about upgrade my 50D but can't decide between 6d mark II and 7d mark II, your video definitely helps! I hope to see more videos soon, thanks for sharing your knowledge and journey!
I was RUclips channel surfing here in the OC CA found your channel and subscribed. I’m really enjoying your vids. I’m starting to get into bird photography, it’s not as easy as folks make it look especially BIF. By the time I see an amazing bird and get my camera setup boom it’s already flown away 😕 You guys really know your bird species very impressive. You two make a really cute couple. It’s nice you share a great hobby together. Keep up the good work. Maybe you can link all your bird photos in the description? I would love to see more of your work. 🦋🌷🌻🦆🦅🌾
Thank you so much for your kind words Leigh! We really do enjoy getting out together, and it helps to have a second pair of eyes when you are searching for birds :) So much goes into a great photo and the journey of improving is half the fun. We do have a blog - you can check out more of our work at thebirdnerds.ca/ Cheers!
Hey! Aren't you shooting stars and galaxies ! ? ;-) Glad I found this (Other) channel of yours. I find all of your videos really interesting and well made. Photography is my passion (Wildlife, night sky, lanscapes, portraits...) and always enjoy when people with similar interests are sharing knowledge and experiences. Keep up the good work! :-D
Just as I hit submit I heard your guys are in Ontario, awesome. I just subscribed. back in the days I digiscoped with a Nikon 995 and a 600mm Apo scoped.
I have a question. Uh, would you recommend the, um, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6, uh, with an adapter onto a Canon EOS R6? Um, I think the improved autofocus hardware on the mirrorless cameras, uh, could benefit the older EF lens, um, and the in body image stabilization could help with the lack of image stabilization in the lens.
Oh Well I'm a bit late here But here it is anyway ... Oh that 400 prime what a jewel. Old as dirt but still part of many pros kit. oh and don't forget that crop factor, so your 300 and 400 are more. The only drawback I have with the 400 is the minimum focus distance. One time too many I had that perfect shot on a rare bird....but just a tad too close then I bought a 24-105(canon). My outings are nothing but joy since then. Oh and last but not least, awesome vid you did. New subscriber of your's I am
Enjoy your videos. I’m just getting into some bird/wildlife photography. I shoot a Nikon d750, and looking at a Sigma 100-400 or 150-600 or Nikon 200-500. I’m thinking the Sigma 100-400, because of the mobility. Wished a prime was in my price range.
I’ve been debating between your 2 lenses, I’ve seen the 300 f4 with IS used for a similar price of the 400 5.6, I’m very undecided between these lenses! Any recommendations? Is stabilization that important when you’re using a fast shutter speed?
I have an 80D. I know the 7D is considered more of a Professional camera, so I wondered if it's lacking much? But the 80D has higher ratings for the sensor and certain other features. I like the flip out screen for awkward angle shots. I think the 7D has a faster shutter count per second which I know helps. I only paid $350 for the 80D with 2 lenses, tripod and bag, so about $150 for the body. It's in perfect condition, like new. I know that lenses are the most important thing and I'm looking at a Canon 400mm 5.6 like in the video. It's also in like new condition for about $750. I recently bought a Tamron 70-200 2.8 for $75, more for portraits. I'm having fun comparing that to my canon kit lenses. I recently sold my T6i that I had for about 5 years, my first and only camera with detachable lenses! I waited until my late 40s, never even having a "good" film camera in all my life! I'm only a beginner, so I feel fortunate to have what I do.
No freaking way!!! AstroBackyard! Hey Trevor & Ash :) never knew about this channel...I’ve been looking at a wildlife setup (poss D500 and 200-500 or 90d and 100-400 mk2) Definitely subbed 👍🏼👍🏼
Hi guys, happy to see you posted a vid, was missing your work and knowledge, by the, sent a message on FB messenger, really want know what you think? Thanks Lou
All the reviews I've seen of the 100-400 5.6 mk2 say it's just as sharp as the 400 prime, plus it has IS! Seems like an amazing lens! Definitely considering upgrading my 400 prime to that.
I shoot Micro Four Thirds, so my Olympus OM-D E-M1 gets trotted out, typically with my 40-150mm f2.8 PRO (80-300mm full-frame equivalent) and either the 1.4X or 2X teleconverter. I recently rented the Olympus 300mm f4 PRO, which is a 600mm full-frame equivalent, and that's a fantastic birding lens. It's definitely not cheap, but compared to a full-frame 600mm f4, it's a bargain. The crop factor really helps out with birding so you're not dragging big, heavy lenses around.
Hi Bird Nerds, you did not mentioned in the video that along with the added reach of lenses on a crop body, you also get stopped down by the crop factor. So that 400 mm 5.6 with a 1.4 teleconverter is really an F13! And that 300 mm f4 with the 1.4 TC is really an f9! I shoot tiny birds with a 70-200 mm f2.8 is II and it works great at a max distance of 8 ft (I use blinds, gillie suit, and tripod), but I cannot autofocus with a 2X TC attached. I will hear the beep but the image is soft. So my question is: can both cameras achieve autofocus? Or you do manual focus only.
