Canon 100-400is zoom or Tamron 200-500 (1 Viewer)

[Pat67]

Hello, after some helpful advice on this forum, i decided to buy a Canon 30D.

Now looking into which lenses i should go for to birding. All very new to this, but from the off with the extra 100mm, no convertors, slightly ligher, etc it seems the tamron is a better option? Or am i just being fooled by big numbers that don't mean alot?

 

[paul goode]

Hello, after some helpful advice on this forum, i decided to buy a Canon 30D.

Now looking into which lenses i should go for to birding. All very new to this, but from the off with the extra 100mm, no convertors, slightly ligher, etc it seems the tamron is a better option? Or am i just being fooled by big numbers that don't mean alot?

Hi Patrick,

As you say you are new to DSLR's I suggest that rather than blindly say 'buy this' you have a read through the many threads on here that cover these two very popular lenses. A couple of galleries to check out as well are DOC's and Keith Reeders who use the lenses you're interested in and get great results with them!

An idea of your main uses for the lens would be helpful, ie flight shots, walkaround lens, working from hides etc because good as both lenses are they do have strength's and weaknesses.

Paul

 

[Keith Reeder]

Horses for courses really, Pat.

There's no questioning the potential of the Tamron in the right hands - as Paul says, check out DOC's gallery - but a lot depends on your proposed usage.

If you're going to be on a tripod most of the time (or have very good handholding technique) and need the 500mm, get the Tamron.

If you want a versatile walkaround birding lens with a shorter minimum focal length (and I think, shorter close focussing distance), and things like IS and USM matter to you (as they do to me) then the 100-400mm is the logical choice.

Personally I wouldn't be without my 100-400 because it does everything I want of it well: I never use a tripod and often (always, it seems at the moment!) shoot in poor light, so IS is an absolute Godsend for me.

USM makes for faster, quieter (and theoretically at least, more accurate) focussing - the Tamron has an older-technology geared AF drive.

Nothing wrong with that of course, but I prefer sonic AF drives.

I don't know if the Tamron plays nice with a 1.4x converter on the 30D, but I know the 100-400mm does, meaning that I've got a very effective 560mm of reach that I can handhold.

So for me there's no competition to the 100-400mm for the price.

 

[Pat67]

Thanks, both galleries have great shots in them. And i expect have taken alot of hard work to produce such quality. I've been digiscoping for a few years now, but always feel restricted with this setup. I feel i'd like to try taking flight shots and walking about, but also don't mind carrying a tripod either. The point Keith made about low light is very valid i feel. If these are the signs of summers (in britain) to come, light light shooting will be very handy!

Using the convertor takes it range up then? How do these work and will it be another piece of equipment i have to grasp!

Also any advice on bird photography books?

Thanks for your help.

 

[nigelblake]

I have been testing a Tamron 200-500mm for a magazine (DSLR user) the review will be in next months issue, I used it alongside the Canon 100-400mm IS, and quite honestly it gives the Canon a lot of stiff competition despite not having IS. It is only when used on a full frame sensor that you notice a few little problems with vignetting, mainly caused by the large lens hood.... At about £450 less than the Canon the Tamron is a steal.

 

[DOC]

Considering myself a Tamron veteran -I would say :
It takes a while to master the lens .
The Tamron is Excellent in Very good lighting conditions. Once it gets dark or cloudy - the Tamron starts "hunting". ( like many other Zoom 500 lens ).
The lack of HSM is a drawback :C . I would love HSM on my Tamron .
Another flaw - it DOES NOT work with TC's . It's absoloutely useless.
BUT - On the other hand - It is one hell of a zoom lens , with tack sharp results and there's NO NEED for A TRIPOD !! Almost ALL my photos are Hand- Held , or with a bean bag . You can carry it around for a long time .
The 100-400 is considered a top quality lens in it's category , with amazing results . It is more properly balanced on the camera in comparison to the Tamron ( because of the Tamron's LOOONG overal length ) .
As for price - I think the Tamron is the best bargain for the Money .:t:
Here's a pic from this morning - still "hot " from the oven ||

 

[Keith Reeder]

DOC's "good light" point bears repeating - in the light DOC seems to routinely shoot in, I'd probably use the Tamron instead of the Canon myself!



Beautiful kingfisher as always, DOC.

 

[Pat67]

Hi, nigelblake i shall look out for that review thanks.

Sorry for my ignorance but what is the HSM that is not on the tamron?

The low light point is definately an issue, many a time digiscoping i found this a problem.

How does the teleconvertors work? i.e will that be more equipment i'll need to master or is it just a magnifier? I've read also about 'taping' these up etc, what does that mean and entail?

 

[mjmw]

Hi Patrick, the teleconvertors are, as you say, just like a magnifier that goes between the camera and lens. They increase magnification but decrease light - therefore slower shutter speeds and slower (if any) auto-focus.

The following thread in the Canon forum explains 'taping the pins':

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=90936

This next thread has lots of good stuff on the 100-400 + 1.4x teleconvertor:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=82307

USM and HSM are names that Canon and Sigma give their fast, quiet auto-focus systems in some of their lenses.

Hope this helps!

 

[Keith Reeder]

Pat, a little extra on "USM", which stands for "Ultra Sonic Motor", incidentally.

It's clever stuff!

 

[Pat67]

Thanks thats cleared a few things up. If i was to get a Kenko Teleplus 1.4x TC reading through the treads, i won't need to 'tape the pins' or am i misunderstanding the point?

 

[Keith Reeder]

You will need to tape the pins with that TC, Pat - it's the one I use with my 30D and 100-400mm.

It's easy though, and (in my experience anyway) definitely worthwhile.

 

[gmax]

I have been testing a Tamron 200-500mm for a magazine (DSLR user) the review will be in next months issue, I used it alongside the Canon 100-400mm IS, and quite honestly it gives the Canon a lot of stiff competition despite not having IS. It is only when used on a full frame sensor that you notice a few little problems with vignetting, mainly caused by the large lens hood.... At about £450 less than the Canon the Tamron is a steal.

Interesting Nigel,
I'd be very grateful if you could summarize here some of your comments AFTER your review has been published (I guess it's hard for me to get an issue of this magazine) ... it's the first time I hear of a similar test and I'm very curious to read a comment from someone who is skilled with those "long toys"
I look forward to reading on this subject soon ...
Thank you,
Max

 

[nigelblake]

Interesting Nigel,
I'd be very grateful if you could summarize here some of your comments AFTER your review has been published (I guess it's hard for me to get an issue of this magazine) ... it's the first time I hear of a similar test and I'm very curious to read a comment from someone who is skilled with those "long toys"
I look forward to reading on this subject soon ...
Thank you,
Max

I'll PM the "Word" doc to you as soon as the feature is published.

 

[gmax]

I'll PM the "Word" doc to you as soon as the feature is published.

Excellent! Very kind of you Nigel, thanks in advance B B
Max