Canon EF 300mm f/4 USM L IS

23 posts / 0 new
Last post
BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture
Canon EF 300mm f/4 USM L IS

I recently aquired this lense. 

I focucus quickly on flying birds.

It is very impressive and works well with the 1.4x exender

Regards Alan

pacman
pacman's picture

congrats

I am also a Canon user and the L series lenss (just what is the plural of lens)

Peter

Araminta
Araminta's picture

.......the plural of lens is "lenses"  (did I win anything?enlightened)

M-L

BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture

If you can afford more than one Canon will semd u the spelling.

Seriously have u tried the 300 2.8? I am sorely tempted.

Owen1
Owen1's picture

I'm always tempted by those Canon lenses. One day temptation will get the better of me.

Alan you'll love the 300 f/4.

Cheers, Owen.

WendyK
WendyK's picture

Owen, they're calling your naaammmmmeee.

I have the Canon 400mm f/5.6 L, 200mm f/2.8 L and the 100mm f/2.8 L macro.  The 400 is good and gets me closer but the others are super fast with my 7D and the IQ is fantastic so the pics should enlarge well.  I found out by accident how good they are for BIFs (no-one ever mentions smaller lenses).  I'm planning to stake out the river nearby and practise on the fly-bys as they follow the river course.

I was looking at the 1.4x today.   Hmmm, I think I need one ... Chrissie present ... hmmm.

Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/

BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture

Hi Wendy

if you had the 2x you would not need the 400mm f/5.6, less to carry.

Regards Alan

WendyK
WendyK's picture

Hi Alan. Excellent idea but from the reviews I've read, the general consensus is that the x2 gives a noticeable deterioration in IQ. Weight training is good for one's health!

The Tamron 1.4 is about half the price of the Canon, the reviews say its performance is on par AND allows autofocus when the Canon doesn't so I might go with that one.

I have lens cravings. I'm also eyeing the Tokina 11-16mm for landscapes but everything else I dream of will require remortgaging the house and a tall, dark and handsome manservant to carry the load.

Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/

BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture

Hi Wendy

I have the 2X and seldom use it.

I used to have the Canon L 35-350 and was very pleased with it.

Backgrounds were a little orange.

The 14mm 2.8 is pretty impressive

Regards Alan

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi Wendy and Alan, I have no idea why people are so taken (in?) by Canon or Nikon for that matter? Let me put it that way, google Sony, and read the reviews . I use a SONY SLT-A77V, and a SONY 70-400mm F 4.0-5.6 G  SSM lens, their top of the range lens.

I think the results I get from this combination speak for themselves?

M-L

Araminta
Araminta's picture

O, the best advice I ever got, was from a top professional photographer: don't zoom in with your lens, zoom in with your feet.

It's not what you use, it's how you use it. I have seen many brilliant photos as an Artist, that were taken with cheap cameras. It's the Artist's eye that makes all the difference.

M-L

BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture

Hi M-L (whar does M-L mean please)

Back in the good old days I used Sigma and Tameron lenses.

They were pretty cool. Then I tried a Canon lense and have never gone back.

Things have no dought got better as they have had 20 years to catch up.

Regards Alan

PS are your photos available for viewing?

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi Alan, don't mind telling you, M-L is my name, Marie-Louise

What do you mean by, are my photos available for viewing? I don't have a blog or anything like it, you could have looked at more of my photos on my flickr account, but since I discovered that people have taken some photos and they turned up in other places , I made everything private, so you can only see what I post here. I have only just made a decision to "not keep" most of my photos. I take about 200 every day, only keep very few. Taking photos to me, is the pleasure and happiness of that moment. Most of my photos, be it birds or other projects, tell a story. My photos on here mostly tell the story of the birds in my garden. What happens today will have changed tomorrow. I look at them, love them thern and share them, tomorrow I create a new happiness. Just like in life, I don't see any value in clinging to the past. Enjoy the moment , learn from it ,and progress to the future. And I always hope my photography will make other people happy, and should improve with every photo I take.

M-L

dwatsonbb
dwatsonbb's picture

Well said M-L, I take photos for me, and they are no where near the standard I see here, but that is not important. I enjoy the work of others, and occasionally share some of mine, what I think are my "Best Photos". I can only dream of some of the equipment others have, but enjoy my second hand camera, given as a gift. I love coming here almost every day and seeing the variety of birds this country has to offer, and reading the stories behind them. Not that bothered if some pics " aren't that great", just want to see ordinary people enjoying what they do!

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

WendyK
WendyK's picture

M-L, your amazing photos are certainly a good advertisement for the SONY A77.  Looks like an excellent set-up.

If there was some niggle or something I really hated about my gear, I'd definitely consider looking at the SONY.

You have to know though that I was a total newbie back in only April of this year.  Back then I'd never heard of an A77 and wouldn't have considered it anyway because beginners don't usually buy prosumer level gear.  Common sense dictates that you buy a basic starter camera of a well-known brand and then find out where you want to go with it.  Some people end up sticking it in a drawer and forgetting about it.  Millions of people have Canons and Nikons and have done the following.  Without the benefit of a pro mentor, I bought a little Canon EOS 1100D and got hooked on taking bird photos.  I upgraded my lenses (you can see how this happens from looking at Alex's macros).  Then I upgraded my body (the camera ... not a lot I can do about the other one!), etc. arriving at this point where I've developed my kit to suit what I'm currently doing.  It's a natural progression.  Also, if you already have Canon (or Nikon) lenses you're happy with then you upgrade your camera body to another Canon (or Nikon) so you can keep using your favourite lenses.  I know it's part of the marketing but it makes sense.

I'm obviously still learning but I'm really enjoying myself and I'd like to show people what I'm seeing, exactly as I see it.  If anyone wants to take a gander at my poor offerings you can find them at http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/  Click on the pics to get better detail.

Cheers.

Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/

BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture

Anyone know if there is a way to look at photos posted by one member on all forums?

If not where iis the best place please?

WendyK
WendyK's picture

You can call up your own content in your account but for someone else, the only way I can see is to enter the person's forum name into the search box (up top right) and it brings up all the topics they've commented on in the forums.

Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/

BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture

Hi Marie-Louise

Most of your photos have dissapeared from the forums.pressive.

The ones that are left are very impressive.

Does it really matter if people steal your photos, it just means they love them

Regards Alan

Araminta
Araminta's picture

My word it does Alan, if you find your photo of a bird somewhere in Brazil printed on T-shirts, or as it happened to a friend, you see your photo used in advertising in New York. (mind you, this friend took the company to court and got a large sum of money as compensation) Yes, you are right, they steal your photos because they like them, but just because I love the neighbour's car, I can't steal it, or sell it....??

I had no idea, everyone can look at everyone elses photos the way Wendy says, I shall try it.

Thanks Alan for your nice compliments about my photos.

M-L

BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture

I would rather share photos than have nobody see them. 

I have seen my photos used on other peoples pages.

If I thought they were making money out of them I would

ask for my cut. People seem to request permission to use

my videos more than my photos.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Never thought that "sharing" could mean different things to different people? Sharing could be interpreted in different ways?

I don't know if you are married , but if you are, it would be easy to explain the difference, I would be very happy for my husband to be "seen" by others, because I'm very proud of him, but I wouldn't want to "share" him?winkdevil

(just joking)

M-L

BajanAlan
BajanAlan's picture

Marie-Louise you are very philosophical!

Reflex
Reflex's picture

I just had a gander at your photos Wendy on flickr. They are great!

Samford Valley Qld.

 and   @birdsinbackyards
                 Subscribe to me on YouTube