I have the 7DII, is a lovely body that I use with the Sigma 150-600 Sport, which when adjusted for the camera is an amazing lens for £1,400 (2,500 Canadian Dollars) and you can have custom settings and 2 modes of IS. I think in the 3 years I’ve had mine the price would have come down significantly. It does take a good couple of hours to fine tune and it isn’t a mobile lens without at least a monopod, but it is an excellent lens. I believe the new Tamron is pretty good too, but I have never used that one. I usually have my 5DIII with me for lower light and to use with my 70-200 f4 IS which gives me four stops of light extra when hand held. Both my wife and I have to use hides (Blinds) as a rule as we both have disabilities and I carry my gear on a mobility scooter. But there are exceptions where we can spot from a good path etc. Fortunately here in the U.K. most sights are accessible and I’ve also had some great shots from the car window. I have the Swarovski ATS 65 HD scope with a 25-50 eyepiece and I’ve often thought of getting a digiscoping kit for that. All you need to begin with is a pair of waterproof binoculars and an average bridge camera which you can get for under £100, then you can build up slowly from there to infinity. I have absolutely no intention of upgrading to the new 7DIII, and I don’t want the 5DIV, it’s very easy to fall into that trap. If I was new to photography I wouldn’t rush out and get a long lens, they are not easy to learn with. Great video which combines both my passions.
The Canon 400 mm 5.6 lens is considered one of the best lens in the world! it’s extremely sharp! I love using mine with my Canon 5D Mark 3!📷
I like your gear choices. My bird photography mentor uses the Canon 400 5.6 and he has gotten great images with it for years. Personally, I think the best bang for the buck lens and body combo available right now is over on the dark side with a Nikon D500 (crop sensor) and their newish 200-500 f/5.6. I know, it's a zoom but it is prime sharp and it is hand holdable. It's not as light as the 400 5.6 but that thing is so tiny! I also shoot with a 500 f/4 and almost always use a 1.4 or 1.7 teleconverter on it. Still, on a budget, right now, you can't beat a D500 and the 200-500 f/5.6. Keep up the good work, I only just discovered your channel so I look forward to seeing more of your future and past videos.
Thanks Phil. Our gear seems to be working for us right now, but there are so many great options out there.
Interesting information. I have a D7200 and use a 300 f4 EF ID i also got second hand. I wasn't really into birds but after visiting Kruger Nat Park I am hooked on birds
I use a Nikon D500 with a Nikon 200-500mm 5.6f, this combo does a fantastic Job for bird photography.
hmm flagship camera with awsome lens... ofc that will be a good combo
I also use 7d Mark II + 400mm f/5.6 (sometimes with extender which ends up as 560mm f/8.0). This combo is really hard to beat. Any brighter lenses cost a fortune. The only two things I am missing are the IS and weather sealing. Second one I did achieve by adding some self made cover :-)
Its probably the first time I saw such passionate couples in to bird photography and the long time since when you have been in to this photography. I wish if I could ever meet you guys in this life. Truly inspired by both of you!!!
Having changing my photography style to mostly urban, I sold my copy of the 400mm 5.6 L lens many years ago, but I can still vouch for its excellence when it comes to "on-the-go" wildlife photography - even when I then had to climb up the hill to shoot kites in the Chilterns in England, after a sucessful couple of decades of reintroducing the formerly-endagered species into the wild.
Gearwise, I wonder if, with all progress in its cameras' focusing system that Sony has achieved in strides along these last three years (such as animal eye tracking on the A9 II) if you're still using Canon gear.
Also, nice to see you guys work as a team. It iinspíres me to do the same with the misus someday.
I love my 300/4 & 100-400 ii
I've been subscribed for about a year. I have a Canon 80D and just got a new Canon 400mm 5.6 last week. Love the lens and I decided to get it from seeing how well it performs for you! Thanks for your videos!
Thanks yankinoz - that's great feedback. Glad you were able to find a lens that works for you.
Hey guys- My 14 year old daughter and me spend time together taking photos of birds and other wildlife. We both enjoy it very much and get to spend time together. Also to be able to take photos and enjoy nature and get exercise is a great thing. It is great you guys are able to share that together!!
The 400 5.6 almost made me go for Canon! A great lens to have indeed, but often I need a little more focal length and wider aperture. I use a 500 F4 for a few years now and am completely used to the weight, also shooting it handheld and walk around with it no problem at all. It is just a matter of getting used to. Allright, may be only for the male bird nerds.. ;-)
When I saw the thumbnail I thought to myself "Hey that guy looks like Trevor from Astrobackyard" then I clicked on the video and sure enough....Keep up the great work!
Been shooting with the Canon 7D Mark II and the 400mm F5.6 for a while. Nice combination.
Added the Canon Extender 1.4x extender III for a 896mm reach but had mixed results.
At f/8 with only 1 AF point working, BIF were difficult, and the autofocus was often slow.
Bought a refurbished Canon 80D, and a refurbished Canon 100-400mm II.
It seems both of these were tuned to work with the Canon 1.4x Extender III.
At 896mm have 27 AF points available. Great for BIF.
