Lens help

[street84]

hi guys.
i am planning to buy a telephoto for bird photography along with a macro capabilities lens (using combination of 1.4TC and Ex tube)
after doing a lot of research on the net there are so many argument regarding
Canon 300mm f.4 IS + 1.4TC vs 400mm f5.6
while here in Seoul, there are store that still have the 300mm non IS lens (second hand)
the cost of a 300 IS and 400 is similar apart from buying a 1.4TC if i go for the 300 while a 300 non IS is much cheaper (i had a store selling a second hand for about 780 US $ along with 6 months warranty both 300 IS and 400 cost around 1400 US $).
Canon 300 IS has a good macro capabilities, im not sure about both 400 and 300 non IS.
400 has 3.5m MFD while 300 non IS 2.5m MFD.
which one will you recommend me to get ?

 

[fredricfei]

As I thought, to the lens longer than 300mm, IS would not be necessary since almostly you couldn't hold the lens by hand. But some early lens would got AF problem on new DSLR models while AF precision was always important to a telephoto...

 

[street84]

oh, im sorry with the missing part, im talking about both 300mm f.4 not the 2.8. the 300mm f.4 sized similar to the 400 f5.6 which is quite small and lightweight.

 

[fredricfei]

I know, just in my opinion that all white telephotos of Canon were beyond my arm power~
but seriously I thought such a telephoto would be more suitable to go with tripod.

 

[AverageJoe]

I'm not sure either of those lenses would work well for macro photography. Canon's 100mm f2.8 EF macro lens is a great lens. You should also consider the 100-400mm L lens Canon offers. Similar price but with a big zoom range.

 

[fredricfei]

but zoom lens was inferior in optical quality, and even heavier.

 

[AgentDrex]

Whatever you do, steer away from telephotos with macro capability...all mine have severe chromatic abberation....best to buy a prime macro...