And the pictures are all sharp. The zoom is an added bonus when a subject over fills the frame.
I rarely take the 1.4x extender off. A monopod helps with the weight.
Heavier than the 400mm F5.6 combination. But I rarely use the Canon 7 D Mark II or the 400mm F5.6 lens.
The Canon 80D, Canon 100-400mm II, and the Canon 1.4x III combination is that good.
If you can, rent the combination and try it out.
I thought that was your Trevor! haha You got me deeply into astro imaging, now I get a relaxing backlog of videos about your birding adventures, Funny how the progression can be with photography! Loving my new mirrorless and tamron telephoto
Love you guys' enthusiasm towards bird photography. I really enjoyed the video. I have a Tanrom 150-600 g2 which is on the lighter side in terms of telephoto lens goes but still carrying a 4 lbs lens for an entire afternoon is no joke.
I just ordered the same combination prior to watching this video … D7 Mark II and Canon 400mm. Can’t wait!
I am just getting into birding myself...I picked up some Leupold binoculars....a friend of mine is going to lend his pentax k-3 with sigma 170-500mm lens(older lens) should get me started while I save up for my own camera gear!!
Great, well considered review. I agree about buying good used lenses (not so much with camera bodies - I think it's a bit riskier, and bodies change more frequently). Personally, I like the new 150-600 mm IS lenses together with a robust camera strap. Keep up the good work!
About 30 years before I got into photography nearly 40 years total now I started as an amateur astronomer and I'm still going with that. But after nearly 40 years even I have never had an APO refractor so congratulations on starting there.
You should probably mention that your 1.4x extender costs you 1 stop of light so your 300 f4 is not any faster than the 400 f5.6
sorry to be offtopic but does anybody know of a way to log back into an Instagram account..?
I was dumb forgot the password. I love any tips you can give me!
@Jefferson Sean instablaster :)
@Pierce Jake thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site on google and im waiting for the hacking stuff atm.
Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Pierce Jake It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thanks so much you saved my account!
Ya this is a total scam, ignore everything these two aholes are talking about.
I think it's pretty cool that you guys do this together. Cool couple.
Very useful review indeed.Thanks for sharing👍
Good to see you both back again with your very calm attitude to ornithology compared to some of the more in your face and a thousand miles an hour presenters. Have a great year of birding.
Thanks for the great feedback Peter!
I rented the Canon 400mm and tried it with bird shooting and plane spotting. Very sharp image and love the lightweight. Unfortunately, canon discontinued this lens, so not available for sale in local dealership any more.
Love buying used and getting s great deal! Refurbished is also a good way to go. A factory refurbished camera or lens has been taken apart, repaired, cleaned, tested, and has been re-beautified, for instance they replace old rubber, scratched screens, etc. so it looks like a new camera. Refurbished comes with a short factory warranty for a nice price. Less scary than buying used, but not as good of a price usually.
If you are a birder and you already have an expensive birding scope you might as well try digiscoping. Like they say in the video, you can get some really great shots. You really can't be a hardcore birder and distinguish birds at a safe distance, get accurate counts, etc. without a good scope so might already be carrying your scope and tripod with you everywhere anyway. Some good scopes have digiscoping attachments designed for them which makes it easier, and if you have a camera with internal image stabilization you solve part of the shaky shot problem.
A bridge camera with a long lens like a Fuji FinePix S9900W is a good starter birding camera. It has a 1200mm lens, essentially; however, it only works well in bright bright light. With a little practice you can get some great shots, but you'll also get some shaky, grainy shots if you don't have a lot of light because of the small sensor and tiny aperture.
As a portrait photographer I already have a nice camera body, so I have a Nikon D810 combined with a Tamron 150-600mm which is a good 600mm budget birding lens for Nikon and Canon with image stabilization. However, for someone starting out specifically for birds or wildlife, I would recommend to go the other way and spend $3000 or more on a lens and less on a camera body (basically the opposite of what I did). This is because the lens will stay with you for a long time, but camera bodies get outdated very quickly, so you might as well invest in the lenses first. "Good glass first" is a lesson many people learn after they buy crappy lenses and are disappointed in them.
That's not to say that the Tamron and Sigma beginner tele lenses are bad, they are just not as good as some more expensive lenses.
For birding, a faster shutter speed and a high-end focusing system can be very important. So a Nikon D500, for instance, which has a super fast shutter and a phenomenal focusing system is a fantastic wildlife camera, but more expensive for beginners.
Canon users are lucky to have that 400mm f/5.6 because Nikon does not have that nice light, semi-inexpensive 400mm tele. For Nikon you need to get one of their 300mm and maybe a teleconverter to extend the reach, or upgrade to the more expensive longer lenses (which are historically fantastic and the reason many hardcore wildlife shooters like Moose Peterson choose Nikon). The best budget starter lens on the Nikon side is the older 700-300mm VR which you can find for under $400 now that newer versions have come out. This is one of the sharpest sub-$1000 lenses there is, but I would recommend jumping up into the $800 range and looking for a used or refurbished Tamron 150-600mm for a few hundred bucks more if you don't have the cash to jump up into the thousands for the best lenses.
For birding, you do need a camera with a good AF system and frames per second. A Rebel or Nikon 3000 or 5000 camera will probably not cut it for bird photography.
Hi Guys, Another great video. Have spent about 12 years myself in bird photography starting back with the old Canon 20D and a 70-200mm IS zoom lens. Now have the 1DX Mark 2 and 600mm with 1.4X on a tripod. Ironically, now that I have my dream setup I find that the added weight is really getting to be a problem. Now that I am in my sixties everything hurts after an all day shoot. Will probably end up like you have and spend more time with the walk-around setup. Many of my friends here in B.C. shoot primarily with either a 400mm F/5.6 or the new 100-400 IS 2. Your images look great with your setup so I wouldn't change anything if I were you. I will be taking all my gear to Kamloops B.C. at the end of May to shoot great grey owls and song birds. Hope you get some great shots of spring migration. Would love to come out there sometime to get birds that are not here on the left coast. Take care and good light - Steve Large www.larges.ca
Thanks for the comments Steve - we hear great things about the 100-400 IS as well, sounds like a great option if you are looking for some added mobility. New birding territory is always exhilarating, good light to you!
Steve I shot with the 400mm f/5.6L prime lens for years and loved it. I've owned the newer 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II (version 2.0) USM zoom lens for about a year and absolutely LOVE it. I will be 71 in May and travel the world full-time (365 days a year) as a photographer and writer. I can totally relate to the aches & pains you talk about. Steve at www.IndochinePhotography.me
Why dont you buy Nikon Coolpix P1000, 3000mm
The most important lesson you didn't mention here, is to go up the ladder of gears, tools and knowledge, as you did, one step at a time, when start is near the bottom line, so your learning curve is not only complete, as it should be, but also based on very solid foundation of knowledge and experience, as it has to be.
Well done both. Canadians truly make better things than us, even Nerds!
Fantastic Video
Awesome video! It's really important to choose a camera system not just for the bodies, but for the lenses as well. The Canon 400 5.6 is such great value for money!
I'm recently new to you channel. Why are you not posting ever? You are in St Catharines and we are in Hamilton a d want to bird with you. Can that happen this winter 👍👍👌👌👌💖😘👏
Thanks for the video, but I reckon you would have been better off getting a EM1 MKII or mklll with an olympus 300mm f4 or Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens f4. In addition to great glass, you would have a very portable Pro system
I love my combo of Nikon D500 / Nikon D5 together with a Nikkor 600mm 4.0 FL. That may not be a cheap solution at all but what it delivers is blowing you away... As really a brilliant low cost solution I would recommend a Nikon D500 together with a Nikkor 200-500mm 5.6.
Nice video again guys. As a Nikon shooter, I would say the D500 and 200mm-500mm f5.6 is a tremendous combination. It often produces shots comparable with my 600mm f4.
Hi Dave - thanks for providing a Nikon perspective, that is helpful for the Nikon shooters out there.
Yeah, the 400 5.6 is one that Nikon doesn’t offer, but the word on the street is they might be coming out with a nice small FL one soon!
The 200-500mm is so much cheaper than long primes, and it performs almost as well (1 stop darker at f5.6.) Pair it with the D500 or D850 and you have a wildlife monster. The newer bodies and their improved low-light performance help make up a bit for it being an f5.6.
Very good video. I just bought a Canon 300mm f4L to replace my beloved 18-400mm tamron. Sharpness is what I'm looking for and this video showed me I can get with that lens. Thanks for posting.
I've recently started birding and make do with nikon p1000, for general photography I use nikon d750 and nikkor 24-120,105,24,50
great video about the setups.
thanks
Hi, I fell onto this while looking up how too's - update firmware for the camera etc. Well done, love your enthusiasm!!! Boy, you two took me back a few years... Not going as far back as when I got my first camera but 1st DLSR was a Rebel t4i 18-135mm (which I still have and use once in a while), at once point I had a Williams Optic 400mm telescope connected and ya, what a challenge - but I did manage to get a cool male Oriole photo and in flight! Also some Snowy!! Seeing what others had and their photo's I was getting kinda of envious and kept my eye's open on Kijiji for a 7d Mii and finely one came available that I could afford with only about 6000 cycle count, at the time I had a 70-300mm Tamron which was awesome, but hey.. Kept my eye's open and ya, a couple of years ago I managed to snag a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, yep also via Kijiji!! Oh, try not to carry by the body, those lens's are heavy and put a lot of stress on the camera mount - carrie it by the lens and look for a strap that mounts to the lens instead of the body - I bought a shoulder strap from Henry's last year and it is great and takes the weight off your neck.
Great video for those of us not wanting to spend a fortune on Camera gear but still like sharp photos. I shoot wildlife in Eastern Ontario (and the odd African Safari) with a Canon 7D Mk1 with a 70-200mm f/4 L IS zoom lens that I picked up when the USD/CDN was a parity. I also use a Canon 1.4X extender, but find it limits the f/4 lens somewhat. I carry a light monopod for lower light conditions. I am considering upgrading to something in the 400-600 range, but as you like the lightness of the Canon 400mm f/5.6 prime lens, though the Sigma 150-600mm lens is tempting...
Good job guys good work
I had the same combo as Ashley, the Canon 7D Mk 2 and 400mm prime lens. I was getting great results but I wanted more versitility so I bought the Canon 100-400mm mk 2 zoom lens. After comparing the two lenses I could not see any drop in sharpness. So I am very happy with the new lens, especially for bird photography. I am able to hand hold it all day without getting tired.
I also use the same setup as yours for "macro" the 100-400mm mk II close focuses about a meter from the subject. Shoot raw and crop for composition in Photoshop.
Can we mount on Sony crop sensors. Apsc sensors
I am using Canon 7D mark ii with 400mm f5.6 for wildlife or bird photography what I feel it produce great result but in tarms of low light shooting at handheld very difficult to control. But feel happy it's produced great result
Image stabilizers are great things. Save up for the 100 - 400 ii zoom. You wont think the results you're getting now are so great if you do. Seriously. Its on another planet compared to the 400 5.6
Reach is king for bird photography so I think the Sigma 150-600 is the best lens on a budget under 1k... I use the Contemporary lens and it's fantastic, coupled with an 80D which has a decent enough frame rate at 7fps.
nice to see you guys back..
I'll make a point here for newbies that Trevor and Ashley illustrate so well: it's about the photographer and the effort to learn their craft and equipment. It's a patience game. Enjoy not just the photo you are trying to get but the journey to get there.
On to equipment talk. The venerable SX50 is a great intro into birding pix. Lillian Stokes turned me on this on her web site when I was frustrated in my early days with a rebel and telephoto kit lens and having L lens envy. The only problem today is finding one but there are some options like the P900. It satisfied the itch until I could move up to nicer DSLR lenses.
Yes and yes! Enjoy the journey.
@@thebirdnerds9475 how does this lens do with video?
Oh wow I just got a 7D and 400mm 1.4-5.6 L series Lens, both were from a second user dealership here in the UK. Together they cost me an arm and a leg as we say but they are as new. Just found your video and have subscribed, feeling most encouraged after watching this video.
Good stuff Stuart - happy shooting!
I have a 7D - awesome camera, and great value
This was very helpful, thanks! You guys should consider picking up straps from blackrapids. They are much more comfy.
Thanks Tracy! We’ll check them out
very well explained. I am a Canon user and am very satisfied with both my cameras.I shoot wildlife all over Asia. Good luck to the both of you
Thank you a samuel!
I enjoyed your video as a first time viewer. I am the first to sing the praises of the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L (non-IS) USM super-telephoto "prime" lens. It's a GREAT lens and a SUPER value. However, I'm not sure I would agree that it necessarily captures sharper images than a zoom. I shot with the prime for years and got some outstanding images with it, but my current lens is the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM super-telephoto "zoom" lens and it also produces stunningly sharp images. It also has the added advantage of zoom, IS and a 1-metre MFD (which is extraordinary). In both the Galapagos Islands and Southern Patagonia (Argentina) I was actually able to approach wildlife closer than the 3.5-metre MFD allowed on the prime (which was a problem). With my new lens I can stalk the critters to within 1-metre (on a good day) and MFD is not a hinderance. I shoot with both the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and 7D Mark II. But I totally agree with you: folks need to buy what they can afford and use effectively. Keep up the good work. Best wishes Steve Dennstedt at www.IndochinePhotography.me
Thanks, Stephen, all good points and we appreciate the feedback. Always great to hear what works for other birders out there.
Thank you Matt. Positive feedback is ALWAYS appreciated.
Stephen F. Dennstedt The biggest advantage of the 100-400 & negative to the 400 f/5.6 is the presence (or absence, respectively) of IS. BUT if you nail focus with the 400, or use a tripod, the 400 is definitely sharper IMO. I have one and can't bring myself to leave it. Just keep practicing to hand-hold the 400 and you'll be rewarded.
I think the 400mm f/5.6L is an EXCELLENT lens. I shot with it for years and LOVED it ... light, fast and super sharp. I never had a problem with it being non-IS. Having said that, however, I find my 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L to be "equally" sharp in real world shooting. The biggest advantage (for me) is the ability to focus to just 1-metre with 100-400mm versus the 3-metre MFD of the 400mm. The zoom has also been very helpful. The 400mm is the better value but the 100-400mm really holds its own when it comes to IQ. At least that has been my experience. You can't really go wrong with either lens.
Something I have considered for some time now concerning the min. focus on the Canon EF 400 mm f/5.6L is attaching the Canon tube extender, i.e., EF 12, it is the shortest of the two they offer & gains about 2 ft. on min. focus, i.e., from about 12 ft. to 10 ft... I plan on purchasing the EF 25 extender as well, whereas when doing macro style shooting with or without a macro lens, it gets you in closer to the subject with tack sharp focus... The beauty of an extender is, it is just that, no glass involved, albeit a slight loss in light gathering ability but that can be worked around easily enough...
Kenko makes a 3 piece set in 12 -20 & 36mm for considerably less money too... :-)
Love the shots of Pelee!
yep just subscribed... well done guys, good video. huge Ashley fan too.... wow.
Did either of you try the 100-400 II? the image quality is stunning and you get 4 stops of IS.
justin holding, does the 100-400 get dust in the lens because of the way it slides in and out? I’ve always been afraid to buy it.
@@chriscarr2114 no , after year still perfect , sealing is great
Great videos and bird pics guys.......I just joined to your channel ........My blesses to all of you from Venezuela
Hi there Ashley and Trevor . . . Really enjoy your Videos . I'm from New Zealand which has some very special native birds . . . I use a Canon100/400 zoom because it gives me more flexabilty when I am in the Bush . . . By the way is that a male NZ Tomtit picture on the wall next to the doorway ?
Greetings from north central Vermont... I immediately recognized your birds, for I have photographed all of them too! The red breasted grosbeak irrupts into my area as well. I also use the ( original ) 7D and the EF 400 mm f/5.6 L USM... I bought my 7D the same year the MK1 came out, '14 I think. I saved close to $1000.00. I bought the camera & a EF 28-135 mm f/3.5 kit lens for an extra 100 bucks. ( I hate the lens, junk )... I can't speak highly enough on the EF 400 prime lens, the bokeh it produces behind the birds is absolutely beautiful. I agree, prime versus telephoto is the way to go. The 100 - 400 tele's really struggle on the long end, it is asking to much of a lens in my opinion, keep it at 300 or less, they do pretty good. When I am shooting wildlife, typically I set the camera up in advance, most always carry a tripod, more times than not I set iso to 400, spot center focus, AWB, AI Servo, high speed continuous. Sometimes I will bump the iso up to 640 & will go as high as 800, beyond that the noise becomes bothersome for me. I also shoot from my kayak using a Remington Rifle mono pole with a padded cradle, I simply sit the 400's barrel in the cradle & fire away. I have come away with some stunning shots of great blue herons, loons, bald eagles, osprey, Canada geese, turtles, frogs, snakes, etc. ( typically I float right up to them, firing away! ) Currently I am on a " landscape " kick and I backpack out with my legs strapped on, the 7D with a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 attached & I always bring my beloved Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L USM non is along... Dollar for dollar, the Canon EF 400 mm f/2.8L USM non is lens is money well spent. I bought mine for $1113.00 back in 2012 I believe.My first love of all things photography however, is birds and probably always will be as this very nice video has reminded me!Thank you very much for sharing this...Bill Farr @ WGF Studio53... Vermont, USA... :-)
Good talk on starting out for bird photography.
I started out with eos 400D, then 7D original ( both from new ) and now a 7Dii ( used ) which is a major upgrade over the 7D. It is at least 2 stops better and clean from noise up to 2500 ISO.
I also own EF70-300L IS USM, and sigma 150-600 contemporary zooms. The 70-300 is a great all rounder for sports, portraits, wildlife. The 150-600 is a beast and is not a lens that hand be hand held. Not that I am worried a oitvthe weight, however at 600mm fully extended trying to get subject in the centre of viewfinder is challenging !
My friend has the EF 100-400 and that is a very versatile wildlife lens and one I might get myself.
Trevor's 7D with 1x1.4 converter will loose at least 2 stops of light on a DSLR that suffers from low light problems !
Just get a 100-400 mkii as ii is brighter, faster AF than the prime.
I started my bird photography with the 300 f4 IS lens, then moved on to the 400 5.6. I eventually sold the 400 5.6, but kept the 300 f4 IS (just couldn't let it go). I got my 300 f4 lens used for $250 and it's still looks brand new, a steal. I say definitely by camera bodies used because they change so often, but if you are going to put money into something, I always say glass first - get the best you can afford.
I am that guy carrying the 600II and tripod now. I still enjoy every bit of time I am in the woods.
Great channel
I'm a MFT user. But I have the Metabones Smart T adapter for Canon lenses. I am now considering the Canon 300mm F/4 IS or the Canon 400mm F5.6. My camera comes with almost 5 stop IS with a crop factor 2X. Both lenses are used and priced about the same in my country.
Please give me your thought on these 2 lenses.
Great videos guys I too have recently just got the canon Ef 400mm 5.6 prime L lens picked mine up second hand for 400 Uk pounds .
Loving the lens just need to upgrade my canon which ironically will be the 7dmk2
That's my birding combo and I swear by it.
I got a canon 400MM EF 5.6 L lens and is a good start for some one who don’t have the money to spend buying the 400MM EF 2.8L and the 400MM EF 5.6L lens give good quality images as long as you understand about photography and I also got a canon 70/300MM EF 4/5.6L lens
Hi, Trevor & Ashley 👍🏻 I hope all is well, I miss seeing videos from y’all also I have a Canon 80D and I’m trying to save up to get the Canon 70 - 200mm f 2.8 IS /2 USM lens to be able to photograph wildlife, I only have the kit lens 18 - 135mm. I hope to see more videos from y’all soon. Thanks for sharing, enjoy and have a Great Tuesday !!! Danny
I just bought the 5.6 400mm lens and also drove 90 minutes to pick it up. Cost me $900 Australian. Have it attached to a Canon 1500D.
Hi Bird Nirds, Great video, you explain the basics that any newbee photographer wanting to move into wildlife bird photography would well benefit from, especially on starting and building up the gear to take better images. (a subject often missed) buying used gear, as for superzoom quality goe's i do dissagree with you on this one as i use both canon and sigma primes and zooms, for example: my ef 70-200 f4 and 400 mm f5.6 is sharper with my sigma 1.4 and 2x converters than the canon ones i used to own, plus the sigma's focus a tad faster. strange i know it shouln't be the case. and i am a dedicated canon man. sometimes you have to mix it up a bit to get best results and it dos'nt have to be a prime that gets you that image. I use a sigma 120-300mm f2.8 which gives amazing results with my 1dmk3, 50d, 40d. i do favour my 400 f5.6 and 70-200 with or without the 1.4x, j ust so easy to use for birds. like you guys i have worked my way up from the ground.
Nice run down shooting in the wild with budget gear like I do. For the newbies or semi-pros who do walk around photography... the key to a great shot is scouting an area, finding an area for the tripod and your butt, then waiting. This is where technique is fully executed and a relationship with nature is tested. If you're after a specific species, focus in on that species and don't get sidetracked. Once settled in, many opportunities will come to you unexpectedly if you scouted the area well then you can rip some frames as an afterthought. The eye is on the prize. And if the prize didn't arrive that day but was productive with aftermarket birds, go back next weekend or the following until the place you scouted turned into a unique representation of your time. Good luck wild nature photographers!
Super useful video! I'm thinking about upgrade my 50D but can't decide between 6d mark II and 7d mark II, your video definitely helps! I hope to see more videos soon, thanks for sharing your knowledge and journey!
Glad you found this helpful, and thanks for your comments!
Take a 5dsr. Is not so expensive anymore, but is still one of the best cameras on market
I was RUclips channel surfing here in the OC CA found your channel and subscribed. I’m really enjoying your vids. I’m starting to get into bird photography, it’s not as easy as folks make it look especially BIF. By the time I see an amazing bird and get my camera setup boom it’s already flown away 😕 You guys really know your bird species very impressive. You two make a really cute couple. It’s nice you share a great hobby together. Keep up the good work. Maybe you can link all your bird photos in the description? I would love to see more of your work. 🦋🌷🌻🦆🦅🌾
Thank you so much for your kind words Leigh! We really do enjoy getting out together, and it helps to have a second pair of eyes when you are searching for birds :) So much goes into a great photo and the journey of improving is half the fun. We do have a blog - you can check out more of our work at thebirdnerds.ca/ Cheers!
You guys must come birding to Costa Rica! I'll take you birding.
I use the 400 5.6 exclusively and its one of the best lenses I have ever owned.
im getting the 7d mk2 and probably 150-600 contempery but i dont know what to get i was thinking 100-400 also i shoot planes at airshows and airports
Hey! Aren't you shooting stars and galaxies ! ? ;-) Glad I found this (Other) channel of yours. I find all of your videos really interesting and well made. Photography is my passion (Wildlife, night sky, lanscapes, portraits...) and always enjoy when people with similar interests are sharing knowledge and experiences. Keep up the good work! :-D
Just as I hit submit I heard your guys are in Ontario, awesome. I just subscribed. back in the days I digiscoped with a Nikon 995 and a 600mm Apo scoped.
I'm using a 70-200mm F4 non IS lens, hard to capture an owl when it's on top of a tree
I have a question. Uh, would you recommend the, um, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6, uh, with an adapter onto a Canon EOS R6? Um, I think the improved autofocus hardware on the mirrorless cameras, uh, could benefit the older EF lens, um, and the in body image stabilization could help with the lack of image stabilization in the lens.
What is your basic setup for shooting, Jpeg or raw, manual, shutter or aperture priority ? Keep up the great videos!!!
Many thanks for this great video! How do you think 400 5.6 compares with 300 f4 + 1.4x?
Oh Well I'm a bit late here But here it is anyway ... Oh that 400 prime what a jewel. Old as dirt but still part of many pros kit. oh and don't forget that crop factor, so your 300 and 400 are more. The only drawback I have with the 400 is the minimum focus distance. One time too many I had that perfect shot on a rare bird....but just a tad too close then I bought a 24-105(canon). My outings are nothing but joy since then. Oh and last but not least, awesome vid you did. New subscriber of your's I am
Enjoy your videos. I’m just getting into some bird/wildlife photography. I shoot a Nikon d750, and looking at a Sigma 100-400 or 150-600 or Nikon 200-500. I’m thinking the Sigma 100-400, because of the mobility. Wished a prime was in my price range.
I’ve been debating between your 2 lenses, I’ve seen the 300 f4 with IS used for a similar price of the 400 5.6, I’m very undecided between these lenses! Any recommendations? Is stabilization that important when you’re using a fast shutter speed?
Great video! You can tell that you both have passion for both the gear and the birds. Keep it up, I just subscribed!
I have an 80D. I know the 7D is considered more of a Professional camera, so I wondered if it's lacking much? But the 80D has higher ratings for the sensor and certain other features. I like the flip out screen for awkward angle shots. I think the 7D has a faster shutter count per second which I know helps. I only paid $350 for the 80D with 2 lenses, tripod and bag, so about $150 for the body. It's in perfect condition, like new. I know that lenses are the most important thing and I'm looking at a Canon 400mm 5.6 like in the video. It's also in like new condition for about $750. I recently bought a Tamron 70-200 2.8 for $75, more for portraits. I'm having fun comparing that to my canon kit lenses. I recently sold my T6i that I had for about 5 years, my first and only camera with detachable lenses! I waited until my late 40s, never even having a "good" film camera in all my life! I'm only a beginner, so I feel fortunate to have what I do.
No freaking way!!! AstroBackyard! Hey Trevor & Ash :) never knew about this channel...I’ve been looking at a wildlife setup (poss D500 and 200-500 or 90d and 100-400 mk2) Definitely subbed 👍🏼👍🏼
Cool video nice
Great vid guys! Maybe see you in Pelee again this year. Just over a month away.
Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.
Thanks, Anthony!
Thank you for doing this video. I definitly learned alot!
Good practical advise. Sure wish Nikon would come out with a version of the 400 5.6
Dave Cowell Photography I think they are coming out with a new light FL version soon!
Great video. I like the way you are and how you present the stuff.... Can you say something about camera settings?
Hi guys, happy to see you posted a vid, was missing your work and knowledge, by the, sent a message on FB messenger, really want know what you think? Thanks Lou
So you shoot in shutter priority? Great video. I just discovered your vids tonite.
We want a fixed aperture so we use AV almost all the time.
The 7d crop factor means that 400mm f/5.6 is like a 640mm on full frame. Pretty good reach. I’m think of getting that lens for my 80d for birding.
good tips. I'm also looking to buy prime.
How much for the camouflage stickers, and where did you get them! 😎
First time viewer. Really enjoyed the video. I subscribed and look forward to seeing more.
Thanks, Frank!
All the reviews I've seen of the 100-400 5.6 mk2 say it's just as sharp as the 400 prime, plus it has IS! Seems like an amazing lens! Definitely considering upgrading my 400 prime to that.
It's a great lens but if you're going to be using it a 400mm all the time then you're paying twice the price for a heavier lens just to get the IS...
You guys are legends. Thank you for your time sharing. I learnt a tonne of knowledge very quickly.
I shoot Micro Four Thirds, so my Olympus OM-D E-M1 gets trotted out, typically with my 40-150mm f2.8 PRO (80-300mm full-frame equivalent) and either the 1.4X or 2X teleconverter.
I recently rented the Olympus 300mm f4 PRO, which is a 600mm full-frame equivalent, and that's a fantastic birding lens. It's definitely not cheap, but compared to a full-frame 600mm f4, it's a bargain. The crop factor really helps out with birding so you're not dragging big, heavy lenses around.
Hi Bird Nerds, you did not mentioned in the video that along with the added reach of lenses on a crop body, you also get stopped down by the crop factor. So that 400 mm 5.6 with a 1.4 teleconverter is really an F13! And that 300 mm f4 with the 1.4 TC is really an f9! I shoot tiny birds with a 70-200 mm f2.8 is II and it works great at a max distance of 8 ft (I use blinds, gillie suit, and tripod), but I cannot autofocus with a 2X TC attached. I will hear the beep but the image is soft. So my question is: can both cameras achieve autofocus? Or you do manual focus only.
Thanks, I shoot with same equipment and have a blast.
Good info! looking into getting the 400mm.
I have the 7DII, is a lovely body that I use with the Sigma 150-600 Sport, which when adjusted for the camera is an amazing lens for £1,400 (2,500 Canadian Dollars) and you can have custom settings and 2 modes of IS. I think in the 3 years I’ve had mine the price would have come down significantly. It does take a good couple of hours to fine tune and it isn’t a mobile lens without at least a monopod, but it is an excellent lens. I believe the new Tamron is pretty good too, but I have never used that one. I usually have my 5DIII with me for lower light and to use with my 70-200 f4 IS which gives me four stops of light extra when hand held. Both my wife and I have to use hides (Blinds) as a rule as we both have disabilities and I carry my gear on a mobility scooter. But there are exceptions where we can spot from a good path etc. Fortunately here in the U.K. most sights are accessible and I’ve also had some great shots from the car window. I have the Swarovski ATS 65 HD scope with a 25-50 eyepiece and I’ve often thought of getting a digiscoping kit for that. All you need to begin with is a pair of waterproof binoculars and an average bridge camera which you can get for under £100, then you can build up slowly from there to infinity. I have absolutely no intention of upgrading to the new 7DIII, and I don’t want the 5DIV, it’s very easy to fall into that trap. If I was new to photography I wouldn’t rush out and get a long lens, they are not easy to learn with. Great video which combines both my passions.
There is so much gear out there to enjoy this hobby, it's so great!
Mark Harris za